Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-07-15
NATIONAL GUARD,ls IN CAMP.
viroqua is Well T presented in the Third
Regiment.

1 he w lScOnSln NdIiOU1i NIuafu rCSSf-
walton is busy and interesting place
this week, and Camp Douglas has new
| life and animation. The famous Third
regiment and Tenth battalion are iv-
ing the soldier life, making sixteen
companies of real live state militiamen,
or fully thousand men, not includ; Yg
officers. The avera( 2 citizen looks ul-
on the state guardsman as tin soldier
and the annual encampment feast and
drunk at the expense of the state.
These propositions are erroneous, for
the boys that now go to camp annually
are the cream of the state citizen
ship, and as to drunkenness, the writer
believes few gatherings of young men
numbering a thousand can boast of
such high iegree of sobriety, ana as
for it being holiday the men have
little cessation from labor in march, in
rifle or revolver practice and other camp
( and reservation matters. The morning
call is sounded al five O'Clock, the band
parades the company streets and all
must be up and doing, the entire reser-
walton grounds policed before half
hour later; the breakfast over with,
they are off to the practice fields, re-
naming out till noon. After an hour S
rest, drill and maneuvers are taken up
and cease not much before supper hour.
Guard mount and dress parade occupy
an hour. When taps for retiring are
sounded at 10 O'Clock there are few of
| the privates and officers who are not
willing to lay their weary bones to rest.
| The grounds are in excellent shape
this season, and year by year conditions
are more inviting. until now Wiscon-
sfglf
soldiery are considered not inferior to
like service in any state in the union.
Much of this may be accounted for on
! the theory that for the past dozen
years efficient officers have been re-
tanned when state administrations have
changed One or more regular army
officers are detailed by the government
! to join the state authorities in perfect
| ing conditions in our National Guard.
Viroqua is playing an important part
| in this weeks encampment by reason
of the station held by our local band.
| 1t cannot readily be understood what
an advertisement Viroqua has in this
particular. To be official musical or
| ganization with the big and popular
regiment and battalion is indeed an
honor hundred larger Wisconsin cities
quitting themselves in a manner to
| please the officers and men of the reg
| iment and merit applause of all visitors
| in camp Their playing on the range
| is strong and effective and the mighty
concerts given are up to the highest
grade, and not inferior to any musical
organization that has preceded them,
and that is saying much when we know
/ fa Il hand
| has been the official music makers Tor
many years. The BOYS are anxious TO
please and they aIe getting there on
all fours.
| Viroqua agsin has some other honors
in the National Guard, the writer be-
ing military secretary to the command
er in chief, with the rank of colonel.
M. G. Bergh is pay-master, carrying
title of major. DIR. w. M. Trowbridge
is one of the Third req inient surgeons,
with the rank of lieutenant and our
methodist pastor, Rev. Buffers, is reg
Eimental chaplain, making him captain,
and by common consent he is the most
popular soldier in camp.
Those of our citizens who are putin g
in the week in camp are: Mrs. w. M.
TroWbridge and son Frederick, Mrs. G.
E. Buffers, Mrs. M. c. Bergh and
daughter Iona and son Reid, Mrs. O.
G. Munson and daughters Barbara,
Hope and Catherine. The Misses Mae
and Kathryn Martin and Grace Aiding
ton were here Sunday, and the former
sang solo during religious service
conducted by Chaplain Buffers We
are expecting many other visitors from
home on Governors s day, which falls or
Wednesday. 0. G. NJ.
! Camp Douglas. July l3.