Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-13

Under sodden skies and with close
and "muggy" atmosphere the last day
at Camp Cobb was not an especially
pleasing one for the boys of the 1st
Regiment but with only half day OF
unpleasant weather there were no COM
plants, for fair skies and a warm sun
had prevailed since Monday, and the
men were rot inclined to find any fault
with the weather man for his evident
oversight in failing to provide SIX
warm. sunny days.
On account OF the rains of Friday
night. Col. Kendall decided to postpone
the inspection of the regiment. which
was planned to be held at O'Clock
Saturday morning. The grass on the
muster fell was wet and the com
nlander felt that inasmuch as the regi-
ment would break camp in the middle
of the day that it would be an unneces-
sary hardship for the men to tramp
about in the wet, and the inspection
was not held until / o'clock in the af-
ternOOn.
There were no incidents of special
note to mark the last day in camp. The
usual routine of camp life prevailed up
to the hour that the regiment left for
home, ard the soldiers passed great
er part of the forenoon in getting their
traps together for their journey to the
respective company stations.
Guard mount was held at the usual
early morning hour, with Capt. Elliott
the regimental adjutant. in charge
The detail for the day was az follows:
Officer of the day, Capt. Everett L.
Holt of Co. G.: commander Of the guard
1st Lieut.. Frank E. Cummings of Co
A. and supernumerary commander OF
the guard, I'd Lieut.. Albert F. p. n.y.
Ter Of Co II. The regimental band at
tended the guard mount whit music as
usual. but there were few spectators
at the ceremony, which is considered
by the guard officers as one of the pref
test of the manual.
During the forenoon Adjutant Cen
eral Farnham paid a visit to the COM
pany streets, calling at the tent of each
commissioned officers, and frequently
stopping at one OF the conical tents to
tolk with the enlisted men. Gen. Farm
ham made this visitation with view
to determining the ideas of the officers
and men gained by the hike from
Harward's to the camp.
A majority of the men interviewed
by Gen. Farnham were Of the opinion
that the long march had proved of ben
eft to the guard. A few were OF the
opinion that it had only demonstrated
the fact that the members of the guard
were competent to care for themselves
in the field without any previous field
experience or training. 1t was brought
out, however, that for several reasons
the "hike" this year was most timely
and later on will have a beneficial re-
suit In the first place. it is pointed out
that although all of the people OF the
State Gid not have an opportunity 10
see the soldiers. the section of the
country through which the regiment
passed was representative of the farm
ing districts of the whole State. and
no one who participated in the hike
will deny that the people along the line
Of march were very favorabliy M
pressed with the guard and few OF
them in fact, had ever before seen the
states volunteer soldiers.
Another valuable fact developed b.!
the march from Har,yard's, is that the
men who have hitherto been brought
into camp by train and few. if any VINO
have seen actual service in the field
have gained experience that would
stand them in good stead in the event
Of war or other disturbance which
would render their services necessary.
A great many men in the list Regiment
never before had any occasion to use
the shelter tents which are provided in
each enlisted mans equipment and 1t
ia very likely that many in the guard,
however we'll drilled and trained they