Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-26

1t was dramatic enough. There was
a novel expectation about 1t that grew
until at last the first Of the troop ap.
peared from the cover OF trees.
Captain Dodd was In command. \ac-
companied by General Gallagher, who
had gone on, mounted on white char
ger to meet the company.
The entire troop followed, advancing
by twcs. There We're Al of the men,
some leading the extra horses, which
were bay. some light and others OF
darker shade. but varying little.
General Luther Stephenson, the gov
ernor of the Home; Major A. L. Smith,
DR.. w. e. Ellwell. Postmaster A.
L. Stephenson and George A. Mitch
ell. the governors private secretary,
awaited the advance from the ele-
walton opposite the field at the
corner of the road which APP
proaches the Home. That had been
selected as the most likely place for
locating.
After formal military greeting,
warm withal. Captain Dodd made a
brief survey of the level lot. It was
suitable and the train of cavalry, for
the moment halted, followed him well
into the open. At the signal of the
bugle. in less than no time, the men
were in line, facing the captain and the
Lieutenants D. L. Tate and George A.
Mores.
At a second signal the 'odd" ones
advanced step or two. AT a third
the dismount was made, all as one
man, noiseless except for the sound Of
the sabres and the carbines which each
carried, for the men were ACQUIRED
ready fer any exigency.
AS orders We're given, the men re-
lieved the tired horses of their equip
ments and led them to water, then 20
the rope which had been staked to the
grourd. TO this, the permanent picket
line of the camp, the horses were
te.hered,. blanketed as protection
against the breeze which blew over the
fields.
The ambulance was hauled out into
position, but the heavily loaded bag
gage wagons mad fallen behind. There
was nothing to be done, consequently.
until their arrival except to lay on:
the location of the camp.
Captain Dodd and his little son,
Charles, VINO is accompanying the
troop, and Holman F. Day, who has
been with it since it left Portland,
were entertained at dinner by General
Stephenson and Mr.. Mitchell at the
beautiful residence.
The Togus Band, which was to give
it's usual concert, assembled in the
shade of the trees near the house and
gave the selections there. The people.
most of them leaving the troop until
the drill, which was announced for
O'Clock, enjoyed the music for an hour.
When the heavy rear guard" of the
train came numbering along the men
lost no time in getting the tents OUT.
Again was the bugle sounded for every
move. Like the proverbial clockwork,
the stakes went down and the tents
went up. They We're wet and as un-
wieldly as wet sails. but that was
merely a circumstance,
The camp system is simple. Parallel
to the picket line were arranged the
five Sibley tents fer the men. Run
ming at right angles, at one end, the
officers tents were placed, three N
number for the captain and the two
the sergeants, five in num-
Der, and the four corporals sleeping
with the men. After the tents were
fixed came the signal for stable call.
The men jumped to form a line in the
rear of the tents and the, officer then
in charge called off the names as they
stood all ready, brush and curry-como
in hand. At the second signal, eac:l
man sought his horse and set out with
a vengeance to remove the dried mud
from the horses legs and the dust from
the. hair. Then the horses felt better.
BY this time Captain Dodd had re-
turned. Riding onto the field with q
dash, he gave orders to one to have the
field cleared of the crowd of on-lookers.
To another he gave the preliminary in
structions for the drill, and in a few
minutes time the crowd was where i
belonged, gathered at the front and
north of the field, leaving it clear
fer the troop.
At the captains tent. from which an
uninterrupted view of the camp could
be obtained. was gathered notable
party. In addition to the officers OF the
Home and their ladies, We're Adjutant