Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-24

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II " the National Guard
" " is at an end. The
muster field is de-
serted of the blue coat soldier boys.
who, for the past two weeks, have been
experiencing a little of soldier life. The
white tents were still standing. last
evening, but Capt. Dodge and his as
sistants were making preparations to
rae them to the ground and store
them away until another year shall
have passed and the boys come again
for another encampment.
From Il military point of view the
cncampmcnt of 1901 has never been
surpassed III the history Of the Ma
tional Guard. That is the consenSus
Of opinion among the military men Of
the State. who one ana all ,ieplorc the
fact that AdjutaHt General richards
is To leave the organization and the
state for his new duties IN tennessee.
Military men say that Maine has
never had II more capable adjutant
general than In" present incumbent Of
the Office. His work has been pro-
ductive Of astonishing results. From
what was in SoElc respects a state of
chaos, he has brought the organization
into almost u perfect state of unity.
The men of the National Guard of to-
day are high types of physical man.
hood and are thoroughly cognizant
with the duties Of a soldier. They do
not come to the annual encampment
FOR recreation and fun; they come for
business as anyone who has been pres
ent at Camp Hill. the past two weeks.
hi
nearly as possible on the regular army
Adjutant General Richards and his Of
ficers have labcred for the betterment
of the Guard. adopting methods that
have resulted in the greatest good.
About 80 =. NJ. yesterday. the flag
was lowered from the staff at head
quarters. while the band played The
Star Spangled Banner and the en-
campment was ir reality at an end.
The regiment formed. the men in
heavy marching order, and left camp
for the State House. where in accord
ance with orders the men We're to view
and pay homage to the old battle flags
in the rotunda.
The regiment. headed by Col. L. Fl.
Kendall and staff. while the band
played inspiring music, left camp. The
route was down Winthrop street, down
State. to the Capitol.
Large numbers of people were at the
State House to witness the impressive
services. The regimen: marched into
the side entrance and massed in the
rotunda. The special order relating to
the ceremony was read the chaplain.
Rev. G. 5. Cummings of Auburn. read
the poem The Returned Maine Bat
tie Flags by the late Moses owen of
Bath. Then, while the men stood with
arms presented and the spectators
with barred heads, the band played
THE Star Spangled Benner" Taps
We're sounded and the regiment march
ing out of the main entrance formed
on State street.
The ceremony was the same as that
of the I'd Regiment, on the day it broke
camp, last week. 1t impressed one as
being very impressive and appropriate
that the young soldier boys of Maine
should pay homage to the tattered
flags which their fathers bore in bat
tie for the preservation of the Union.
1t forces upon them the idea that they
too may be called upon to fight for the
called upon to perform duties more
week at Camp Hill.
From the State House. the regiment
marched up State and Grove streets to
Water and thence TO the railroad sta
ton. where there WAS a considerable
delay in waiting for the train. The
special having arrived the soldier boys
went aboard and as they went out of
the station. waved handkerchiefs hats
and hands. shouting farewell 10 Au-
gusta. A large number of people We're
at thu depot and cquare to see them
off
All along the route to the station
large numbers Of people watched the
moving lines with admiration. realiz-
ing that the First is capable Of pre-
sentinS most crcditable appearance
and has improved a great deal. dur
ing the encampment.
But light work was given the men.
yesterday before departure from camp.
Guard mount took place as usual and
the guards were on duty until! after
noon mess. The boys passed the tine
i'm making preparations for breaking
camp and in saying good bye to
friends. The mess houses We're cleared
up and the doors locked and, all the
forenoon teams were hauling away
the chests of the different companies.
Col Frederic Parkhurst of Bangor,
cOmmissary general. can but feel sat
isfied with his work during encamp-
ment The duties We're entirely new to
him but the manner in which they
were carried out reflects credit upon
the officer If any kicks" are made
by the soldiers the commissary is al
most invariably the objective point Of
complaints but the affairs of the de-
partment have run along smoothly the
head studying continually to make i'm
provements in the methods in vogue.
The hospital department has had but
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