The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-27
Official Reports Of Coils.
Dempsey and Stern
Criticize Sharply.
I1OVVII'ZERS AND
BLU ES GET .RA.PS
Officers Report That These
Commands Left Their Camps
In Dirty" Condition.
The March Of the
Howitzers High
ly Praised.
. .,......

AS an aftermath OF the cncampment
of the Virginia troops at Camp John
Smith. James town, come the official
reports made by Colonel Dempsey.
United states Army. on duty with the
Virginia troops. and Lieutenant Col
onel 10 Lane Stern, Assistant 1nspec-
tor-General of tho State. to the Adtu-
tant General for the Information OF
the Governor of Virginia.
These reports are Interesting. not
only on account Of the facts which arc
set out. but also byreason Of certain
unfavorable criticisms of the various
commands and praise of others. while
batli reports show clearly the utter
lack of preparation made by the expo
fitton company for the Virginia milf
tia
Both Colonel Dempsey and Licuten-
fhnt-Coionel Stern commend highly the
Richmond Howitzers on nccount Of the
march from Richmond to Camp John
Smith In record time: this battery
having marched l2s miles over rougl,
and wet country roads in less than
five days.
q. Dirty Camps.
Colonel Stern takes occasionto to COM
pli1nept the Richmond Blues on their
proficiency in drill, but Colonel Demp-
sev especially mentions the Blues Bat
TALON and the Howitzers as having
left their campS in dirty condition.
Colonel DEMPSEY and lieutenant
Colonel Stern are outspoken in their
criticism OF the camp prepared by the
exhibition, and describe 1T as "a veri-
table mud hole" as ..incomplcte"
without lights and in an "unsanitary
condition."
The lack of facilities for. the re-
5moYal of garbage and the unfinished
condition OF the latrines and baths
are also commented upon.
Colonel Stern points out the delay
III the movement OF trains, for which
the Transportation company was re-
sponsiblc, and the improper loading of
Horses on the trains. He recommends
that hereafter the EencaElpments sbe@held
some place6wTGd by the State and
removed from the amusements OF a
fair or exposition, which, he says. de-
&Woralizes the men and causes the fall
ure to secure the instruction and drill
for which the eencampment8i is held.
For Regimcntnl Camps.
lie recommends that in future regi-
mental instead OF brigade encamp-
Instruction may be impaired. but he
adds that the brigade commander and
his staA should be present at these
+ areglmental encampmcnts.
A fact which he deems worthy OF
mention Is that, despite the nnfavor-
able conditions which existed In camp,
the mon were cheerful and willing To
work without complaint.
Colonial Dempsey. in his report. is
frank in recording many defects no.
4 ticed during the encamp1nent. He as
scrts that many OF the enlisted men
are "half-grown boys, who would be
rejected for physical reason were the
troops called out by the United States
governments; that neither officers nor
men were strict In carrying out tho
requirements of the drill! regulations
and guard manual; that sentinels were
indifferent and not properly In
structed, and that enlisted men did not
salute nor did they pay proper respect
& to tho officers of the5command.
Officers nt Fault.
XXX Colonel Dempsey makes 1t plain that
he officers are responsible for this
disregard OF discipline.
An Regarding the policing of camp, Col
onel Dempsey praises The Seventy frs
Regiment. commanded by Colonel Not
tingham, but says the camp of the
+ seventy-second Regiment was Very
dirty when General Vaughan and him.
y self visited II.
He recommends that an annual meet,
Ing beSheld OF the officers OF the bri.
gade for the purpose of instruction
stating that this plan has resulted tc
the benefit of the militia In other
States.
Zeal of Cootes.
The efficiency and zeal Of Ldeutenan
Harry N. Cootes, OF tile regular army
who had charge of the camp. is com
mended. In Justification of Lieutenan
. Cootes 1t should be stated that it wa
not his fault that the camp was ii
4 such bad condition, for the blame lie
at the door of the exposition Direc
tor General Barr. in discussing thi
Z matter last week. said frankly that a
the time the Virginia troops We're II
camp the exposition had no money
and could not ft out the camp accord
General Vaughan. commanding the bri
A gade, forced the exposition to compl,
in part with Its agreement only b,
threatening to break camp after tw,
days occupancy. Y
Colonel Dcinrsey's lteport.
Colonel Dempsey's report III par
reads as follows
battery a, First Artillery, started
to march from Richmond to the Ex.
position Grounds on the morning 0i
the TIL, inst, and, very much To my
surprise, and that of many others
reached camp on the morning of the
18th Inst. The incessnnt rains made
the roads almost impnssable, and this
together with green horses, Mnnccus
toned to each other, ana the hard Rtce
collars Of the harness, makes tlt
march of that organization a notable
f one, and Is an evidence Of the intens,
enrne.tness and determination of thi
organization. They are entitled to ful
praise for their aucGcssful march an
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