The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-25


n fsG siaee tbat dine The Guard bhi
tsadlly advanced ultii Il has seach
ed the present high standard.
In 1895 the annual ehcampmsni
was held at Pafksrsburg. beginnIn;
August Gu: The oticial tile ii tbt
camp was -canp MaccorNe.s Il
was even more successful than ihs
camp Of the previous year, better re
suits being obtained In every re
lspect.
During the year at the solicitation
OF a majority Of the commissioned
Officers Adjatant General J. A. Hottey
authorized the colonies commanding
both regiments to hold a Commits,
stoned Officers School. A large
percentage Of the officers gladly
ayailed themselves Of the opportun.
ity given them and the movement
was a decided success In every partic,
.ular. Although in the following
year another School" was. not held
1t has now become one Of the reg.
ular parts Of the annual encampment.
It gives the officers an opportunity
Of getting together and discussing
the thousand aud one little ilfH.
%culties which they may meet during
the management Of the various com,
panles In which they may belong.
and also gives them the benefit OF
the personal experience and instruc.
ton Of the higher officers who are
detailed to conduct the schools. At
the present time the commissioned
officers school Is one Of the most
important features Of the National
tuaFa seFflce.
Active Service In 1895.
The Guard had only one tour Of
active service during 1895. This
service was in connection with the
labor troubles In the Elkhorn Goa!
mining region along the line Of the
Norfolk and Western railroad. a serl.
GUS strike was in progress there be-
ginning May /, 1895, and by the first
OF July affairs were in a very ex.
cited condition, On the fifth Of July
Governor MacCorkle directed the
Second regiment TO assemble under
arms and be in readiness 10 move.
This had a marked effect on the
strikers, causing them to cease car.
ryfng firearms and Indalging In such
b~olsterous conduct at their meetings.
From that time the situation steadily
lmprovedy until on the ninth OF July
the Governor deemed It advisable to
dismiss the troops.
Active Service in 1895.
In the natural order of events 1t
is usually expected that the longer
thing is continued the more 1t will
improve. This expectation vas fully
realized In the annual encampment
OF the West Virginia National Guard,
Camp Holley," held at Hunting.
ton In the mouth OF August, 1896.
In point Of number, drill, field move.
ments and discipline. the troops pre-
n better appearance Mt this
camp than at any previous one. The
general condition OF the brigade was
excellent, nearly all companies hav.
Ing had issued 10 them a short time
before camp a liberal supply Of new
uniforms. several Of the companies
being well uniformed throughout.
There was no call for the troops
for any actlce service during the
year 1906.
National Guard In 1897.
No encampment Of the National
Guard was held during the year
1897. Instead an Officers School
was held at Charleston at which
place the officers held a ten days
camp. Two officers Of the regular
army we're detailed by the war de.
paFtment TO assist the West Virginia
officers In conducting the school.
These were Captain Jasper H. Con-
rad, Sth U. S. Infantry, and Captain
Charles C. Ayers, 10th U. S. Cavalry.
In the summer Of this year by
special request. Lieutenant Douglass
settel of the 10th U. S. Infantry, Wis.
tied the officers Of the regimen,al
quartermaster and the armories #
the companies, Inspecting things
generally and the men in drill espe.
.cialiy.
Military Law Passed.
A new militia law was passed by
the legislature In 1897 and approved
by Governor MacCorkle on February
25th Of that year. 1t changed the
law Of this State so that a modern
Guard could be formed. In con.
nectlon with this the legislature ap.