The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-13
MILITIA BOYS in CAMP
THE REGIMENTAL OFFICERS EN-
PRESS MUCH SATISFACTION.
An Enjoyable and Profitable Week Is
MISUNDERSTANDING Routine and
other Features.

There seemed to be nothing but work go
ing on at the fair grounds yesterday, where
the Indiana Guard is camped. The boys
were just getting settled. They made the
straw fly as they packed it into their mat
tresses. Pillows are an unknown quantity
out there. Some of the soldiers made pillows
by pushing the greater part of the straw to
one end. thereby making themselves be-
lieve that their bed was complete whether
il was or not. Soldiers are a happy lot any
how, and they do not expect to have things
in camp as comfortable as they are at
home. If there is not something 10 kick"
about they are always disappointed. This
sort of thing has become a habit with SOL
diers and they hold to it sacredly.
The infantry reported for duty early In
the morning. The out-Of-toWn regiments
and companies arrived in plenty of time
and it was not long before they had their
tents UP. The batteries were the last 10 ar
rive. The man with whom the contract was
made to provide horses failed to live up to
his part of the agreement and 1t was a
long time before the boys were able TO get
started. Battery A arrived early in the
afternoon, but it was after > o'clock be-
fore Battery b, of Fort Wayne, pulled in.
The camp is now complete and they Will get
down to work to-day.
THE DAYS ROUTINE.
The public have an idea that the soldiers
do not work and have a good time. They
do enjoy themselves, but the greater part
of their time is occupied in drilling and get
ting instructions in everything that per-
tains to a soldiers life. The following is
the routine that they must go through
every day:
Reveille, $50 a. m.
Mess call, 6 a. m.
Sick call, $50 a. m.
Fatigue, 6:35 a. m.
Drill call company or squad), Z a. m.
Recall, 1:45 a. m.
Guard mount, S:15 a. m.
Drill call (battalion), $3.50 a. m.
Recall, IL a. m.
First sergeants' call, 1870 a. m.
Mess call, II M.
School call Officers and noncommissioned
Drill call T~egimentaD, 2:50 p. m.
Recall, Ais p. m.
Mess call, 5:45 d. m.
Regimental parade, 6:15 p. m.
Issue, Z p. m.
School call, s p. m.
Tattoo, $3.50 p. m.
Taps, 1915 D. m.
The camp will not be in full blast until
to-day. There were practically few re-
strictions yesterday; the boys roamed in
and out of the grounds at will. Colonel
Frank, of General McKee's staff, said that
appearances would be changed a great deal
to-day. The boys have not been there
long enough to be arrested or get sick. The
hospital corps is ready and anxious to get
to work. There are sixteen men under
Captain Pfaff, who are able to fight any
kind of sickness that a soldier may have.
The hospital is located in the fine arts
building, and is in readiness for any pa
tient.
Colonel Studebaker. of the Third Resi-
ment. and Colonel Mccoy, Of the First, said
that their men were all in ship shape. and
that they could not be better pleased with
the way the boys were getting down to
work.
A young man who wanted to talk to Col.
Mccoy started across the color line: He
was stopped by a guard, who told him to
in amaZement, not knowing what to do.
He was told TO take off his hat, which he
did; He then passed on, thinking that the
soldier was imposing on him by trying to
show his authority: He questioned the
colonel about it. Every person is made
to take off his hat and put it on his left
shoulder replied the colonel. We'll, [
took off my hat, but L didn't put it on
my shoulder" said the young man, look
ing perfectly satisfied and feeling very
much better over the fact that he had not
been entirely submissive to Uncle Sam.
Colonel Smith was in a jubilant mood
yesterday. The regiment is first class"
he said. Every man is feeling fine. We
had our first mess this noon, and l never
tasted better grub in my life. 1t is as good
for your health out here as going to a sum-
mer resort. 1 think that I'll gain twenty
pounds this week. l feel at home here.
too. 1 am back in my old log cabin, where
1 had my headquarters four years ago,
when we were getting ready to go to the
Spanish-American war.
Il have a young man on my staff who is
a prize" continued the colonel. IL can tell
you l was mighty glad TO get him. The
man is Burt T.. Norris. He got his military
education in Company d, of my old regi-
ment, the Observation-Disclosures. He
enlisted in 1855. when we were preparing to
go to war. When he was mustered out he
joined the First Company Coast Artillery,
stationed at Fort Dade, Tampa, Fla. When
/ heard about him l sent for him and made
him regimental bugler."
AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY.
One of the most impressive services at the
camp is the lowering of the headquarters
colors Immediately after the regimental
parade at els p. m. The "'Star-spangled
Banner" is played, a cannon is fired and a
blast is blown on the bugle. Then the
colors are lowered and are not raised again
until reveille the next morning. The fol-
lowing regimental bands are ordered for
duty at the lowering of headquarters colors
and for such other musical duty on the
same evenings as the cOmmandings officer
may see fit: Monday, Artillery Band; Tues
day, First Infantry; Wednesday. Second
Infantry; Thursday, Third Infantry; Fri
day. Artillery; Saturday, First Infantry;
Sunday. Third Infantry.
Company NJ, of Rensselaer,, is said to
/ ldNG liz hLOSl III ~ amp AAN hummer
seventy-fve.
]. f. Hamilton, inspector of the Illinois
artillery, was visiting the camp yesterday.
He says that much bigger guns are used in
Illinois than here.
The camp rations are very substantial.
They consist Of fresh beef. bacon. canned
beef. soft bread. hard bread, baked beans,
rice, corn, tomatoes, coffee, potatoes,
onions. dried peaches. dried prunes, cab
bage. tea, vinegar, salt, pepper soap, can
dice. ice and sugar.
There were not many visitors in camp
yesterday, but a crowd is expected to-day.
In the commissary department OF the
First Regiment, Capt. z. F.. Branch, of
Martinsville, is acting in the place OF the
adjutant. Capt. D. r. Gebhart. of New
Albany. First Lieut.. w. H. Hon takes
Captain Branch's place. Second. Lieut..
Frank Bridges is temporarily adjutant of
the Second Regiment because OF the resig-
nation of Capt. NJ. b. Cakes. Capt. G.. S.
Harvey 5 acting in the place of Major
Backman. OF the second battalion OF the
Second Regiment. Maj. G.. w. Feaser, of
the Third Regiment, will be lieutenant
colonel in the absence OF s. A. Bowman.
and Capt. G.. w. F~reyermuth will act in
Major Feaser's place.