Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-26
The Part Of Augustus Soldiers
in the War Game.
Where They Are Located And How
the Time Passes.
A Striking Contrast to the Former En-
campments.

tional Guard of the state Oh Name VIII
he well seasoned when it returns from
it's participation in the war game that
is now in progress in and about Port
land.
After several years experience at the
State muster one could only be of the
opinion that the run OF events year
after wear had resolved itself into
mere duplication of old experiences,
and the tales told by the citizen SOL
diery smacked the same as former
years to certainty. The average
militiaman finds his first muster a
dream of bliss; the second, a pleasant
experience; the third, a good time ana
often that something to attend but ne
does not enthuse-takes it as matter
of fact, and in a few years, cuts IL ou|
entirely unless to attend for day ana
meet old. friends. If some event Oh
special interest, the Spanish war Tor
instance, shocks him into a new phase
of the fever of militarism he may re-
turn to his old love for u time with
increased interest.
Accepting this proposition as TACT IL
appears certain that the muster roll
will be filled to overlooking at an early
date for today the eye Of every SOL
der sparkles with anticipation and ms
friends are wonderingly contemplating
the possibilities of soldier life in time
of peace True this is the period OF
preparation until Tuesday at midnight
and then there exists q state OF war IN
so much as the life of the soldier is
concerned, but all the time we feel the
Joke in it. If a hostile fleet were really
to approach these shores, however, the
DAVIS routine would be just what it is
now A visit to the camp of the head
quarters of the I'd Regiment-Camp
Smith at Long Island where Co. M of
Augusta is stationed, or Great Diamond
where CO. A the Gardiner boys are TO
be found, will give even the casual OBJ
server, plenty of food for reflection.
Sunday was a most beautiful day in
Portland and the opportunity was
seized upon to call there before the
strict rules of war prohibited critical
observation at close quarters and day
never to be forgotten rewarded the eff
fort.
Several men of both companies were
encountered on Congress street and in
answer to the question, why" they
attend church in the city This
seemed very wise and appropriate and
many of our fellows had been seized by
the devotional frame of mind, most
commendable, and had embraced the
opportunity to come to town, though
we are Informed later that the pews at
the Park, the Oaks, Riverton, etc
were much better filed than the city
Al, aacIy 10
veyance for a delightful run down the
harbor for fifty minutes and using
the binoculars in Great Diamond Island
one could observe the activity there.
More than one look was necessary
even at the comparatively short dis
lance, to observe the lookout station
and search lights, one on south fort OF
Diamond and one on Coro Island, paint
ed green and banked with evergreen tC
hide them from the sharp eye of the
"enemy's" tars when from the sea the!
tried to locate them to avoid theii
efficiency or mark them for capture
Two serious menaces to the foe pushed
their long noses over the earth works
in the shape of II inch disappearing
guns, and we eadily believed that
somewhere out of sight the rest Of theil
family group of smaller guns and NOR
tars with the rapid fires were ready at
the command to speak their little piece
in commanding tones. Over there
somewhere nine companies of Uncle
Sans Regular Artillery, two com
panies of the N. G. S. NJ. a signal and
ambulance corps were getting ready for
business and waiting eagerly for the
word, while four companies of Massa-
re mr.
We're in it too.
A careful plying with questions of n
regular who was a fellow voyager re-
suited only in receiving the look of n
wise one but little information. He
knew his book and would not take the
chances of censure by his superior for
telling what he knew the enemy
must not read in the press. Long
Island few minutes later presented
an animated sight-crowds of residents
and soldiers met the steamer on her
arrival and the crowd our boat brought
quickly pushed or to the summit OF
the island where Camp Smith is To-
Gated. To see the many tents pitched
in rectangular form with headquarters
beyond and the camp of the regulars n
little further over, one could hardly be-
IeNe lIldl Ill TWO udyS 1t VIII Ue leCtS-
sary to scour the island to find the half
thousand men or more who will be
watching the fleet from rock and
grove Long Island is the most easter
ly and most exposed of any of the
Y posts here, and this with the fact that
it has not n fortification causes the
knowing ones to declare it will certain
ly be captured by the hostiles Over
there among the trees cleverly masked
is one of the two great search lights
(the other at Robinson's Point on the
Cape) the second largest in the world,
co inch machine-the largest being at
Sandy Hook. A rude fence against
which, on the seward side, lean
young evergreen trees, Conceals the
camp from view of those at sea. To
the westward of the camp the parade
ground is alive with the battalion at
dress parade, reviewed by Major Cum
mings. The splendid music of Paynes
I'd Regiment band throbs upon the ear
1;,,,n H.