Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-07-29
War Game Ends With Magnificent
Parade.


The war game at Westminster closed
Saturday with we'll worked-out pro-
blem which was followed by brigade
parade through the streets of Westmin-
ster. Camp was broken Sunday and the
troops returned to their homes after one
of the most successful state camps of in
struction in the history of the Maryland
National Guard.
In the battle problem "red" army
under the command of Col. Charles F.
Macklin was directed to attack 'blue'
force defending the city of Westminster
and commanded by Col. Charles A. Little.
The battle took place along the Union
town and Taneytown roads and in the
territory between the two roads. TWAS
spectacular and was classed as a success
full military problem. After the troops
returned to camp the Regular Army UNI
pires who witnessed the fight said that
it would have taken five regiments in
actual warfare to have dislodged Colonel
Little from an impregnable position he
held in a wooded hill short distance
west of Westminster. Field guns would
have annihilated the ''reds, partic ularly
the Fourth Infantry, which was ordered
to make the secondary attack Some
hard fighting was done and the umpires
gave both commanders credit for having
made splendid disposition of their
troops. The conduct of the men was al
so well spoken of.
The battle ended shortly after twelve
O'Clock, when the men were given rest,
while they ate cooked ration. General
Riggs reformed the line at | o'clock for
brigade parade through Westminster.
He rode at the head of the column. The
troops made a magnificent appearance
and were cheered by crowds of people
from every part of Carroll county. A
great many Baltimoreans saw the parade.
The troops were well bronzed from their
weeks work in the field and looked
sinewy.
The last night in a state camp is al
ways given over to merrymaking. 1t
began Immediately after the regimental
parade Saturday evening, and dancing
and singing were the order in the COM
pany streets. The general camp was
alive with fun. Many impromptu re-
ceptions were held.
The people of Westminster received
the troops with open arms all week, and
nothing but words of praise for the men
were heard. Speaking editorially the
Westminster Advocate said in its issue
of Friday:
"Our citizens were anxious to have the
encampment of the National Guard held
at Westminster, and now that the SOL
diers have been here since the 18th, and
oar people have seen them in the grim
garb of war, they are more than pleased
that this place was selected for the camp.
"We are proud of the Maryland soldier
boys and congratulate the officers upon
the splendid discipline that pervades the
ranks of the military organization.
1.-The Governor came on Tuesday even
ing, spending the night in the camp, and
with his attractive staff, reviewed the
troops on the following day. This dis
play was everything that could have
been desired, either from a military or
civilian standpoint. An immense throng
of our citizens witnessed the review and
everybody went away feeling proud of
our Maryland soldery and will be glad
to have them come again to the beauti-
full hills of Carroll.
With unanimous consent the officers
and men expressed themselves as delight
ed with the site of the camp. They were
u ,stinted in their praise of the beauty
and convenience of the location and the
excellent arrangements which had been
m ,de by our citizens for their coming.
at is conceded by all to be the thigh
water mark" of the encampment of the
Maryland National Guard.
GAS would be expected from Maryland
soldiers, good order prevailed in the camp