Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-08-04
CAMP PIERPONT IN SHAPE
Guardsmen Are Now Ready Tor
Their Four Days Stay.
MEN ARRIVED THIS MORNING
Scene of the Encampnient Presents
An Interesting Sight--List
Of the officers Present.

The First aud Second regiments OF
the West Virginia National Guard
arrived in Martinsburg this morning
at an early hour on four special
trains over the Baltimore aHd ONO,
and Immediately proceeded 70 estab-
/. ish camp PieIpOnt Oh rho Gray Sil'
yer tract OF 60 acres at the northern
edge Of town. on the western side OF
the Williamsuort. pike where the
troops will remain until Friday night
The entrance of the soldiers into the
neaceful precincts Of the staid old
city was without any untoward incl
dent the trains pulling mp to the denot
and d sgorging their khaki-clad bur
dens with little delay and without &C.
eident The entrance of the soldiers
was watched but by few people. the
early hour of their arrival prevent
ing the presence of many who might
have watched the interesting event
attending the unusual occurrence.
AS the several companies disbarked
the men fell into line, and under
direction of the officers the line OF
march was taken up. Tie men swung
into N orth Qneen street from East
Martin, and tramped the stretch Of
more than mile to the scene Of the
encampmenf, arriving there in good
order and finding that all the neces-
sa v preliminary work had been faith
fully attended to by the officers who
bad preceded them. The scenes at the
camp during the first few hours of
arrival were busy and animated ones,
as there was much TO do III order
that the camp might be placed in the
best possible condition for the troops.
Toe fin shing touches to the tented
city were not given until late in the
forenoon, but order soon emerged out
of seeming confusion, and the l,200
men who comprise the two regiments
are now comfortably installed
The lines about the camp were
not drawn TODAY, and as a consequence
there were probably as many of the
troopers within the limit of the city
as there were within the limit of the
camp grounds. This condition. how
ever. will be greatly changed by to-
morrow morning, when guards will
he mounted, and none of the soldiers
will be permitted outside the limits Of
the camp except upon written permits
son of their captains, The rule re-
garding visitors was not put in force
today, nor will it be rigidly enforced
at any time, one of the high officers
remarking that the Rrea est freedom of
the camp consistent with discipline
and order. would be permitted all Wis
itnrs
The site of the camp is an unGulat-
ing act of ground adjacent to the
William port pike, and while neither
rs level nor as smooth as the men
might have wished, is yet of such
topography as to make the Sal airy
conditions of the best The tents OF
the two regiments are separated by a
distance of about 200 yards. with the
regimental headquarters established
in large tents, and the headquarters
of the commanding officer and his
staff near the pike. and within easy
access of all parts of the field. The
tents of the First regiment are in the
southern Ell Of the field. near the city
limits, while the men of the Second
regiment are at the further end of the
camp. The parade ground will be in
the field Immediately north.
visit to the camp paid by a couple
of newspaper men this afternoon
disclosed scene of hustle and activi-
w. Seeking out the commander
headquarters. the newspaper men were
cordially received by General W. w.
Scott, the ranking officer of the West
Virginia National Guard, who was
found busily engaged issuing orders to
the member of his staff. who in turn
transmitted them to the reeimental
officers for execution, or attended to
the details themselves, according to
the circumstances.
General Scott stopped in the midst
of his work 20 chat with the news
paper men for moment, aud then re-
umed his duties OF Getting the camp
into frst-class shape, while the yisi-
tors paid visit to the regimenral
headquarters. Colonel Harry r..
Slmms, commanding the First ieRi-
ment. and Lleutenant.C Colonel G. n
Smith, in command Of the Second,
were visited in their tents, and were
found busy and active, bringing mat.
tiers into shape for the encampment,
The privates were arranging their
cots. stuffing ticks with straw. and
otherwise making arrangements &c
adj to their comfort while here. The
commissary department was also a
scene of activity, and hundreds of