Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-16

four companies took hand and
though the PASSPORT and Calais COM
panies suffered greatly at the hands
of the examining officer, who was a
different one than the one who ex-
amined other companies, they will
have little trouble in first filing their
quota.
But few recruits We're taken in
at the camp, Friday, and until the
batteries are full the recruiting Office
of the list Regiment will be a duller
place than ever, as all the recruits had
rather let their patriotism show itself
by joining an organization where there
is a bounty of So, than to join one
where there is no bounty. Three men
came to the city with the
express purpose of joining the LIST
Maine Volunteers, but when they
camp in Captain Hume's company,
they went there at once. and they will
receive their bounty when the day ar
rives.
True there is no guard. and there is
really no one in command at the camp,
but if it We're necessary to place them
under military restraint ,Adjutant Gen
erai Richards could issue an order from
his office, and the camp would he under
the command of the National Guard,
but in order to DO this the men would
have to be paid State pay. as they
would be in the service of the State
in a measure. AS it IS, the officers are
there on their own responsibility, wait
ing to be placed in command of the
batteries which will be made up of the
men who are under United States pay,
though not mustered.
There Will be no need to place the
camp under National Guard rule. how
ever. 1t would be an unnecessary eX-
pense to the State, as the men are
obeying the wishes of the officers as
though they We're under orders.
l. is sort Of a picnic for the men
under the present manner in which the
camp is conducted as they have only
about three hours Of work each day.
and that is in the morning, and again
at night. when they are drilled for
about an hour and a half each time.
They have purchased a fun base ball
outfit. ana two games of bail are en-
jGycd each day
But this picnic will not last forever.
and it Will be only next week when they
win De United States soldiers and the
drilling will be conducted for more than
three hours day. and there will be a
guard around the camp 50 THAI the
men cannot so and come as they
please.
None of the officers think that they
will stay here long after they are once
mustered into the service but all eX-
pcIt at once to be ordered to some place
where they can get the necessary drills
ON the heavy battery work. There
seems to be a unanimity of opinion that
some, perhaps all will be ordered to
Fort Knox. where the Connecticut
troops have been.
Another matter that worries beth
officers and men, is that the war will
not last long enough to give them
chance to have more than drilling, be-
fore the country will have no use for
them What they are all spelling for is
a chance to be drilled and go to the
front where they can have a little prac-
tees in throwing the railroad trains
from the big guns that they will be
given to handle. at some of the Span
iards.
There is a remarkable feeling of
brotherly love between the men, and
a man from Gardiner feels as much At
home in an PASSPORT mans tent as in
his own 1t has always been that way
through the ID Regiment. and 1t IL
more marked than ever, since there are
SO few in camp.
Captain Jewett has made one APP
no.ntment, and it is that of Sergeant
r. w. Sawyer, as acting 1st sergeant.
There is but one mascot in the camp,
now. and that is the cat ''Schley," Of
the Gardiner boys. Schley has been
decorated with the battery color, red,
and will be an honor to his name.
The men now in camp haven't
n,o,fth for pie, as a pieman was at the
not make many sales. On Friday af