The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-26
BACK FROM CAMP
CHATHAM ARTILLERY HAD ROYAL
TIME AT CAMBRIDGE.
ENTERTAINED BY THE FOURTH
OFFICERS AND MEN ENTHUSIASTIC
OVER THEIR TREATMENT.

battery Arrived Last Night Over the
Plant System-Were Met at the De-
pot by Detachment-HOt Time
and Hard work Loading the Guns
at MISUNDERSTANDING Loaned "A
Hand-Guns Were Great Attrac-
tions-HOw Detachment of Ladies'
Served as ArtiIIerists-Lieut.K ren-
son as a stopper for a Runaway.
Chathams Were Great Provost
Guards.
The Chatham Artillery returned last
night from cambridge, arriving at SIS
O'Clock over the Plant System. The bat
terry was met at the train by number
of the stay-at-home members, who es-
corted the camp bronzed artillerymen to
their quarters, where service uniforms
were DOTTED and accoutrements and equip
ments slowed.
Capt. George P. Walker got his men
aboard the train for Savannah yesterday
at noon. All regretted leaving Bainbridge
where they had a most pleasant time
Their week in camp had been agreeably
spent, and another week of the life
would have been welcome Business de- |
mands at home, however, compelled their
return.
With the thermometer showing 1877 in
the sun. and that was where they were
the Chathams worked like Trojans, get
ting their heavy guns aboard the train
They had to run them up an incline, and
it was work of the hardest and the hot
test. Pushing them up a part of the way
was within the power of the Galatians,
but then they had to stop to catch a
fresh hold, and down the guns would
come rolling.
The infantry of the Fourth Regiment
came to the rescue of the artilerymen
The infantry had wanted to escort the
Chathams to the train, but Capt Walker
told the officers that his command would
gladly forego the pleasure of that escort
If they would only give them detail to
help load the guns. The request was read
lily granted, and sturdy members of the
Fourth put shoulder to the wheels and
soon had the guns aboard.
Those guns of the Chathams were OBJ
jects of great interest at the camp. Wis
ftors came from miles around to see the
soldiers, and the artillery got the hands"
Capt. Walker said last night that there
were easily 5000 people at the encamp-
ment day before yesterday. They had
come from miles around. Some of the old
Confederate veterans declared that they
were anxious to see the red-trimmed ar
tillerymen, they hadn't seen any of
them since the war. Their usual inquiry,
when bound toward the camp, was to as
certain whether or not the artillery was
still there.
The two guns presented to the battery
by George Washington the two modern
3.2-inch rifles and the gatling gun. were
all exhibited. A liberal supply of am
munition was carried and the guns were
fired frequently. From the rifles were
fired fifty rounds during the encampment
while the gatling gun had 1000 rounds
discharged. The firing was in salute at
reveille and retreat and also in drills and
q sham battle. The members of the bat
| terry prohted greatly in their firing man.
ual, and they know to a nicely how 40
| handle their pieces.
On one occasion Capt Walker and the
officers of the battery were entertaining
a party of ladies at the camp. The Wis
| ttors expressed a desire to fire the big
| gun. Capt Walker thought possibly they
! would be afraid, but the ladies showed
| true pluck. A detachment Of them was
| framed up for handling the piece and
| they took turns in pulling the lanyard
! The ladies in the party were Mrs T. S.
| Halves Miss Fleming, Miss Daisy Crit
! nth, Miss May Griffith and Miss Gillette
| Lieut.. Alexander Krenson saw and
siezed an opportunity to distinguish him
| self with the firing of the first gun by
| the ladies' detachment Many teams were
| ABOUT the camp grounds at the time and
one morse, attached to a buggy in which
! two ladies sat, was frightened by the re-
| port. He made a dash, running into the
race track and starting around the
! course. The lady holding the reins mad
lost control of him. and tine hundreds of
| spectators feared that there would be a
| serious accident. Lieut.. Krenson tnen
flew to the rescue. He took a short cut
and intercepted the runaway. He
scrambled into the buggy, took the reins
| from the lady and brought the animal to
stop. He was the lion of the hour.
and the ladies who had fired the piece and
those whom he had aided quite over
| whelmed the gallant young officer with
! their thanks.
The Chathams were model soldiers in
camp They obeyed regulations and or
| ders in manner that was most com
| mendable, but yet found opportunity for
all manner of fun They are relating
many stories of their camp experiences
and the good time they had. Not few
of their anecdotes sprang from the ar
rests they made as provost guard The
battery furnished squad of volunteers
each night for that duty. and forth thew
went to round up men who had left camp
| without passes. They distinguished
themselves on this service, bringing in
far more culprits than the infantry
Capt Walker and the other officers and
men were enthusiastic in their praises
of the hospitality and excellent treatment
! that had been shown them. They had a
far better time than they had ever had at
Griffin, and all were grateful to the
| Fourth Regiment for having extended
them the invitation and having so royal-
~ entertained them.