The Saint Paul globe., 1898-04-19
LAST DAY AT FORT SMELLING
EVERYTHING READY FOR DE-
PARTURE THIS MORNING
No Drills of Any Kind Held Yester-
day, and the Guard Mount the
Only Military Formally Observed
Men Were Busy Attending to
Arranging Final Details.

Fort Smelling presented an extra
ordinary appearance yesterday.
No drills of any kind were held, and
the only military formality observed
was the guard mount at 8 o'clock in
the morning. The men were allowed
to do almost as they pleased, many
coming to the city on short leave, and
Others spending their time about their
quarters arranging for departure to-
day.
Col. Page was at the administration
building all day, receiving reports from
members of his staff and issuing d.
rections as they became necessary.
During the morning word passed
along the line and from the quarter
masters department that the loading
of freight and maintenance supplies
would commence at noon. There was
more activity after that time than
there has been for several days. The
army wagons and teams were not suf
ticient to perform the work and several
immense trucks, with crews of men
from the city, were sent out. The load
ing will be completed by 8 o'clock this
morning.
Enlistments at the fort were still be-
ing received yesterday About forty
applications were received before night,
and of this number fully half were ac-
cepted, for the reason that in the pres
ent emergency the government require
ments are made less eXacting.
When the regiment boards the train
at Fort Smelling this morning it will
be equipped precisely as it will be on
the field.
The total weight of haversacks
knapsacks, ammunition. gun, shelter
tent, blankets, ETC., carried by each
man Will be between fifty-live and six
ty-five pounds The regulation outfit
will consist of a change of underwear,
an extra pair of Shoes one wooden
blanket, one rubber blanket, one shell
ter tent, tin cup and plate, steel knives
and forks, hairbrush, comb and tooth
brush, handkerchiefs, cake of soap and
two towels canteen, which, with gun
and ammunition, will weigh about fif-
ty-five pounds.
The soldiers will undoubtedly snug
gle in extras" which are not sane
toned by military rules. and which
would be excluded under a rigid in
spection. The work of carrying such a
weight any long distance, in a hot
Southern climate, can be appreciated
by any one who has carried a sack of
flour from hackers wagon to the back
door 1t is no easy task, and none but
the strongest men can endure it.
The Smelling wheel corps will not be
taken as a body. No bicycles will 40
company the troops south. Col. Page
said yesterday with a smile that the
mud in Cuba was of such nature that
wheeling became very unpleasant
work. The officers will take their
horses. Most of the steeds were taken
to the regimental blacksmith shop
yesterday and unshod in order to be,-
ter withstand the hardships OF railway
travel.
Company commanders have been Or
dered to turn over from the company
funds 50 per man, to Capt. Gerlach, for
the mess Of the men left behind.
The same orders APPOINTED Cant.
William Gerlach, Third infantry as
acting assistant quartermaster and
commiSsary of subsistence ait the post,
and directs him to relieve Lieut.. Omar
Bunday, of the Third regiment, of the
duties Of these offices upon the depart
ure Of the regiment for Mobile.
Lieut. James M. McAndrews Is ap-
pointed acting quartermaster and COM
missary of subsistence during the trip
from st. Paul to Mobile. The trip will
last probably two and one-half days.
Sunday night and last night the men
slept on the floor Of the barracks, roll
ed in their woolen and rubber blankets
All other bedding had been packed and
stored in the quartermaster's ware
houses. Some grumbled, but others
said it would be good practice for what
would very likely follow. The bar
racks look destitute enough at present
Maj. Sanno received orders Sunday
detailing him as acting inspector gener-
al of the department of the Missouri.
He will be attached to the staff of Gen.
Coppinger, and will not go South. The
major accepts the assignment like
soldier, but presumably would prefer to
go to the front. Capt. Hale will act as
will be acting captain Of the COM