The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-24
TARGET PRACTICE.
Will Soon be Added to the
Work of the Second
Regiment.
EQUIPMENTS ARRIVE
CAMP WILL PROBABLY REMAIN
AT PRESENT SITE.
As THREE WELLS ARE ALL RIGHT
TO be Tried for Desertion by The General
Court Mar,iaI-- Skirmish Drill Yesterday
Lee to Capture Havana. The Camp
Cleaner now Than When Troops
Occupied It.

Occupied It..
The soldiers ut Camp Russell were in
unusually good spirits yesterday after
noon. For one thing it was Saturday
afternoon and for another n commissary
department that, makes haste slowly had
at last sent the boys something to wear
and to shoot with, more dangerous than
the noisy but innocuous blank car
tridges that alone had been furnished up
to yesterday.
The latest arrivals in the way of equip
ments are thousand pairs of leggins
which will be issued to the troops tomor-
row. Beside these n number of can
teens are here. $50 campaign hats, 100
pairs of shoes. a new installment of shell
ter tents and ponchos. and 10 cases of
cartridges of 1000 each. The boys had
n test of the shelter tents on their recent
trip to the country and We're greatly
pleased with them. They expect to get
much good target practice, out of the To-
600 cartridges. Campaign desks for the
field officers have also arrived The
equipment of the regiment is now com
pete except in few minor details.
Yesterday being Saturday there was
no dress parade. The regiment had
quarters, inspection instead. After the
inspection Captain Wagner's Asheville
company gave Il very creditabe exhibit
ton of skirmish drill and for some min
utes the Springfieds cracked wickedly
as the company dropped to avoid imagi-
nary volleys. 1t was quite pretty piece
of work and the volunteers evidently
enjoyed the mimic warfare. The old
rebel yell' was much in evidence rs
the troops made a dash for the enemy's
outposts. The Springfelds evidently
made too much smoke to be Il service
able weapon in actual battle. Even a
few volleys almost obscured the tirin:
line
The analyses of the water from the
other wells in camp have been handed TO
Colonel Burgwyn. The chemist states
that the well near the mess hall is sus-
picious while the others are pure. This
leaves three wells that are fit for use by
the regiment. Col. Burgwyn said in
speaking of the matter yesterday that
unless some considerations other than
those now before him appear the camp
will remain where it is. Under the ex-
cellent system of inspection and cleaning
that has all along prevailed, the camp is
now in much more desirable condi-
ton as regards cleanliness than when
the troops first accepted it. The Off
GERS declined to discuss what they term
ed cheap attempts to gain notoriety by
misrepresenting officers and surgeons Of
the regiment, as the statements came
from men who do not see the camp once
in n fortnight.
The medical corps of the regiment has
been seriously handicapped for some
weeks. One of three surgeons to which
the regiment is entitled was detailed to
examine the negro regiment at Fort Ma
con. While working with a reduced
force it became necessary to vaccinate
the regiment and as 95 per cent. of those
yaccinated proved susceptible to the Vi
rus the sick list was large. Before these
had recovered measles became epidemic.
In addition to this press of work there
were between 400 and 800 new recruits
to he examined and passed upon by the
surgeons.
There is only one case to come before
the general court martial, which con-
yenes on Monday. Private Baber of
Company Il is to be tried for desertion.
i
case is composed as follows Lieuten-
ant Colonel Andrew ID. Cowlcs. Major
Benjamin +. Dixon, Captain William r..
II. Bell. Captain James T. Smith, Cap
tain Donald MacRae. Captain Joel L..
Gibson. First Lieutenant James c. Al
britton, First Lieutenant Plato Durham.
First Lieutenant Stephen o. Smith, Sec
ond Lieutenant John Il. Rowland, Sec
A1,..,. a. -
Ond Lieutenant Robert Fl. Cowal:. Sac.
Ond Lieutenant John s. Adams, judge
advocate. The court is empowered 10
proceed with the business before it with
any number Of members present. not less
thaa the m n'mum prescribed by law.
CAMP NOTES.
Religious services will be held at Camp
as usual today by Chaplain Osborne. AT
T a. m. there will be communion: prayer
and q sermon 10 II. m: mems meeting
i'm the Y. NJ. G.. A. tent ut $3.50 D. m,
and service of prayer ana song ut :
y. m.
Lieutenant Smith of the First Regi'
mpnt y. G.. T.. was i'm camp yesterday
in the full uniform of brown canvas 70
be worn by the troops in their tropical
campaigns. The uniform was the obJec'
of some curious interest on part OF Inc
soldiers. who all hope to be wearing sliili
lar ones soon. The uniform really makes
n more handsome appearance than me
regulation blue. beside being Infinitely
more comfortable.
4 gentleman just arrived from Jack
sonvile stated that he had it on the best
of authority that the capture of Havana
was the work cut out for General fltZ
hugh Lee. He declared that the officials
at the head of the war department had
made General Lee a specific promise
that he was to lead the army that moves
on the Cuban capital. This by reason OF
his Intimate KNOWLEDGE of the CITY and