The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-02-23
Historical Sketch Of Co. B N. D. N. G.

AT the banquet given Saturday night
by the losing squad Of company q,
n. -. N. G., in the armory on Second
avenue north, Capt. G. C. Grafton read
the following historical sketch of the
company from the time of it's first or
Be nization until 1895. This outline
was supplemented by talks by Lieut..
81 G. Gearey. Capt. G. A. Fraser and
Lieut.. Sorenson which brought the
history UP to the present day, includ-
ing the Philippine instruction in
which the company participated.
Captain Grafton said
Company b, First infantry, m. ID.
n. G., was organized in October 1884.
with the following officers: Captain,
j. Mcdonald; First lieutenant, nj. j.
Foy; Second Lieutenant B. d. Whit
ten; First Sergeant, E.. E. Schoenheit.
In December of the same year the
company had its first experience of
active service" being sent to Belfield,
8. d., to assist in "squelcning" a coun-
ty seat war" 1t seemed that the
county records had been Kept at Ash
ton, but the people of Redfield, feeling
that. they had as good a right to the
county seat as Ashton had went over
and helped themselves to the county
records, brought them-to Redfield. and
put them in the fire engine house.
Naturally the Ashton people sought to
repossess themselves of the afore-
said records, and portion of the mill
itia was put on duty to guard the
Redfield engine house Among the
companies so called into service was
company B. The members were most
~ quite new to military matters, and
did not receive their arms Until the
night they left for the front" neither
had they any uniforms, and certainly
must have presented a somewhat cur
icus appearance as they marched down
the hi4l into Ortonville (where they
changed trains) to the inspiring
strains of a tin fife, played by the
genial Billy Allen. They looked
serviceable, however, as evidenced by
the remark of street urchin who
yelled out, SECT onto the Fargo
toughs." 1t is further related of this
trip by some of those who were there
and know whereof they speak, that
one of the officers, in drilling the COM
pany one day gave the following re-
markable order, Right forward, fours
left" and thereafter, seeing the com
pany in hopeless confusion, remarked
"Oh hell, look at them now!" Those
who particularly distinguished them
selves during the war" were Dr.
Darrow, va was then regimental
surgeon, by his heroic and untiring
efforts to keep up the spirits Of the
man by a continuous flow of those
good stories for which he is noted and
w. Y. ogden, proprietor Of the Red
River Laundry, who, as sentry
stopped the only armed man who had
the hardihood to approach the fire
engine house which the troops were
guarding. 1t is also said that one
member, Percy Crenshaw, went to
sleep on sentry, and was only awak-
ened by the noise made by his rifle,
as it fell from his hands. However
the company seems to have covered
itself all over with glory on. this oc-
easion, and their baptism of FIRE" was
the topic of conversation and anecdote
for many moons thereafter.
Th4 First Encampment.
Upon the resignation Of Captain
Mcdonald. H. b Simington was elect
ed captain, the lieutenants, remaining
az before In tfefr respective positions.
A! the time Of the first encampment,
which was held at Fargo, in Septem-
Der 1885, the officers OF the company
we're Capt. II. b. Siningten Iaeuts.
NJ. j. Foy and B. ID, Written A@prize
was offered at this encampment for
the best drilled company In the, bri-
gade, the judges in the competition
being, officers of the regular army;
also smaller prize for the company
taking second pace The first prize
was won BY company e, Second Regi-
nient IYanktoH), while the second
prize went TO company b. First regi-
ment (Fargo). the contest being very
close. This was dudeedea good show
ing, as company B was one Of the new
est, If not the newest company on the
ground. After the resignation of Cap
tain Simington the following gentle
men were the commissioned officers
of the company: M. j. Foy, captain:
B. d! Written. first lieutenant; e.
e Schoenheit. second lieutenant. In
the summer of 1886 an encampment
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