The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-02
Our Troops
The Best
In the World

The tramp Of infantry, the numbering
Of artillery caissons and the Gathering
Of cavalry which are to be heard ON
Chickamauga park at present forcibly
call up tho shostly scenes Of 1858.
when Confederate and Federal met in
death grapple and battIed until human
nature gave way, accelerated BY Long
streets puncturing of the Federal cen-
ter. Chiokamauga 10 fitting ground
upon which to mobilize the troops OF
the Union In the conflict which 10 now
ahead Of ua Upon this field was fought
. battle 10 desperate and 30 pertinacious-
iy held BY both sides that the sons OF
the old veterans can W61l afford to meet
and fraternise upon Il. for II stands as
o record that American manhood 10 in
vincible.
"They arc fine body of men," said
Adjutant General Sheridan of General
Brooke's staff. "Man for man, think
they are equal to five Spaniards. We
have been enlisting men between the
ages of Is and 80 as the limit. They
had TO pass . severe physical examina-
tion and were required to be able to read
and write. The result 10 that our army
has been graded up until IL 10 OF the
highest standard. So severe have been
our requirements that only one In i've
applicants could pass, and then the sup
ply Of eligible men was above our needs.
One recruiting officer in Chicago had
500 eligible names which could not be
acted upon because our limit had been
reached. From this Is will be seen that
we have had tho pick Of men and that
the 10, 600 men whom You will see here
within few days will be equal to
more than Ave times their number. I
may be excused Tor saying that II reg.
iment were to lose every commissioned
man In its line. the noncommissioned
staff from the ranks could lead IL
through"
A forcible illustration Of this was
found In the arrival Of the second squad
RON Of the Second cavalry from Fort
Logan, Colo. No sooner had they tum-
blod out Of the long train which drew
up at the rural station than rider and
horse were together, and the cavaloade
began to wind its way up the slope in
good style. Every man had the carriage
Of an officer. Impatient at their long
confinement the horses ohamped and
reared, and when the main road was
reached 1t needed no spur to put the
whole squadron into lope, which
brought It TO the brow of the hill over
looking the valley beyond, where tents
were to be pitched. One horseman's
stirrup became entangled, forcing him
20 dismount for repairs, thus losing
sight Of his fellows.
"That won't do In Cuba" said an
Unlocking artillery subaltern. ut was
by just such slip that the prince i'm
perial fell into the hands Of the zulus,
and from all accounts the Spaniards are
just ~ cruel"
All around are spread tents--whole
villages of them--and the activity is
such that no loiterers seem to be found.
The artillery is in place, with its long
guns In trim; the infantry Is ready for
the march; the cavalry tents in double
line, with the horses drawn up behind,
all show superb control, even in the
disorganization consequent upon their
Just coming together. Said Major Raj
ferty, in command Of one Of the cavalry
regiments:
I'VE are not keeping up with the pol
itics of this thing, but we are ready to
do our duty. It is the duty Of those
above us to point the way, and you can
depend upon it that Rafferty's horse
will keep In the road"
From the tower on Snodgrass hill
the scene below spread out as In q pano-
rama. In every valley almost there nes-
tied its village of tents, while the rid.
ing orderlies from one regimental head
quarters to another presented an ami
mated scene. As soon as q new resi-
ment arrives and begins to pitch tents
extra sentinels are thrown out, and thus
the ground begins to be occupied. The
headquarters Of General Brooke are on
gentle knoll hard by.
II must say that am proud Of these
men," said General Brooke. II always
did believe that Americans made the
best soldiers in the world, but as this 10
the first occasion in years In which 90
many Of them have been brought to-
gether, IL is the first real opportunity
have had to see them to such good ad
vantage. Our work here is purely mill
tary, getting the different arms OF the
service together and putting them
through the routine Of army organisa-
tion In the larger field movements. Be-
yond this II 10 obvious that ! could say
nothing"
It is evident that the regular army
organization being perfected here is to
serve 90 school for the volunteer regi-
ments which are now springing into
service In ell parts Of the country.
When they begin to arrive, there will
follow the differentiation of the sons of
Georgia, aud Of Maine, Of Teras and of
California. Ii is upon the coming Of
this 1915, 600 men fresh from the people
that the importance of the great ma
tional encampment IL hinged. They
oome not at the command of section,
NOR in the interest Of partisanship. but
a. the soldiers OF that new nation which