The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-05-06
Letter From Camp wilmer,

CAMP WILMER, May 2-The last communi-
cation from your correspondent in camp was
mailed just prior to the most disagreeable day
| yet experience by the soldier boys. Thursday,
April IS, will long be remembered by the
Maryland National Guard. During the pre-
vious night very perceptibe change in an
already uncomfortable temperature was
noticeable, and the slumbering soldiers were
awakened to the consciousness that they were
cold, very cold. Blankets were drawn closer
around the shivering bodies, and coats over
coats and every available garment was utilized
as a covering. When the Reveille broke the
stiffness of the morning air, and the stiffened
joints were outstretched preparatory to rising
for roll-call, there were many who would have
preferred greatly to remain in their tents, hut
like true soldiers they promptly obeyed the
shrill call of the buge and aligned themselves
amidst binding snow storm to answer to
their names. There they stood, at the grey
dawn of day, in mud ankle deep, with top
dressing of snow some inches deep, calmly
contemplating the juvenile blizzard which
ragged tercely about them. Valley Forge
could not have been much worse.
The sentries at their posts during the pre-
vious night must have suffered intensely and
yet, little or no complaint was heard. 1t is
much to the credit of those at Brigade Head
quarters that military discipline was some
what relaxed during the day. All sentres
were withdrawn, and the men were allowed
not, as they wished Many took advantage
of the liberty and visited the city, some of
them returning laden with small coal oil
stoves, which were kept lighted for the bene-
fit, not only of those who possessed them, but
a generous invitation was extended for all to
''come in and warm up" The weather during
the week had rendered the ground unfit for
drilling, and while occasional squad and com
pany drills were gone through with, it was
not until Saturday that the regular order was
put into force. Then the systematic exercises
which fall to the lot of soldiers when they are
on war footing, were commenced. At A.
NJ. we had the "school of the soldier" which
means that sergeant or corporal takes charge
of eight men and puts them through the man
ual of arms and The different formations in
marching. This lasts one and a-half hours. At
o'clock there is guard mount, when the re.
lief goes upon guard duty. AT 10 O'Clock
company drill takes place, when the entire
company, under command of the captain are
marched, manoeuvred, and instructed in
skirmish drill. This occupies another hour
and a-half, ending about thirty minutes before
dinner time, which is at high noon.
AT 2 o'clock battalion drill takes place. In
this drill several companies are put through
the various evolutious under command OF
major. 1t occupies about the same time as
the others; and finally to wind up the day, we
have dress parade at P. NJ This brings out
all of the men not on guard, or on special
uuLy, anu IL may Dc u bdlu 1udI Luo
nne specimens of American manhood and the
martial bearing of the men, make all Mary
landers truly proud of their State and men,
and should the Maryland troops ever be called
into action, they will see that the martial
glory of the old Maryland Line" shall be
fully preserved by their descendants.
Saturday cheered us with its brilliant SUM-
shine and in the afternoon a large number of
visitors came to the camp, and surely none of
them were or could be more welcome, than
our fair friends from Hartford. On Sunday
several thousand looked in upon US, Hartford
being well represented, q large contingent
from Bel Air, being among them. Company
ID attended Divine service in body. 1t was
held in section of the grand stand, the Pro-
testant Episcopal service being conducted by
Rev. Mr.. Page, the Chaplain of the regiment.
There has been but very little sickness in
| the camp, and this is certainly remarkable
when we stop consider the remarkable
changes which we have experienced, from
summer to winter, sunshine to storm, rain to
snow, and all within the scope OF one short
week There is a mandolin club in camp,
| composed of men from different companies.
| Tom Hall, of Co. D, is one of them, and they
serenade the boys nightly, rendering such
soft sweet music that many regrets are heard
when taps sound, for from thence silence must
reign, lights be extinguished, and the stiffness
of the soldiers night commences, only to be
broken by the occasional call of the sentry,
when may be heard, sometime family from
affair." and then louder and nearer, "Corporal
of the Guard, No. -n And so, we all live the
| life of a soldier, doing soldiers duty.
COMPANY d.