The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-08-10

Household of the Hundred thousand'1
the officers; the drills and equipment
the days routine and as we go on a
few glimpses of the Sunny South.
First among these is perhaps "The
Volunteer Army" and review of the
history of the regiment. Some time
ago the military attache of the Swed-
ish legation at Washington, visited
the park and among other regiments
the I4th Minnesota. His object was
to watch the training of the volun-
teers into an efficient army. For sew
eral days he watched us drill. What
his opinions were, / know not, but,
like the Japanese envoy before him,
must he not have gone away pronoun-
cling it wonderful? But two months
previous and the trains bearing the
bOys-still citizens-from their homes
to the state encampments, while
cheer after cheer went up, rolled cut
of the home depots leaving behind
them weeping mothers, sisters, wives
and sweethearts, their comfortable
homes and everything dear in life.
The boys came from workshop, mill
and mine, from the halls of learning,
from the busy Office, from homes of
ease and luxury, many had turned
from the plough and taken up the
musket, all had come forward at their
country's call to arms.
Then followed the review by the
governor, and motley array it was
that passed, amusing it would be
under other conditions but the Ann
erican people are too much in earnest
to notice that side of it. First came
the MALTA in uniform then followed
the recruits, only few with almost
a COM plete uniform. Among the rest
you might notice, here campaign
hat, there pair of leggins, now a
blouse, then a regulation army cap,
one man even wore an army Overcoat
while some who could not get any
thing else were carrying guns belong
| ing to some of the non-cOmmissioned
officers who were glad to be rid of
them, all trying to look as military
as possible, carrying under one arm
| bundle of clothes.
Then followed that dismal week of
uncertainty at the state encampment.
Then that eventful Sunday, when
after an exciting day, made SO by the
severe physical examination and the
announcement by the Captain that
we would leave next day and the sue
cessful candidates were marched up
to sign the muster roll. Fall in"
once more sounded and now we were
marched up and into little square
surrounded by the remnant of that
mighty crowd which all day long had
thronged the grounds but which had
dwindled and faded as that bright
May day had done, where for the last
time the roll call of Co. A, Sd MINI.
N. G., was called. All were there and
as each mans name was called he
promptly answered "here" and step
ped to the place assigned.
When this was over and while the
men stood with barred heads and right
hand uplifted, the U. S. mastering
officer slowly and solemnly read, by
the Pickering torchlight, the muster
ing oath in regards to serving the U.
S. against all enemies whomsoever
and to obey all orders from superior
officers, etc. 1t was an impressive
scene rendered more so by the sound
of sacred music which came to us
from the Y. M. G. A. building in the
immediate vicinity. AS the measured
tone of the officer ceased. ringing
81 do" came from 81 Threats, one step
forward, faint applause from the
surrounding stragglers, and all was
over.
1t was, over. Like the crusader of
old, they had made their VOW and
taken their oath to free the oppressed
and to forswear all the comforts OF
life until their object was accomp-
lished. Back through the now de-
serted streets they marched in silence.
Every man knew the responsibility
of the step he had taken and every
man felt it.
The next day the camp settled back.
to the old routine. All that week,
Dame Rumor was busily engaged in
sending us to all parts Of the globe.
Cuba, PHILIPPINES, Porto Rico. Hawaii,
Spain, Washington. Chicamauga, Ft.
Snelling-each in turn, until we had
almost given up the hope of ever leav-
ing Camp Ramsey.
But on Friday the orders came.
"Chicamauga sure Monday" 1t was
caught up and sent along the line
until every squad drilling on the
60. k.<s1 u