The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-21
ALABAMA WILL Be
WELL REPRESENTED
Local Soldiers Prefer ChiCka-
manga for Encampment
TWO INFAN TRY REGIMENTS
Brandon Light Artillery and Troop
30" May Represent Artillery and
Cavalry Force Of Alabama
at Chattanooga.
TWO INFAN TRY REGIMENTS

| Local members of the Alabama Ma
tional Guard are enthusiastic over the
prospects of going to Chieamauga park,
near Chattanooga, this summer for the
| annual encampment. 1t now seems GER
| tain that the First and Third regiments
of infantry one battery of artillery and
one squadron of cavalry will go to chica-
manga At a recent meeting of the off,
GERS of the National Guard held in Mont
gomery. this was practically agreed upon.
! The officers of the Second regiment OF
infantry seem DESTROYS of holding the
annual encampment Of instruction and
drill of that organization at some point
in Alabama, and it will go to either
Montgomery Selma or Mobile.
The Brandon Light artillery, the local
organization at the encampment held In
Montgomery last summer, made the best
showing over the batteries stationed at
Montgomery, Mobile and Selma, and 1t
is likely that the adlutant general will
decide upon this as the battery to go TO
organization with a big roster of men,
and that organization may represent the
cavalry attached to the Alabama Ma
tional Guard, at the big encampment
The sum of 100000 is to be expended
by the government for eneampments for
the National Guard Of seven southern
states to be held at Chicamauga, and it
Of
soldery will attend the joint enoamp-
ment
On the Chicamauga park government
reservation is stationed at present the
Twelfth regiment of cavalry United
States army, which is considered one of
the best regiments in the service. The
Twelfth is quartered at Fort Oglethorpe,
in one section of the park. This fort is,
perhaps the most complete army post in
the United States. The National Guard
of the several states will have the adj
vantage of making a study of the life
of regular soldier at an army post, as
we'll as visiting many points of interest
on the historic battle fields near Chat
tanooga.
Life at Army Post.
The following from the Chattanooga
Times gives a description of the life of a
soldier at Fort Oglethorpe:
One year ago the Twelfth regiment
returned from two years tour of duty
in the Philippines. At once the never
ending round of work was resumed in the
army post which was then just com
Of
is that of taking the constantly arriving
raw material and turning out the fin
ished product-the trained eavalryman.
1t may be well to consider what is
meant by the term "a trained cavalry
man." and what are his requirements.
He must ride and ride well with or
without saddle.
He must shoot and shoot well with
rifle and revolver, mounted or dismount-
ed
He must be able to handle his saber
mounted or dismounted.
He must know how to scout, obtain
information of the enemy and transmit it
to his superiors In such shape that 1t
may be of value, and to prevent the
enemy from gaining like information of
his own forces
He must know how to take care of
himself, his arms, equipments and horse
in garrison and in the field,
The end and aim Of all instruction is
the foregoing. and to obtain the desired
results, it must be careful, painstaking,
systematic and progressive.
Soldiers Routine.
Last August the soldiers day began at
reveile $50 a. M, when he arose, made
up his bed and cleaned up in its vicinity
Breakfast followed Immediately this was
done Then came mounted drill from 6
o'clock to 1880.
Instruction comprised all manner of in
dividual horsemanship including mounted
gymnastics and horse training, troop and
squadron drills.
on return from drill, the horses were
rubbed down. watered and tied in the
shade.
Then followed the various police duties
in barracks, at the stables and about the
post. 1t is well to explain that the mill
itary sense of police duty" is to clean
up.
Guard mounting took place at $3.50. Re-
call from fatigue and first sergeants call
at II 80, when the first sergeants must
report at headquarters for orders and the
morning work was done. Mess call din
ner) at Il noon.
Fatigue call again at l o'clock begins
the afternoon police duties. Stable call
at o'clock calls the soldiers for an
hours work in grooming and caring for
his horse. Retreat at p m, with sup
per Immediately after, ends the day. Then
freedom until II o'clock. wnen every one
except the guard and men on leave, is
supposed to be in bed.
The programme with various changes in
hours of duty in school and preliminary
work In target practice will do for each
day of the year, except Saturdays and
Sundays.
for officers and men ana instruction at
drill was advanced to extended order
work by troop and squadron, attack and
defense of positions with an enemy out
lined or imaginary; or with one body of
troops pitted against another; attack and
defense of conveys. officers patrols, cav
airy screening and contact troops Chick
amauga park and vicinity furnishes an
ideal country for this class of instruc-
ton
Military Post School Term