The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-04
CHICKAMAUGA PARK
THE BoYs IN BLUE TENTINo ON THE
OLD CAMP GROUND.

General Brooke Proud Of the Troops-say,
Americans Arr the Best Soldiers In the
world - Drilling DIFFERENT Arms of the
| service-Ready tn March on short Notice
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 the ghostly scenes of 1858,
when Confederate and Federal met in
death grapple and battled until human
nature gave way, accelerated by Long
streets puncturing of the Federal GEN.
ter. Chickamauga is q fitting ground
upon which to mobilize the troops Of
the Union in the conflict which is now
ahead of u.s. Upon this field was fought
q battle so desperate and SO pertinacious-
ly held by both sides that the sons of
the old veterans can we'll afford to meet
aud fraternize upon it. for IL stands as
a record that American manhood is in
vinoible.
"They are 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 30 as the limit. They
had TO pass severe physical examina-
tion and were required to be able to read
and write. The result is that our army
has been graded up until it is of the
highest standard. So severe have been
our requirements that only one in five
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 it will he seen that
we have had the pick of men and that
the 10, 900 men whom you will see here
within a few days will be equal to
more than five times their number. !
may be excused Tor saying that if reg
iment were to lose every commissioned
man in it's line. the noncommissioned
staff from the ranks could lead it
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-
bled out of the long train which drew
up at the rural station than rider aud
horse were together, and the cavalcade
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 champed and
reared, and when the main road was
reached 1t needed no spur to put the
whole squadron into q 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
to dismount for orepairs, thus losing
sight of his fellows.
"That won't do in Cuba, said an
unlocking artillery subaltern. sit 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 as 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:
1--WE are not keeping up with the pol
itics OF this thing, but We are ready to
do our duty. 1t 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 a piano.
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 regi-
ment arrives and begins to pitch tents
extra sentinels are thrown out, and thus
the ground begins to be occupied. The
of General Brooke are on a
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 il
the first occasion in years in which so
many Of them have been brought to-
gether, it is the first real opportunity
have had to see them TO such good adj
vantage. Our work here Is purely mill
tary, getting the different arms Of the
service together and putting them
through the routine of army organiza- |
tion in the larger field movements Be-
yond this it is obvious that could say
1t is evident that the regular army
organization being perfected here is to
serve as a school for the volunteer regi-
ments which are now springing into
service in all parts of the country.
When they begin 10 arrive, there will |
follow the determination Of the sons Of |
Georgia, and of Maine, Of Texas and of !
California. 1t is upon the coming of |
this 126 C00 man Trash from th> ,,aoclo