Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-06-24
From Chjckamauga,


in which he inclosed clipping from the
Chattanooga Daily Times which we
think will be of interest to our readers;
If Chattanoogans observe on the streets
any neatly.dressed soldierly. appearing
Young men in blue, with red bandana
handkerchiefs sllillfully knotted at the
throat of their blue shirts, they may
know that they see boys from the Thirty
first Michigan. They are not dressed up
for the occasion, they always look that
way. They are the flower of Michigan
men and come from Il state that apprecl-
ates their services and is proud of them.
When the call to arms to avenge the
Maine came the men of Michigan's Ma
tional Guard responded in body, and de-
serted the banks, the offices and stores TO
shoulder the rife. Many were rejected
in the severe physical examination held
by Surgeon Munday, of the Nineteenth
u. 5. A. but others took their places and
Michigan's quota was easily filed. The
/ 900 called for could have been doubled,
so eager were the patriots TO answer the
call of their country. Those rejected
wept piteously because they could not
come to the war then and with their
comrades they had been in training with
for so many years.
In Michigan, promotion goes by merit,
and the officers have been with the regl-
ment for years, excepting Col Gardener
who was captain in the Nineteenth in
fantry, L. 5. A., when the war began.
Some of the other officers have grown
gray in the service, and it is no uncom-
mon thing to see privates wearing three
and four service stripes.
The Thirty-frst Michigan is mis-
nomer as it ought to be called the First
Michigan, rs it is really the old First IN
fantry of the state troops with one bat
TALON of the Fourth infantry added. Gov
Pingree, who desires to have the history
of the war kept straight, thought the
First infantry for the Spanish war might
become confused with the First infantry
for the civil war, so began numbering the
regiments for this where the state left
off in go.
Col. Gardener, who commands the
Thirty.frst Michigan has had thirty
years experience in the regular army and
held the rank of captain in the Nine
tecnth infantry, when chosen for this
command He fought Indians on the
plains, served as quartermaster and filled
other staff positions, before getting his
rank as captain. 1t is that wide expert
ence that gives the colonel the knowledge
of men, ana the know how" 10 make
the regiment he has. At present Col.
Gardener is in command of the brigade,
and confidential adyices comes to the
writer from Washington that Col Gar
dener is expected to win star whenever
his regiment gets into place where dis
cipline and morals tell.
The Washington authorities, as the sec
rotary Of war is from Michigan, know the
kind Of men in the regiment. Among the
enlisted men can be found lawyers with
big practices, young men with wealthy
parents, from the Michigan university,
expert accountants and artisans from all
the trades. Most any one of the number
has the intelligence to command. Wien
the regiment was mustered III the United
States army officers expressed surprise at
the high grade of men, as displayed by
the signatures on the muster rolls.
Unfortunately the regiment is without
guns, and is patiently drilling without
arms. Otherwise it is fully equipped,
mostly at the expense Of the state, which
started with a 100000 war fund. Col.
Gardener purposely left the guns at
home as they were unfit for use, only
enough being brought for guard mount
ing In that feature of the soldiers the
men have been carefully drilled, and are
as expert as any at the camp.
The first thing Col Gardener did after
pitching his tents was to police the
grounds and now the camp is as clean
as any lawn in Chattanooga a clean
camp is one of the things taught in
Michigan. Gen. Breckenridge noticed
that feature, and so would any one else
who drove out through the shady but
dusty road to Jays mill site, where the
Thirty first Michigan encamped. 1t is
always ready for inspection.
Digging holes in ground as hard as
asphalt and handling "A shovel and rake
came hard to men whose heaviest man
ual labor at home was for recreation,
but the boys did the work through those
great American characteristics-grit and
gumption.
The same American traits carried the
Thirty first through the trying days of
side meat, beans and hard tack with as
few complaints as could be expected