The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-12
Competency of the Former and Dis
cipiine of the Latter Especially
Praised by Umpires.
II. B. SMITHS ACHIEVEMENT
COLONEL OF THE SECOND TOOK THE
HoxoRs OF THE CAMP.
stnte Troops Arrive Home Tired hut
Happy-Some Lessons and Re-
suits OF the Maneuvers.

eoles or their tired feet to the tops of their
dusty heads, the Indianapolis soldier boys
who distinguished themselves at Camp
Young as part of the Second Regiment, ar
rived home at o'clock yesterday morning
over the Pennsylvania Railroad. The train
carrying the Indianapolis battalion and
Company, Nj. of Greenfield, was hauled to
the Panhandle yards, where the soldiers
remained until o'clock. Then they were
detrained. the equipments were carried to
the courthouse armony, and at 10 o'clock the
men were in their homes, enjoying a good
cleanup. the luxury of bath, home grub,
and other things a soldier wots not of while
In service.
Their journey home was like the progress
Of an exhausted snail. They broke camp
at Young Saturday morning at IL o'clock,
the hour when most OF the companies were
supposed to leave from Howard for home.
The military geniuses who attempted to
transport 1850 men from thumb-nail sta
tioa. over a single line of railway, made
that impossible. The result was that the
Third and First Regiments did not get
started until $50 o'clock, and it was $50
before Col. Harry B. Smiths command got
away from the scene of their honors. By
slow stages the special proceeded until the
journeys end was reached.
The Indianapolis boys and companies
from cities in this section OF Indiana are
fortunate. because a number of the far
distant companies did not arrive at their
destinations until late last night. The Sec
ond Regiment Band. which did such good
service at the camp, will not get home
IN Michigan City until to-day. 1t remained
In this city last night. All these annoyances
and discomforts were secondary matters,
however; the Indiana soldiers would endure
any amount OF hardship if they could again
go through the fine experience of a ma
neuver camp.
WILL GO NEXT YEAR.
That the Indiana brigade will be part
OF next years divisional maneuvers Is prac-
tically assured The probabilities are that
the government will buy the sixty-four
square miles OF ground over which the TO-
600 troops operated, and will send another
division there about this time of the year
in 1904. 1t is believed by army men that
provision will he made for large representa-
lions from States that were not repre-
sented this year. That Indiana will have
more soldiers there is certain. The ex-
ploits OF the brigadeS have given the SOL
diers a hunger for this sort Of thing. and
next time there Will not be half companies
Brigadier General w. ]. Mckee. after ex-
tire satisfaction with the conduct of the
troops under his command and his pleasure
at the high rank they obtained in work
with other State troops, ventured the opin-
Ion that there would be another maneQver
camp next year. and that Indiana would be
bers than at the camp Just dissolved. Col.
Harry h. Smith also Is of opinion that
Camp Young has been the opening wedge
for the participance of Indiana soldiers in
annual comprehensive, practical military
instruction Lieut.. Col. Thayer, of Green
held. of the Second Regiment, Major Condo,
OF the Second, Col George Mccoy, of the
First, Lieut.. Col. Bowman, of the Third,
and other officers are enthusiastic about In
diana's showing at Camp Young and are
eager for another chance at hard work
alongside of other state guards and the
regulars.
VALUE OF THE CAMP.
To give detailed idea of the practical
value of Camp Young was to Indianas SOL
6iers would be impossible outside the covers
of thick volume Officers and men discov-
cred where they are weak and where they
strong. In the future efforts will be
concentrated upon rounding the organiza-
ton into a perfect whole. as much at home
in scientific operations over large expenses
of ground as in drill halls or restricted
camps. The unpires at Young came to the
conclusion that Indiana's troops had been
exceptionally well trained in cornpany reei-
mental and brigade drill. but that larger
training is necessary. They found also that
Indianas troops are exceptionally well off,
cered. They found that the commanders
are men who know their business down to
the smallest details. They did not find IL
necessary to sting the Indiana colonies In
1t to the commander OF the First Michigan
and the Eighth Ohio.
The prestige gained by Indiana at Camp
Young is certain. in the opinion of military
men, to- cause the Legislature to loosen
up in the matter OF appropriations for the
National Guard. People OF the State, gen.
orally speaking. have learned more about
the efficiency OF their defenders from the
fine work done at Camp Young than they
probably ever knew before. 1t is believed
that all this will have a tendency to dissi-
pate the fog of parsimony that has be-
clouded the guard throughout Its career. In
diana troops have done wonders with far
less money than any other State forces with
which they maneuvered at the camp. With
plenty of funds the state Will stand abso-
at Camp Young believes
GOOD DISCIPLINE.
In speaking OF the conduct Of Indiana
soldiers at the camp. IL Is difficult to express
everything that should be said. The matter
of discipline, perhaps, was the most notice
able IndIana's soldiers bore themselves in
camp more like regular troops than like the
other State guards around them. The men
were quiet. orderly. instantly responsive to
the slightest word of command, and with a
praseworthy respect for private property.
Little things count In discipline. For in
stance Michigan and Kentucky enlisted
men, I'm passing officers, frequently neg
lected OF the fundamental details OF
good discipline-the salute. Whenever an
Indiana private passed an officer, Ii made
no difference whether the shoulder-straps
were OF his own force not, his hand was
Instantly at his hat brim. Besides these
things. the boys showed endurance, intelli-
gence of comprehension. patience and cheer
fulness under harsh conditions and facility
Tor instruction that brought upon themselves
the CONNIE ndation of their modeiS-the regu-
lars The general opinion at Camp Young
was that Indiana has as fine body in the
ranks as any commander would care to
have.
Much has been said OF the excellence of
the officers a point in which other State
Brigadier General w j. Mckee has a
standing among regular army men that
needs no comment. he is recognized TO be
rs good a soldier and capable a COM
nnander as any regular of his rank. At
Camp Young he simply accentuated his al
ready fine reputation. As for Harry Smith.
of Indianapolis, commanding the Second.
whom everybody knew to be fine soldier
before Camp Young was thought OF. the
manouvers gave him the opportunity OF his
1ife and he carried away more solid hon
ors than any officer who took part In the
work OF the maneuvers- AS commander OF