The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-18
THE TOCSIN OF WAR.
CONTINUED from page ~

for the preservation of the Union was
considered good. Lincoln's Administra-
ton and the conduct of the War De-
partment was pronounced success by
these men, and, like a former military
hero they would not have been else
where for thousands
In the meanwhile company COM
manders had been directed to report at
the headquarters OF the Colonel. After
some search these headquarters were
found to be near a tree where he had
by chance stationed himself.
At that council of war the Colonel
Informed us that the large cornfield in
which we were then was to become our
camp of instruction.; that the camp had
been laid out by an educated military
Officer Capt. w. S. Rosecrans, of the
Regular Army-and in honor Of our
Governor had been named Camp Den
nison; that we would find that stakes
had been driven, SO that the canton
ments which We were to build would be
in line, fronting the parade ground. At
right-angles thereto the company streets
would be laid out equi-distant from each
other; that quarters would be erected
on each side of these streets, and that
the formation of companies would be
upon these streets prior to appearing
upon the parade ground. We were in
formed that lumber had come to the
SIdIlOn LOT lHc Ol tHcSS
ters, and that the men would have to
carry the lumber across the field from
the cars. and commence the erection Of
their quarters at once.
Building Quarters.
The men went at this work with a
WILL and here at the very outset of the
war 1t was made manifest that many
of the mechanical occupations of these
y<,J. mt tod hn rTnr
ance of their duties as soldiers; for at
the call for carpenters 1T was found that
they were in every company, and under
the supervision of the officer and the
eye and direction Of the carpenters we'll
built and systematic environments were
speedily erected. and afterwards the
men busted themselves in adding con-
veniences and adornments, in many of
which skill and ingenuity were dis
played, so that the camp rapidly as
sumed a military air and appearance.
Officers quarters were established
and detail made for regimental guard.
Guards were mounted, sentinels were
posted, military clothing was soon fur
nished to the men, and officers directed
to equip themselves in accordance to
Regulations. Then there was a ponder
ing Of Regulations to see what Regula-
tons required.
Soon it became evident to the dullest
that there was an immense work to do
to equip and fit volunteers for the field.
The men were eager to be equipped,
drilled and disciplined as soldiers, and
the officers were as eager to display
any smatterng Of military knowledge
which they were possessed Of; but as
| they were slow to smatter it was evil
dent that they did not possess much
Like the men, they had 1t all to learn.
The first formation of our regiment
| In line was for dress parade afterwards
| referred to as undress parade), for as
| yet we were all in citizens clothing. AT
a signal company commanders were in
structed to form their companies upon
| their company street, right In front
and a certain direction had been indi.
Gated by the Colonel as the direction he
wished this line of the regiment when
formed to take. The signal was given
but as there had been no understanding
upon what company the basis Of align
ment should rest, there was great con.
| fusion in getting our companies to their
proper places in line. Some Captains
dressed their companies upon this com
pany and others upon that, the result
| being that no very exact alignment was
made, and there was every conceivable
| space between the companies. Every.
| thing being at last pronounced ready
the Adjutant's command followed:
ITO the rear. open order-March!'
This opened the ranks and brought
the line officers to the front. and served
as notice to the commandment of the
parade, together with the regimenta
staff, to appear, which they did, mount.
! ed. It seemed that these officers had