The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-11
HOW THEY LOOK IN CAMP.
North Carolina Troops at the Char
lesion Exposition.

North Carolina Troops at the Char
lesion Exposition.
North Carolina has done more to aid
South CAROLINA in her great undertake
ing, the Exposition, than any other
state. marked evidence of this is
the sending to Charleston of an entire
regiment of infantry for a five days
stay, the state paying all transporta-
ton charges North Carolina has
three regiments of infantry, and four
companies We're selected from each to
form the Exposition regiment. These
companies were chosen upon the rec
ommendation of the several colonies,
and the election seems to have occa-
stoned some dissatisfaction upon the
part of some companies who were not
among the chosen.
The regiment arrived at Charleston
in rain storm and went regularly
into camp in a field sowed with oats,
near where the cars of the Savannah
troops were parked, Feb. p. They
found the tents all standing and floor
ed, with bed sacks stuffed with straw
to sleep upon. The majority OF the
men have suffered considerable some
nights because of the cold, being only
provided with one state blanket. AL
though the trip is regarded as largely
a pleasure jaunt, efforts are being
made to pursue a regular routine OF
calls, with the ceremonies of guard
mounting and evening parade. Most
of the men and some of the officers
are new, and the regiment as a whole
lacks the smartness that comes from
experience; quite number
of the companies are from small
towns, and in some cases drill only
once month.
The guard duty is being very indif-
ferently performed, but the men out Of
ranks are behaving very we'll and are
particularly attentive to saluting all
officers, whether of their own or other
states. The commanding officer has
a novel method of policing his camp, in
addition to the cleaning up done by
the 'old guard fatigue" he forms his
entire regiment upon the outer limits
of the camp at fatigue call, and
marches them through the camp and
back again, the men cleaning up as
they CO. Col. Armfield is a great be-
lever in this method, and has the rep
utation of maintaining very clean
camp.
The companies are looking after their
own arrangements about subsistence,
and have all made contracts with res
taurant keepers; several companies are
messing at Heinz's restaurant and sew
eral at the Palmetto Hotel, but none
at the Crescent Inn, which seems to
have gone out of the business of feed
ing regiments, since the visit or the
Savannah troops.
The regiment is uniformed in cam
paign hats, a few with hat cords ana
ornaments, but the majority without;
blue shirts, blue blouses and trousers,
without stripes Tin the case OF prl-
11aI
Most of the companies average about
forty men each, and the appearance
upon parade is very fair, although
somewhat rough and rugged, for full
dress occasions. The band of the First
Regiment is with the regiments, num-
bering about thirty pieces, and rem
dering good music; it is from Asne-
vile. The local names of two of the
companies would strike the ordinary
nearer as unusual; the Hornet Nest
Rifles" of Charlotte, and the "Cabafrus
have come down through generations,
and recall gallant memories.
Col Armfield date of the First North
Carolina Infantry, U. S. W is soldier
OF the rough and ready type, VINO
needs no introduction to Savannah
ians He is very popular with his men,
and was referred to by distinguished
speaker in a recent address as that
silent man on my leftawho has never
known the word fear Col. Armfield
labors under the disadvantage of hav-
ing only four of his own companies I'M
der him on this occasion, and cannot
accomplish all he would like to. George
F. Rutzler, for many years one of the
drill team of the Savannah Cadets, is
now lieutenant colonel of the First
North Carolina, and is serving with the
Provisional Regiment; he recalls the
time when the regimental medal for
the best drilled man was twice won by
representatives of the Cadets. Maj. t.
r. Robertson and Lieut.. T. L. Powell
were in Savannah during the Spanish
War, with Company A, First North
Carolina Infantry, u. 8. ", and are
among the finest officers in the expo
sition regiment. Capt. J. c. Resent
and Capt. T. H. Brun were also here in
49, Capt. Balm is now inspector gen.
eral, with the rank of colonel. All the
officers seem to be heartily in favor of
the bill now before Congress, to in
crease the efficiency of the militia.
There were many kind words relative
to Savannah from officers and men
who had either heard of it's hospitality
or experienced it.
Walter E. Coney.