The Yale expositor., 1897-08-20
PENINSULA MATTERS
RELATED IN A BRIEF. CONCISE
MANNER.
MIchigan's State Troops Spend Week
In Camp Pinsree at Island Lake
The Governor a Big Attraction
Incidents OF Camp Life.
Michigan soldier Boys In Camp.

Michigan Soldier Boys In Camp.
Camp Pingree was the name given
the eucampment of the Michigan Ma
tional Guard at Island lake this year.
The number of men in camp averaged
well with any other previous year and
the plan of having the tents pitched
before the main body of the troops ar
rived gave general satisfaction. The
Fourth regiment was given taste of
camping out, however before they
reached Camp Pingree. They left their
train at Green Oak. four miles away,
and marched in heavy marching order
over tn. rough fields aud sandy roads
to within a mile of the camp and then
pitched shelter tents. cooked their own
supper and spent the night there, with
Co. c. 10Th U. S. Infantry from Fort
Wayne, Detroit, for company. When
they reached next day they looked like
old campaigners.
As fast as the companies arrived at
Camp Pingree they were mustered in
by the colonies of the governors staff
and inspected by Inspector-G Case.
The First was the first to have full
regiment in camp.
The arrival of Gov. Plngree, COM
mander-in-chief of the nj. N. G., was
an event which was somewhat inter
fered with by rain which began just
before the train arrived and continued
until the governor had reached his
tent. Nevertheless there was big
crowd of both civilians and soldiers TO
greet him. The absence Of the elabor-
ate gold lace trimmed uniforms of the
escort was noticeable, but this was on
the governors order as he had all of
his staff instructed to appear in camp
with only their fatigue uniforms. Gov.
Pingree was attired very simply, but
as he mounted skittish black horse
and rode along it was evident that he
would be the principal attraction dur
ing the rest of the camp. just be-
fore the parade began TO move the
Naval Reserves fired the governors sa-
Lutte. Every time gun doomed the
governors horse jumped into the air,
but that did not seem TO disturb its
rider. The Third regiment was given
the honor of escorting the governor
and his staff into camp.
Thousands of visitors witnessed the
grand pageant of blue-coated soldiers
in the review before Gov. Pingree and
staff, and enthusiastic cheers repaid the
boys for their long hours of drill which
have been necessary to enable them to
make the splendid showing they did.
The rain came down almost in torrents
for a time, but the boys, and the
crowds, too, held their ground. The
troops and officers were drenched but
the bands ontinued to play and the
governor and his staff sat erect upon
their steeds reviewing the swiftly
moving column as it swept by the re-
viewing stand. Cheer upon cheer
went up from the spectators all along
the line of march, which led around
the entire field, each company salut-
ing as it passed the reviewing stand.
II is stated that the 1897 encamp-
ment is probably the last that will be
held at Island Lake. The men have
become tired of the place, although they
acknowledge that the grounds are
splendid. The next eucampment may
be held at Manistee, on the Russell
farm, about two miles from the city.
The camp will then be on the shore of
Lake Michigan, and the naval reserves
can be there at the same time as the
troops for practice in their ship. Gen.
Case, says, however, the future site of
the encampment has not yet been de-
termined. The military board will
meet next month and visit the sites
for encampments presented by Manis-
tee, Cadillac, Kalamazoo and the points
around Detroit.