New-York tribune., 1899-06-13
PRACTICE MARCH OF 23D.
FIRST BATTALION LEAVES THE STATE
CAMP.
GENERAL ROE WATCHES THE WORKING
coLoRs IN cAMP-cHANGEs WHICH MAY
BE MADE IN CAMP WORK

BE MADE IN CAMP WORK.
Peekskiil State Camp June 70 (speciaD-sx mile,
northeasterly from the State camp. In broad Ted
OF unknown grass and podding daisies. the LIST Bat.
talon OF the sd Regiment is camping tonight
Along the east Of the field beautiful trout stream
gurgles and bubles about granite rocks and bowl.
ders while beyond It, with gradual slopes rises h,
six hundred feet high. laid out In broad. cultivated
fields toward the south thickly wooded toward the
north and along It's symmetrical crest. To the
west the ground is high and wooded. and TO the
south the valley widening. stretches away %
Annsville Creek Northward 1t narrows down. but
there Is left glimpse OF the distant hills that
lood down upon Lake Oscawanna. perhaps upon the
spot where the battalion will camp to-morro~
night.
The time for leaving camp this morning had been
SCI for $50, but II was Oils when the battalion,
consisting OF Companies g. T.. D. and B. got
started. Their baggage train stood waiting in the
road the twenty rounds OF ammunition issued
to each man had been tucked safely away in wet
cartridge belts. and the companies themselves
were lying about In the grass apparently waiting
for nothing but orders. Finally Colonel Smith
came riding down with his staff. and then every
thing began to move at once The baggage train,
conveyed by First Lieutenant @. Frank Stringer
and detachment from Company ID. which acted
as rearguard, started down the hill to follow the
creek road to Annsville; the companies that had
feet, the noiseless drums were awakened into LIE
and the battalion was off.
The first halt came just beyond the Mccoy farm
house on the northerly confines OF the camp
Captain Charles r. Silkman and Company got
ahead OF the main body, for was the advance
guard II took little time to dispose the CON-
pany for the advance guard in a body with many
arms. or feelers that reach out in the surrounding
country cropping for hidden enemy. II ar
ranged properly at last, and moved OF with Its
point in the middle Of the road. This was
diamond formed BY three prtvates and Sergeant
Beatte, one of the privates walking In advance
two six PAGES in his rear and on either side OF the
road Sergeant Beattie covering the forward man
and having messenger by his side who could b
dispatched back to the main body Of the advance
with any information Of special nature. One
hundred yards In rear followed the advance. Z
detachment % ,he guard in command OF Sergeant
Nostrand. from which fankers were sent out 10
follow along the hanks. 80 yards distan, on
either side. One hundred yards further back was
the support to the advance and hundred yards
still further in the rear the reserve. Then
came an interval OF three hundred yards 10 the
main body. while at another interval OF three hun
dred yards in the rear came the resrguard
MEN NOT FATIGUED BY MARCH.
The road to the Croft farm was dusty. but the
sky was clouded over. and cool breeze swept up
the valley. the men suffered little from the heat
Besides, a rest Of ten minutes was ordered every
hour, tina: the might not be overfatigsed. There
was really no great need Of the rest. because the
march not rapid. the respect that had to be
shown to rye and grain fields making It necessary
frequently to call the fankers in
A turn in the road and the broad field on the
Croft farm came into full view. Just over the
indicated beyond a question Of doubt that this
the camping gr9uno was tent ny. and in front
tinentalve boys had established suffers store
He e, had all kinds Of soft drinks on ice for sale
bread, and country baked pork and beans. and he
the folks at home inished making it. He GE" had "a a
small rush OF customers at once but there were
men to permit them 10 sample his wares although
longing slances were cast toward the white hy and
1t was o'clock before camp was pitched and
dinner cooked After this there were minor duties
hours of the afternoon. and evening parade closed
their day as it did the day Of the I'd Battalion
Int In the afternoon General Roe: Colonel sauE
sSHa rode k0ost os to Vs he OF ns 10 S
home station about 5 o'clock Tomorrow the
the the and on
back to camp when Lieutenant Harold Davidson, OF
will submit his map Of the Country nj t"e and Major
Case. who is In command. will make his report.
MAY CHANGE CAMPS PLANS
A great deal OF interest centres In the issue of
these practice marches, for, II they successful
II Is probable that summer tours OF duty at the
State Camp will ultimately be abandoned. the regi-
ments being only brought here TO be sent out on
practice marches. Upon these marches. too the
Merriam packs to have a nna test to their
availability. To-day 1t discovered that some
Of the men did not carry them properly, the
packs instead of resting upon the hips and giving
ventilation TO the back. being suspended 10 tho
shoulders, as to let much OF the weight come upon
the sides OF the body. Experiments with the Rice
shelter-tent also TO be made upon these MARCHES
The officer OF the day for tomorrow Is First
Lieutenant De Witt c. Weld, OF Company A, ard
the officer OF the gurd. Second Lieutenant @. Her
bert Potter. of Company II.
NAVAL HARMONY BOARD MEETS AGAIN.