Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-08
GUARD NEWS.
An Officer Tells of Interest in
Next tncampment.
Says It Will Be Most Enjoyable and
Best on Record.
Forecasts on the Election Of a Major-o,her
State House News.

t'eAt year s encampment Of the Ma
'lohal Guard will be one that will h.
enjoyed by u.s." said an officers of the
'uard to the Journal, Friday. as he
| stopped OH Tor a few hours to renew
olu acquaintance in the city. 1T will
pe the most enjoyable thing we have
| hau Tor many years. | for one am
| ioohihg forward to this encampmeDt
Win all the enthusiasm that | had
Mheh the cal for troops came and
ueSlreu 10 De one of the fortunate Off
GERS Which l happened to be. | have
as hluch pleasure in looking forward
10 inns as l used to have in nv an
iiua' camping out on the shore of some
vi 'he ponds near my home Then |
nave combined with that the pleasure
that the veterans Of the Civil War have
III gong to their regimental reunions.
Ihat is what it will be to IFS when
we come in here. next wear. A reunion
Oh the most pleasing type. for we are
mere on duty and cannot be together
lohS enough at a time to become sick
OF pelng together once more. and the
DUTY we will have to do will bur tend
to refresh old memories.
We used to say we would be thank
full if we We're out of the service and
who can blame us after tho tarrih,o
summer we passed at Chickamauga.
We We're then broken down by illness
and disappointment at getting no ser
vice beyond that which is the very
hardest of all services, that Of routine
camp duty with illness there.
"Nanv Of h.
both in my regiment and in the 2nd
are out, and the changes in the ranks
from what they We're in May. 1898. and
when we We're returned from Chicka-
manga and the batteries and regiment
were camped together. Nevertheless
there will be few faces of those
in the two regiments represented at
that time. who will not be present at
some time during the week. They will
come strolling in for day at least to
be with the comrades once more.
You want to be around that camp
during the entire day. my friend, for
there will be stories both old and new
recited and it will be a week of the
grandest good time we have ever en-
joyed. We have not the seriousness
ahead of us that we had before. We
will all be in good health and full of
enthusiasm for our work and the duties
performed to the best Of our ability
will be pleasurable reminders of the
days we passed in the Spanish war
Il think. too. that the duties will be
performed in more thoroughly under
standing manner and with more Of the
real army style. for our months Of
service We're great things for US. The
orders will certainly be given more
UNDERSTANDINGS. for both the COM
manding officers of the regiments, with
the great number Of the officers. will
have seen service and they will not be
in doubt about anything.
II doubt if YOU see the running the
guard and the happy-g o-lucky style
that has often characterized the Ma
tional Guard encampments. Things
will be conducted more on business
lines and every man will be expected
to do his duty. As for that ! think
the mon received a training in the ser
vice that will make them less liable
to wish to run the guard or to break
the rules They will be in the habit of
conforming to the rules and they will
enjoy the encampment better by 50
doing.
AS for the rife practice. | hope We
viii have chance. next summer. 70
get into condition as the authorities
are now planning. We had little, last
summer. and | am afraid some Of the
scores will show rust, next season.
though BY the time Of the muster we
ought to be able to come up to our
past records.
The Guard will be better disciplined
and drilled than ever and our equip
nents were never heater or better. We
will be spick and span clean and 1t Will
do one good to see us as we come out
for dress parade. There VIII be none
Of the dress suits on the soldiers thtt
have been an eye sore to US, but IN
stead will Dc the clean uniforms OF
the present with the slick leggins ana
cans. together with the black web belts
and every one Of the men carrying the
new rifles.
THE first day we are here Will pc
one when the officers Will have the
most trouble Every one Will be SAYING
How Are You to the other ana y
will be hard to make us break away 10
perform the duties that we must. II Z
was A lot of ladies who were TO be re-
united again it would be out OF the
ouestion of their working. but with US
II will be different.
"A different feeling among the OH
GERS will be manifest. Instead OF
slight acquaintance with one ahotiiti
as We, used to have. we now know ed'"
other Is well as brothers. knowing lie
failings and the strong points OF cdc''
50 we can better get along sfnoolhiS
| The officers of the two regiments al
also better acquainted than peIoie III,
Snanish war, and this will pc sraiiu
good thing. IN
Look for a grand encampment III
1900"
| That same officer said he had hredii
the other night of being in hattie an
he thought he was but a private -,
| :. ,,n ranks He cO1Id not VI