Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-13
THE COMPANY DRILLS
GREAT CROWDS WITNESS THEM
AT CAMP LEE.
A LADY'S REGIMENT CHEERED.
The Young Girl students Arouse
Great Enthusiasm-Wbre Compa-
ment OF Regular Army officers.

Company Z, Of the Second, the Lynch
burg Zouaves, drilled in the morning,
! but the crowd OF spectators was not
large, owing to the early hour. This is
one Of the best known of the volunteer
companies in the State. and the manner
| IN which It drills. despite the large num-
| Der Of raw men in it's ranks, shows that
II still retains its old claims to admira-
ton.
Company Z. the Lee Rifles, Of Norfolk,
drilled at o'clock in the afternoon, and
It Is estimated that 5000 people stood on
the old railway embankment which runs
| through the grounds at the northeast
side, and witnessed the evolutions Of this
crack company. Shortly after the drill
began a great cheer arose from the:spec-
tators and the soldiers lounglng around
their tents. as about sixty young ladies
from the Woman's College, with Corporal
Kurdts, of the Rifles. at the head of the
column, were seen marching across the
grounds. The cheers grew I'm volume as
the young ladies drew closer and when
they finally marched along the company
streets, and took up a position at the
north-end Of the parade-ground, the APP
plause was deafening. The young ladies
appeared considerably Disconnected and
more than one declared she thought she
felt like the soldiers would feel when
facing a Spanish line of battle. The
young ladies from the Richmond Female
Seminary were also out at the camp in
the afternoon.
CHEERED FOR FINE DRILLING
The evolutions Of the Norfolk company,
executed with swiftness and precision,
were greatly applauded This was espe-
cially true Of the skirmlsh drill and the
charge The sight Of the line of blue
coats. with fixed bayonets running across
the ground TO the accompaniment Of
yells like those which their fathers used
when rushing to victory under Lee and
Jackson was very inspiring and the en-
thusiasm which it aroused among the
spectators vented Itself I'm thunderous ap-
plause. Governor Tyler and several
members of his STAFF. including AdJutant-
General Male. who was In full brigader's
fatigue uniform witnessed the drill.
The eyolutions Of the company, and this
is true Of all Of them. are not nearly so
accurate or rapid az they would be were
not 50 many raw recruits in the ranks.
These have not yet been lmbered up,
but will be very greatly improved within
the next week or two, as it is the inten-
ton Of the company officers 10 drill
their men several hours every day. Cap
tain Sheen was congratulated upon the
proficiency of his men, and especially
upon the accuracy Of the movements Of
a squad which he put through a silent
drill. This was very interesting, and IL
was i'm fact. remarkable to see a half
dozen men going through the manual or
arms with perfect uniformity without a
word Of command.
GET IN THEIR TENTS.
Companies f. G, and II, Of the Second
Regiment got out under tents yesterday
and the change to the open air was high
ly enjoyed BY the men, who were tired
to death of staying in the Auditorium
The men all welcome the change to can
vas. and their spirits invariably go up
with a bound when they are taken out 10
the tents II is the hrst experience of
the kind that many of them have had,
and while il may not be so much en-
joyed when the novelty has worn Off, IL |
is true that all the men like the life thus
far, and many Of them say they feel bet !
ter than when sleeping I'm beds and un- |
der roofs.
Company E. Of the Third, the Lynch |
burg Home Guard, has about filed up. !
though IL lacked nineteen men after the !
examining surgeon had finished with it |
Tuesday. The company will be mustered |
In to-day. Many Of the recruits came |
down from Lynchburg and joined the |
company. but several were enlisted from
those brought with the Roanoke and Sa-
lem companies.
COULDN'T FORSWEAR VIRGINIA.
Captain Griffin had a peculiar expert
ence with one OF the recruits for his
IA from
Iowa that he was a Virglnan, and de-
sired to enter his company and fight for
his native State. Captain Griffin felt as
sured that the man would be valuable,
and paid his expenses from Iowa to Sa-
lem. He came TO Richmond, passed the
physical examination. and went up with
other members Of his company 10 be /
mustered in. He took the oath, but when
he came 20 sign the rolls he hesitated,
and finally refused outright. lie said he
came back u fight for Virginia. and not
for the United States; that he would
never swear allegiance TO anything but
Virginia. lie returned home yesterday.
The members OF Company A. Second
Regiment. are greatly grieved at the
loss Of Second-Sergeant Ferguson. lie
became very much stiffened up with
rheumatism and had TO resign. A num-
Der OF his comrades accompanied him
to the station and babe him farewell
Ii is an honor TO Sergeant Ferguson that
tears were in his eyes as he told them
good-by and saw disappear all oppor-
tunity for bravery and glory in Cuba or
Spain.
CROWDS or VISITORS.
It is impossible 10 estimate with any
degree Of accuracy the number Of ladies
and gentlemen who visited the encamp-
ment Yesterday. BY 10 o'clock i'm the
forenoon they began 10 arrive and the
throngs that came in all the time in
creased steadily until after o'clock. At
least 1900 people saw the Rifles drill, and
this was "A very small portion of the
number that visited camp during the
day. Every detail OF camp life is Of in
terest and many Of the fair visitors
inspected the tents Of the men. The oc-
cupants were. in many Instances, in a
state Of dishabile decidedly unbelievable
I'm every day civilian life but their lady
friends did not mind the eXigencies of
war and good sense excused the soldiers.
The arrival Of the mailman is a great
event in camp life, and the carrier, a
soldier, is nearly overrun with eager in
quiries for letters. a soldier said yes
terday he had seen more blue envelopes
since he had been in camp than he had
ever seen in his life before, all put to-
gether. Blue stationery is used by ladies',
young Iadles. almost exclu-
siyely.
VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS.
The volunteers are beginning 10 feel
much better disposed towards the regu-
lar army. In common with all other
volunteer soldiers they came into camp
with a strong prejudice against army