The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-06-25
HHS10RN
OF THE WEST VIRGINIA NATION:
Az GUARD ANDNTEREsT:
ING ONE.
GREAT pRoeREss MADE IN PER.
FEcIioN OF ORGANIZATION.
ENGAGEMENTS SHOW STEADY I'M.
PRoYEMENTs FROM YEAR
ToBYEAR.

~ WI'sto SiiSV Ei"'
EXPERIMENTATION YEAR
TO YEAR.
One Of the finest military organI.
zatlons In the United States. outside
q The regular army. is the West VIZ.
gtnia National Guard. 1t is otlcered
throughout with experienced and
competent men, who have learned
the arts OF war by actual experience
In the field and in the best military
schools in the country. A LIST Of
names could be picked out walch
would compare fayorably with those
OF The regular army in every quality
that goes to make up a good soldier.
Among the commissioned officers.
an have long and honorable records,
and possess the essential qualities OF
good officers Under the care and
management OF such men 1t wouli
be strange indeed Il the Guard did
not attain to a high degree OF etl-
cheney. And when their efforts are
supplemented by those OF aon,com.
mlssloneds officers AMI ~prlyates, many
OF whom have long records OF actual
service on the field and who possess
The snap and vim and determination
which are the characteristics OF
American soldiers, It Is no wonder
that the people OF West Virginia
are proud Of the National Guard.
II has been a number Of year.
since the attempt was first made 10
place the West Virginia National
Guard on a basis equal to tnat OF
the regular army. Judging by the
progress made within the past few
years this will ultimately be done by
the officers Of the Guard who are
striving hard for this end.
The first attempt at an organlza.
ton Of the National Guard OF this
State was in 1887, when on the
t~xenty;third day Of December the
First Regiment Infantry was formed.
Although containing many ~excellen.
officers the Guard did not do a great
deal Of good until In 1889 when it
was r~eorganlzei according to the
laws then governing State militia.
The law at that time provided that
there should be two regiments com.
posing the brigade and on reorgani.
zation the guard was formed with this
In mind.
In 1859 the brigade was organized
under the provisions Of an act OF the
legislature. 1t was on July 10th Of
that year that the First regiment
was organized and the Second resi.
ment was organized. The Second reg.
iment contained the larger number
of officers and enlisted men. although
1T had not the advantage of previous
experience.
In the first few years after Its or.
ganization the National Guard mad
many disconraging features with
which to contend. The majority Of
the officers bad not had much II any
previous experience and the enlisted
men were Inclined to allow personal
feeling to enter into their duties. But
nevertheless some improvement was
gradually noted. The main trouble
was caused by the Inability OF com
handing officers to compel obedience
to orders. While advance was being
made in one direction by the regi.
inent they refrigerated Ia sone other
way. Not much progress was made
until 1891 when at the encampment
which was held at Gypsy Grove af.
fairs began to take a better shape.
E%neampmen. In 1891.
Although the National Guard CT
this State had been organized for
some time previous perhaps the first
regular encampment at which any
permanent good resulted was not
held until 1891 when the encamp.
ment was held at Gypsy Grove. The
camp was perhaps a little crude but
excellent results were obtained con.
sldering the circumstances. The
tents which were used were rented
and the officers and men messed to.