Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-05-10
MINNESOTA SOLDIERS
lnree Thousand Minnesota Bows
Now Awaiting Orders at
Camp Ramsey
1hrtlling Scenes as the Boys March Away
From Home--Camp Ramsey Is Now
Their Home--A Great Day
In the North Star State.

st. Paul, April 2o.-St. Paul woke up
carly this morning, with new bright
ness about his halo that astonished the
sedate old fellow not little. AS early as
o'clock the local volunteers put in an
appearance at the armory and completed
preparations for their departure. When
the first outside companies, those from
Duluth and Princeton, put in an appear
ance shortly after 7 o'clock thousands Of
citizens lined the streets and babe them
welcome with tumultuous cheers. Dur
ing the night the appearance of the city
underwent great changes, patriotic citi-
zens and business men decorating their
places with flags and bunting, and the
scene presented more the appearance Of
a gay holiday than the prelude of grim
war.
The Third regiment was first on the
ground, Notwithstanding the fact that
they had the greatest distance to come
By 9 o'clock all the companies of the
Third had formed on Sibley street op-
posite Smith Park, and, headed by Sci
bert's Third regiment band, took up the
line of march to the state capitol.
Co. K, of the First, was next to ar
rive from Saltwater over the St. Paul
and Duluth in a special train. The K
boys were given royal send-of by their
fellow townsmen. The city of Saltwater
turned out en- masse to bid them God
speed, and the patriotic ladies nearly
smothered them with roses and carna-
tons, which the boys affixed to their
caps.
The Minneapolis companies came in
on the Northern Pacific at o:3o and were
~ e H..
the St. Paul companies. This completed
the regiment, with the exception of the
Crookston company, which did not ar
rive until Saturday, and, headed by Wat
sons First Regiment band, they marched
thence to the capitol through crowd OF
adrniring people who cheered them lust
lily.
The appearance of the recruits, who
brought up the rear, was a surprise.
They marched like veterans, and carried
themselves in splendid manner.
The last reg ment to arrive was the
Second. and they were all on hand
promptly at 1926, when the last OF them
came in over the St. Louis road from
Albert Lea. They were marshaled by
Maj. Head at Smith Park, and immedi-
ately commenced their march on the
capitol.
1t is a strange coincidence that it was
just 81 years ago, April 2o, 1861, that the
First Minnesota was Inspected by Gov.
Ramsey and assembled at Fort Smelling
amidst the waving of flags, the cheer
ing OF a multitude, and the soul stirring
words OF the then great man OF the
state. 1t was April IS that Mr.. Don
~, "a ,r,to 1o1
companies of volunteers to report to the
adjutant at St. Paul. The call met with
enthusiastic response from every part Of
the state, and in IS days the muster was
complete, 10 companies assembling.
At noon, April 20, up went the stars
and stripes over the fort, the cannon
Numbered, dinner was served on tables
OF rough boards, crowds Of visitors shar-
ing. Capt Anderson D. Nelson in
spected the men and mustered them into
the service.
Gov. Ramsey was present April, g.
and announced the field officers, colonel,
Willis A. German; lieutenant colonel,
Stephen Miller. Drilling at once began,
but it was May 8 before any of the COM
panies were ordered away, having been
put in good condition by that time. May
9 the government uniformed the men in
red flannel shirts, black pants and black
felt hats, which was the uniform COM
plete at that time.
The camp at the fair grounds is named
"Camp Ramsey" in honor of Hon.
Alexander Ramsey.
The camp will be under command of
Col. Joseph Bobleter.
The departure of almost the entire
membership of the Minnesota National
Guard in the Minnesota volunteer regi-
ments leaves the state without military
protection, and Governor Clough will
take immediate steps to organize new
militia. Details have not been arranged,
but it is said that there will be one less
regiment than before, and that there will
be a large allowance of companies to
country towns. One object of the or
ganization will be to have men ready
and drilled in case the president should
make second call for volunteers for the
war with Spain. Adjutant- General
Muelberg will recruit the new Mime
sofa guard. The equipment of the pres
ent National Guard will be used as far
as possible in fixing out the new COM
panies, and as it is expected that the
general government will equip the VOL
uIlteeIS 1IOll tIl1S ana OCneT SCd[eS, the
new guard will have fairly good out
fit to start with
The march to Camp Ramsey did not
commence until 1890 o'clock, when the
troops passed in grand review before
the governor and staff. They were two
hours en- route.
When the last company had passed,
the column was halted to give the gov
ernor and his staff an opportunity to
gal1op to the head, which was then
resting at University avenue and
Rice street. From then on they were
frequently halted in order that they
might crest up" And bending under
the weight of guns and outfits weigh
ing seventy pounds, they certainly
needed relaxation. At intervals along
University avenue the marchers were
greeted with patriotic songs from
groups of school children. They en-
tered the grounds at 1:4o and went at
once to the locations assigned to them.
On reaching the ground, the troops
again passed in review before the gov
ernor and his staff, and were then
directed to their quarters. The Second
regiment took I'D it's stand on the old