The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-05

MOUNT GRETNA, Pa, May 2.-Sun-
day at Camp Hastings brought to the
soldiers refreshing relief from the
hard daily routine of drill and in its
stead the camp was thrown open to the
relatives and friends of the officers and
men. Special trains from Philadelphia,
Reading, Harrisburg, and the regular
trains from other points in the state,
brought over 5000 persons to the
grounds. The visitors were largely the
parents. wives and sweethearts and
relatives of the guardsmen, but the
usual ightheartedness incident to an
encampment was noticeable by its alb.
sence. In its place there was sup.
preston of spirits which told plainly
that the men were there for war duty
and that this might be the last time the
soldier boy would see his dear one.
When the tattoo was sounded in the
evening and the time for leave taking
came there were many touching and
pathetic farewells. One mother, whose
three sons go with the Eighteenth regi.
ment of Pittsburg, embraced each sep.
arately, while the father with a Grand
Army button on his coat and wearing
an empty sleeve, stood by with stern
features and far away look on his face
as If thinking his lighthearted boys lit.
tie knew of the hardshipS that might
come with the future.
The only drills Sunday were guard
mounting i'll the morning and dress pa.
rade i'll the evening. General Goblin s
regiment turned out in brigade dress pa
rade, the others simply in regimental
formation. Today the real business be.
gun, and by sunset it will be known
how many men of the First brigade will
volunteer for the war. The inspection
and muster of the men has already be-
gun. The Third regiment being the
junior command of the junior brigade
passed i'll review, and after inspection
Colonel Morrell read the governors
call. The captains then called the com.
panies roll and as each mans name
was called he answered Eyes" or "no."
This same course will be followed
with the remaining commands of that
brigade. Tomorrow the Second bri-
gade will be inspected and on Wednes.
day the Third brigade. All men not
volunteering will be sent home as soon
as possible, but will still retain member.
ship in the guard. The volunteers will
remain in camp.
Officers will be detailed from each
company to return to their respective
home headG uarters and obtain recruits
from the reserve list sufficient to bring
the companies to a minimum war foot
ing of 81 men in infantry and the mini.
mum number i'll the battery commands
and cavalry troops. These recruits
will be sent to the recruiting station at
Mount Gretna park in charge of Lieu.
tenant Colonel Potter. When a regi.
ment is full it will be mustered III as u
volunteer regiment.
Inspector General Merrill said that
Governor Hastings will positively re.
commission the present regimental and
company officers. Whether orders will
be given to move to Washington when
the division has all been mustered is not
known. Regular army officers now
have received no orders. 1t is believed
that some Of the regiments and possibly
a brigade will go this week or early
next. To perpetuate the national guard
as body the Seventh, Eleventh and
Seventeenth regiments, now extinct, will
be revived and two additional regiments,
the Nineteenth and Twentieth, will be
formed.
Should another call ON volunteers
come those will be given first chance
AS to the State Fencibles and Gray In.
vincibles of Philadelphia no decision
has been received. The former will not
go as battalion of regiment, but is
willing to volunteer if allowed to re-
cruit to regiment.
HARRISBURG, May 2.-Adjutant Gen.
eral Stewart has returned from Wash.
ing with the information that his con-
ference with Secretary Alger was mere.
ly for the purpose of arranging the de.
tails for the recruiting, examining and
mastering of those of the national guard
who propose entering the volunteer
service. While in Washington General
Stewart pressed the claims of Major
General Snowden and Brigadier Gen.
erals Schall, Goblin and Wiley for COM
missions as general officers of the volun.
teer service.
Governor Hastings and Adjutant
General Stewart went to Camp Hastings
this morning.