Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-08-12
THE DISMAL RAIN
CONTINUED from page 1.)


morning.
The morning report, Wednesday.
showed 1857 men in camp in the two
regiments 629 in the 1st and 62S in the
"a. This was six less than the total of
Tuesday morning. 1t will be noticed
that the 1st Regiment had one more
man than the I'd. The number in the
two has always been remarkably near
the same, but thus far this year. and
generally for several encampments
past, the I'd has had few more men
present than the 1st.
Ihe commander of the camp Col.
Kendall, and Majors Ulmer, Collins and
peterson of his regiment took a morn
ing ride of two hours on their horses
over the scene of the proposed mock
battle in the afternoon During their
absence Col Philbrook was acting
camp commander. They thoroughly
examined the region and made all the
plans for the conflict. Major Timers
battalion was to be the force on the
defensive and was to be posted be-
hind the long stone wall on the brow
of the hill. half mile to the southwest
of the camp. Col. Kendall was to
command the attacking force which
was to consist of the other two bat
talions of the 1st Regiment. Major
Peterson's troops We're to advance
through the pasture land and woods
to the south of the camp. Capt. Love-
JOY of Augusta and part of his COM
pany being perfectly familiar with the
lay of the land were to act as advance
guard. Using the woods and bushes as
screen they were to approach the
open field on the hillside, then deploy
in battle order and charge the foe be-
hind the wall. Meanwhile Major Col
Inns battalion was to advance through
the fields west of the camp and attack
the foe on the left flank There would
have been all the formation and tactics
of actual battle, and all the smoke and
noise. When the commander and his
majors rode back to the camp. how
ever there was no sign of fair weather
and very reluctantly the plans for the
sham .%ht We're given up. The men
We're eager for it and were as sorry as
1t was thought that possibly it might
be carried out Friday forenoon, but
this it not very probable: so it is not
likely that the public will have a chance
to see the gallant Guard in warfare
this year.
The rifle shooting match of the COM
captains and lieutenants of both reg-
ments, but when the skies cleared up
little in the foreYpon the call for
battalion drill was given and the troops
were marched to the parade ground.
In the absence OF the majors the senior
captains commanded the battalions of
the 1st Regiment. In the I'd it had been
planned to drill by regiment but the
rain interfered. There was little
drill by battalions, the first battalion
under Major York getting in some good
work on the sldrmish drill. But long
before the drill hour was over the rain
began to sheets, the bugle
sounded the recall and the troops were
hurried on the double quick to their
quarters.
Again in the afternoon the drill call
was sounded in the I'd Regiment and
Col. Philbrook and his staff We're
mounted and ready for business, but
before the battalion reached the field
the drizzle began again and the recall
was sounded by order of the camp
commander So as far as drill work
went, Wednesday, was not great day
for the Guard. Some of the companies
were given little work on the manuel
in the company streets.
About the middle of the afternoon,
Gov and Mrs. Powers and their little
son, visited the camp, and remained
some time at the general and regi-
mental head quarters. Private Secre-
tary Smith and wife, Secretary of State
Boyd, Deputy Secretary of State Chad
bourne Councillors Freeman, Coffin,
Spofford, Twitchell, Mayo and Boothby,
Pension Agent Milliken and number
of other visitors also made calls at
headquarters, during the the rainy
afternoon. Lieut.. Col. Stetson Lieut..
Col Eaton and Military Secretary
Spaulding of the Governors staff, also
visited camp for the first time, this
year.
AS the afternoon wore on the rain
continued to fall with few periods or
cessation The few visitors who came
in expectation of seeing the sham bat
tie returned to the city. All hope of
having the usual dress parades of the
two regiments was given up. once,
about $50 p. NJ, the sun actually had