The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
CAMPING IN THE RAIN.
The Ardor of the Troops Was Not Dampened by the
 Shower

The soldiers of the volunteer regiments now encamped upon the PreSidio reSer- vation experienced their first real hard ship yesterday when they were forced to spend the day in camp with a dismal and penetrating rain falling. Fortunate lv drains were rapidly dug to draw off the water from the tents, and the can vas proved to be waterproof, so beyond the fact of being kept confined in their quarters the men fared well. as compared with what they may expect when they get to the Philippines. Those who suf- fered the greatest inconvenlence were the sentries who were compelled to walk their beats, but even they managed to get overcoats, so that the boys took the rain more in the way of joke; in fact. they seemed to enjoy it after the dust of the preceding week.
 Major Robe of the Fourteenth Infantry was in receipt yesterday ot a dispatch from Colonel Ward, sent by the direction of the Secretary of War, instructing him to inform the men now enlisting in the Fourteenth Infantry that they will be given their discharge at the end of the war upon their personal application for the same. This covers the case of all men now enlisting or re-enlisting in the regular service.
 General Merriam is expected here by Monday, and as soon as he arrives a brigade will be formed from the troops brigade and division formations will fol- low the arrival of the general. as it is his intention to begin the preparatory organization of the troops and get them into shape for the purpose for which they have been mustered into service. Other regiments are expected here next week. and brigade headquarters will be at once established, and the military routine of a large camp of war got into imme- diate shape.
 There now seems to be no doubt that Captain Darlington, who mustered in the volunteer troops of this State, Is ernment for his services. It is positively known that there Is a movement on foot upon the part of Governor Budd to try and obtain the permission of the Secre- tary of War to add the necessary battal- ion to the two battalionS of infantry now forming the Sixth Volunteer Battalion so that this command may be made into full regiment. At present Lieutenant Colonel Johnson is in command of tie Sixth Battalion. In view of the fact that more volunteers may be called for .there Is strong possibility that the request of the Governor will be granted, and in that event it Is said that Governor BlLu will tender the colonelcy of the regiment to Captain Darlington, provided the Gov ernment will permit him and he cares to accept the command. There is no doubt that the Government intends to mass a large body of troops at the Presidio ana many seem to think that the Secretary of War will be willing to have the Sixth Battalion made into a regiment to save the expense of transporting that many troops here.
 Colonel Smith, of the First California Infantry issued orders yesterday detaiI- Ing Second IleutenantS Otto Schewerdt- ferger and James A. Hutton for special duty at headquarters. The strength of the regiment is now 1032 men, fifty com missioned officers, twenty bandsmen and six men in the non-commissioned and regimental staff. Major Surgeon Me Carthy, of the First Regiment, was in structed by Major White. U. s. A., yes terday to issue an order to the different surgeons of the hospitals, informing them that in the future all serious cases will be treated at the brigade hospital and all the remainder at the different regimentaI hospitals.
 The arrival of Colonel Summers of the Second Regiment of Oregon, is looked for ward to with much pleasure by the off, cers now in camp, for the colonel Is said to be a martinet and rattling good officer.
 One has only to go among the men and especially the hospital corps of the regi-