Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-12
CAMP ALcER.

forward aimee thi- ee1or WAS urteecn, bat IN
description IL not Affected thereby)
4 FairfAx County, Virginia, fsmou
J alike In history for war, romance an,
chivalry, L. no adding another interest
ing page to It's annals. Over its hill,
highways, where a century ago lumberet
the coach Of George Washington, o.
gslloped Henry Esmond upon his spirit
ed steed, now may be seen flying squad
Of United States cavalry and long line
Of grimy, dusty infantry, en- route TO
Camp Alger.
This camp, located about ten mile
from Washington, now stretches Owe
some seventy acres, and IL the temporary
habitation Of an army Of TWENTY-FIVE
thousand men.
Here are two regiments from Massa
chusetts, the famous 9th and the 9th
the lat Rhode Island; the 63rd and 65tl
New York; the 6th. Stb, l2th and 18Th
Peunsylvsnis; the 7th and Sth Ohio; the
9Th and 9Th Illinois; l59th Indiana tn
3rd and 4th Missouri; the 3rd Virgins
the 33rd and 34th Michigan; aud thu
land Kansas.
Here also are two troops OF cavalry
from New York. and an interesting bat
TALON from the 9th Ohio, composed en-
tirely Of negroes, and commanded BY
Major Young, who enjoys the distinc'
ton Of being the only colored graduate
from West Point. A more s0ldierly
disting uished looking officer than Young
Is not seen upon the grounds. The only
! other negro troops at the camp are Co
l. Of the 9Th Massachusetts,. This
company, which has been part OF the
regiment for eight years, Is Differed by
colored men, the Captain, Williams from
Boston, being q graduate Of Harvard
Law school. No friction whatever
occurs between this negro company aud
their white comrades Ia the regiment,
thus showing that the perplexing ques-
ton Of negro troops can be successfully
solved, when race prejudice is laid aside
and manhood is not gagged by the shade
Of the complexion.
The Michigan regiments are q hardy
set Of youths. mostly from the lumber
riegons. They expressed themselves
enthusiastically over their governor, the
famous Pingree. He remained with
them all the time they were In camp In
the state, and sent them all out In
Wagner sleepers. The Michigan regi-
ments were fully equipped by the state,
aud arrangements are being made by
the state TO appropriate sufficient sum
to raise their pay TO s26 per month. All
honor TO the Wolverine State, which
thus msDifests In practical wav her
appreciation OF the patriotism OF her
sons.
The Bird Virginia Is composed OF the
flower OF the Old Dominion, and Ia
differed largely by men OF wealth and
prestige. Capt. Joseph Willard OF Co,
Is the son Of the proprietor OF that
famous old hostelry, "willsrd's Hotel"
Washington. Capt. willard became the
heir, nj his fathers death, Of IN estate
which yields him M income Of 5000 .
mouth. He leaves one OF the fairest
homes and loveliest families in Fairfsx
County, TO endure the perils and priva-
tions of soldier life.
The chiyAlric sons Of the South stand
shoulder 10 shoulder with the stalwart
hoys Of the Western prsries and Atlantic
sesboard, In this great conflict for
humanity and our country's honor.
Sectional snimosities and the bitter
memories Of the Civil War are buried
forever.
Camp Alger consists Of a succession
Of tented cities, rs IL were. Over each
one Is the name of its regiment, and as
one walks along street after street, and
looks curiously into the tents, eager,
wistful faces are up'urned, and a word
~ greeting most cordially received.
Here bow IL stretched fiat upon the
ground penciling line home. He will
tell YOU with a shade OF remorse In
his tone that he left home without his
parents knowledge, and that mother
Il grieving her heart out away on the
plains Of Ohio.
A Missouri lad Of seventeen received
a letter containing two locks OF hair, one
dark brown. the other gray, taken from
the mothers head before and after he
left her, respectively.
Here stslwart Irish corporal from
New Jersey told Us, yes, he dreaded the
Cuban climate "but we could not think
Of that now. Ii is the nag that must be
considered"
Another son Of Erin, too illiterate TO
speak a grammatical senteoce, said,
mo, the people didn't want war, but
the blowing up Of the Maine csroused
them so that they couldn't stand II any
longer"
The soldiers, AS q rule, are boys or
Young men from sixteen TO thirty. A
middle aged man Ia scarcely To be seen
amongst them, and their prevailing SEN
timeut Is unbounded patriotism and
esgerness TO get TO the front.
The Salvation Army and Y. N. G. A.
are doing q grand work At the camp.
They have several large tents scattered
over the grounds, well provided with
books and papers, free stationery and
II needed, free postage stamps. II Is no
unusual sight TO see two hundred soldiers
writing letters at one time in one OF
these big tents. Organs are 70 be found
In several, and religious services and
various entertainments are held daily.
The Y. NJ. c. A. also have large mess
tent in which delicscies are provided for
conyalescents from the hospitals.
The Missouri camp, covering several
acres, Is srtisticslly walled In with ever
green trees and brush. Over the front
is huge arch with the hospitsble legend
inscribed, WELCOME TO Missouri Camp"
The Massachusetts,, Illinois, Ohio and
Michigan troops are the best drilled and
best equipped, aud will therefore be the
first 10 move. Orders TO the South are
daily expected. Visitors thrOng the
grounds. The railroad trains hourly
discharge large numbers at their stations
two miles away, while over the dusty
highways in al directions vehicles
of all description wend their weary
way. The fine powdered dust lies
two feet deep and only buries huge
boulders and loose rocks.
Guard mount, drills and dress parsdes
are the order for the afternoons. By
two O'Clock scene Of animation presents
itself. In all directions as far as the
eve can reach may be seen squads, com
pauies, battxliops and regiments, march.
ing and counter marching, columns
single file, right obliQue, double quick
then the various evolutions Of the MAD
usl, an immense panorama spread before
the eve, in which the chief objects are
living, moving beings.
| E;nally tho shadows Of evening fall