The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-14
THIRTEENTH AT MT. GRETNA.
The Militia Enjoying the Annual
EnCamDment.


formed and the march to camp was
commenced.
Swinging along 120 steps to the
minute, the column moved through
the picnic grove and across the face
of the hill on which brigade head
quarters are situated and then
straight as die towards reservoir
hill, where the tents of the Ninth
and Thirteenth are pitched. The
camp site is an ideal one and is
identically the same as two years
ago. Broad spreading chestnut
trees are scattered through the camp
and the shade furnished by them
will no doubt be gratefully sought
before the week ends.
Company A, Engineers, is located
near brigade headquarters, having
the really choice location Of the
ground, their camp being handy to
the picnic and camp meeting grove,
while the site occupied by the Thir-
teenth is fully half-mile from these
centers of interest.
Immediately upon arrival, the
work of fixing up quarters was taken
in hand and by the time morning
mess was ready at 6 o'clock, every
street in the camp was thoroughly
policed and tents rolled up ready for
immediate inspection of quarters If
need be. At 9 o'clock the regiment
in company with the other four of
the brigade was paraded in front of
brigade headquarters, where the
formal ceremony of opening camp
was gone through. While the regi-
ments formed in line of masses to
ors were slowly hoisted to the top
of the pole and as they broke forth
in the morning breeze the buglers
sounded Ito the colors" and the ar
tillery fired a salute. This constitute
ed the ceremony, and official life of
the tour of duty of 1909 dates from
the moment that the Stars and
Stripes were first kissed by the
mornings sun.
At 1880 o'clock came the first
actual duty of camp, when regiment
al guard was mounted. In view
of the fact that camp preparation
had taken up the greater part of the
morning and that the tour was to
be limited one, the ceremony was
informal. In fact, it was a fatigue
guard mounting, the adjutant simply
verifying the details and dismissing
the guard Lieutenant Bonney of
Company F is officer of the day, and
Lieutenant Barrett of Company X
officer of the guard.
Evening parade at $50 o'clock
was the only event of the day, the
men being allowed to spend the
time as they saw fit. There was no
band concert owing to the fact that
the band did not accompany the
command to camp, having an engage
ment at home.
Notes of the Camp.
Color Sergeant James McGouldrick
is the veteran enlisted man of the
outfit.
First Sergeant Leo Bartz and
Lieut.. Robert Bonney are the only
two men in Company f who joined
the company on the original mus
ter eleven years ago.
Corporal Stub of Company C is
acting quartermaster-serge for
the tour of duty.
Thompson Rowley, native of
Scranton, but now resident of
Wilkes-Barre, is at the head of the
Ninth regiment band, which is
regarded as one of the finest musical
aggregations in camp.
The Ninth regiment furnished the
first brigade guard of the camp,
Lieut.. Harry Smith and platoon of
Company D. being detailed for the
duty.
1t looked for time as if it would
be necessary to dispense with the
tlag-raising in connection with the
opening camp ceremony, inasmuch
as the rope by which the flag was
drawn to the peak of the siXty-foot
staff in front of headquarters parted
on being tested. The slender staff
has stood for a number of years an6
it was deemed inadvisable to order
anyone to carry the new rope to its
top. j. P. Phillips, of Company A
Engineers, however, volunteered fol
the hazardous task, which he ac
complshied in safety.
The report of the Spring inspec
tions of the National Guard has jus
been issued for the benefit of the
commands now in camp. Compan!
D, Capt. Frank H. Mikel, Harris
burg, Eighth regiment, with a fig
ure of efficiency of 98.77, stands a
the head of infantry organizations.
Inspector-General Sweeney say
that the attendance was most credit
able. The infantry is in good con
dition and the cavalry most excellent
General Sweeney makes the follow
ing recommendations among others
That the basement of the armory a
Scranton be arranged for the prope
care of state property; that the arm
ory board direct, when state armor
les are leased for civic purposes
the dates be so arranged as not t
interfere with the schedule TO