Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-09-16

camp, reaching there little before
noon, where the men enjoyed well
earned rest until 10 o'clock the next
| Thursday morning, when the reg
| iment left camp for the second prob
lem.
The line of attack was reached about
3 o'clock after very hot, hard, dusty
march. Many Of the men were unable
to keep up with the command and stop
ped by the roadside, but all joined be-
| fore night No fighting was done this
day by our brigade, but 1t was kept
continually on the march until p. fn.'
when 1t bivouacked near Broad Run
until midnight at which time the hard
est and longest march of the manoeu-
vre began, which was movement
from the extreme right to the extreme
| left of the line, distance OF about
l2 miles. Reaching our position about
day break we were assigned to the re-
serve, and owing to the success of the
attack we were not actively engaged in
fighting that day, but were kept con-
stantly marching until recall was
sounded and we returned to camp.
Upon its arrival in camp, at the end
OF the second day of the second prob
lem, the regiment had marched some
20 miles from midnight on Thursday
having been constantly on the move
except for short halts, none of which
were sufficient to allow for the cook
ing of coffee or other food. The reg
iment arrived in camp in a very tired
and exhausted condition, two thirds of
the men suffering with blistered feet,
and in my estimation they had reached
point at which further exertion was
nearly impossible, and certainly inn
practicable for a national guard regi-
ment
The program for the next day in
cluded a review at Wellington, Va,
which necessitated march to and
from the point of the review of some
16 miles, not counting the necessary
marching in the review itself. A re-
quest was received from the brigade
commander for my opinion as to the
iadvisability of taking part in the re-
view, and / unhesitatingly replied that
| considered it most unwise to force
further marching on the regiment
without more rest. i believed ii would
be a great detriment, not only to fu-
ture manoeuvres but also to the ma
tional guard as the men would GER
tainIy feel that they We're being used
beyond reason, especially as no mill
tary problem was to be worked out
the review being simply show affair.
A conference of the brigade and reg
mental commanders was held, but the
division commander decided that the
review would take place, and the reg
iments would be expected to partici-
pate unless furnishing a physicians
certificate certifying that they We're
unable physically to do so. l therefore
forwarded a certificate from the reg
mental surgeon to the effect that he
deemed it impossible for our command
to take part in the review principally
owing to the sore and blistered condi-
tion of the mems feet On further con-
ference with the brigade commander
was gratified to be informed that ne
considered my conduct exactly right
in deciding not to take part in the re-
view, and stated that he would have
done the same had he been in my
place.
| have the honor to say that the
newspaper reports stating that the
men refused to obey orders TO partici-
pate in the review are absolutely false.
| The men We're not asked for their pre-
fareaee in the matter and the respon-
sibility for not taking part in the re-
view rests entirely with myself.
would make the positive statement
that had the regiment been directed to
march TO the review, every man VINO
could stand on his feet would have
been in the ranks, but l do not believe
that 10 per cent of them would have
been able to return to camp.
believe on the whole the manoeu-
vres We're a great success, but ! also
believe that too much was attempted
in the short time available. l do not
think the fact that the national guard
troops are made up of men unaccus-
toned to hard marching was SUM-
cientlv considered | believe that in
stead of putting a review upon the
troops. day of rest between the prob
lens would have been of far greater
benefit 1t would have left the troops
in fresher condition for the second
problem.
on Friday, after the return from the
second problem, the regiment was
mustered and paid to and including
the 18th day of September. Orders
were given directing the departure of
the regiment at a. m, on Monday the
18th The regiment was ordered to
embark at p. m. on the 18th, at
which time it marched to the entrain-
ing platform, but owing to lack OF
facilities on the part of the railroad,
cars were not set until IL D. M, at
which time the men were placed in the
cars, and the train pulled out prompt
ly on schedule time Monday morning.
The return to Jersey City was made
without incident arriving there at $50
D. M The command was then en-
barked on the S. S. New Hampshire.
and sailed at p. m. for New London
where it was transferred to the Cen
trail Vermont railroad and departed for
home.
1t is my painful duty to inform you
of the death of Private w. H. Chal-
mers of Company G. early on the
morning of September 49, on board the
boat New Hampshire" Private Chal-
mers was taken sick in Brattleboro be-
fore the regiment left for Virginia. He
nearly recovered but owing TO indls-
cretion in eating he was reattacked,
and sent to the division hospital the
next day after the arrival in camp.
He was in very weak condition when
the regiment left for home, having
been taken to the car on stretcher
and placed on a cot in the Pullman OF
the second section. The diagnosis OF
the case showed acute gastro-enter1tis
and the cause of death as certified by