Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-16
Tactical Walk 10 Manchester
Taxing Up Outpost Problems.
Col. Hume Arrived In Camp Thurs
day--Men Healthy, Spirit Good.

be luuHu OliiN on TINS HloSl hedutliu III
and especially adapted site. The re-
naming tired and slumbe"inS officers
lost 10 time in dressing and at
reveille, five minutes later, all We're
up and ready for toilet, preparatory
for mess. After mess, which was
thoroughly relished, and the men re-
firing to quarters TO await call, every
man was thoroughly prepared to
take up the duties of the daN-not
a moment was lost in getting under
way. Exactly at 7.3O Lieut.. Standi-
ford, who was assigned TO the class
of line officers and adjntants, took
up the subject of tactical Walk as
concerning outposts. He told the
men in Il few words as TO the course
to be pursued during the walk, Civ
ing out the general situation as fol-
lows: Infantry Blue Troop a Cav
airy over section of Signal Corps de
tached from large Blue force II
miles east of Augusta is marching
west towards Manchester in a hostile
country to make reconnaissance
towards and through Augusta. Spe-
cial Situation: "As the head OF the
main body reaches a point 800 yards
gusta road, Colonel A, commanding
Blue detachment receives the fol-
| loving message from his independent
cavalry near Manchester: \ troop
of hostile cavalry entered Manches-
| ter ut 2,30 P. NJ. today followed by
an advanced guard of a column of
| Red infantry whose strength | have
not determined \ hostile cavalry pa
| troll was encountered on the Augusta
| Allan hill road. 1st-Colonel A de-
| cides to encamp and establish out
| post for the night 2nd-the order
| for the halt. 3rd-the order for the
| outpost
| After a little discussion as to the
| line of march and route proposed the
men marched down over the hill and
were soon out of natural vision and
lost in mask of shrubbery and trees on
a distant hill. a halt order was made
and the main body went into camp on
the field on the right hand side of the
| Augusta Manchester road, GOO yards
east OF Wilson's. The advance guard
under command OF Maj. B, formed the
outpost on line 400 tmap) Jones
Hong ridge. Capt. G with Companies
A and B took a position at Smiths
lplacing an out guard on hill 400 (map)
and established communications with
la detached post at Jones'. Communi-
cations was established between
Smiths and the main body by Signal
lCorps. Support being established on
1.-THE line of resistance were to be re
inforced in case of attack. Company
wagons on the outposts Joined the
Support at Smiths. The field train
Looming the main body.
At this juneture the time was taken
up in all phases from a war footing,
discussing all probabilities from out
post duty, scouting, camp making,
undulations, form of attack and de-
Tense, disposition of all essential units
accompanying move of this sort.
Lieut.. Stamford is loud in his praise
lof the manner and interest shown by
our boys. He declares they are an
eager and enthusiastic body and the
personnel and intelligence of the men
present at this school is up to the
standard. He also declares that the
Estate Muster field at this place is an
ideal one and the surrounding terri
| tory especially adapted to take in all
the points to be considered in defense
land attack thus affording an oppor-
ltunity unequaled in many states for
lpractice and schooling. The hills and
ridges to consider for vantage points
flor artillery fire and machine guns and
corresponding places for defense in
lrouting same. slopes forming natural
projections for camp, with plenty of
water for man and horse; promontories
for Signal Corps. highways and cross
roads for transfers and map making
| and reading, the whole topography
| complying TO all rules as laid down in
| all conditions of the manual of the
Irregular army. Lieut. Sandiford says
liz is the best place in the. country for
mobilizing and instructing militia
lbodies.
The mer were gone all the forenoon
on their hike and returned none too
soon to answer the most popular call
| in the serVice-Mess. A heavy shower
| lasting about 30 minutes, passed over
the Muster field at about lie, thor
oughly drenching the grounds and all
| things out of doors. The men who
Were about two miles distant on their
| way to the grounds, did not receive a
drop of rain and the sun was beating
Idown upon them.
| While the line officers and adjutants
were taking up their problem on the
outer hills, the department officers
We're at camp deeply engrossed in the
subject of administration. Lieut.. Crys-
tai necessarily. without any let-up.
was drilling chem in the duties of the
ordnance and eommissary officers, in
Guiding those in the field and time
of peace, taking the handling of an1mu-
milton from base of depot to the wag-
on train and from there to the troops.
The eommissary instruction included
| the paper work of that department,
which is very extensive and more or
less complicated to the unenlightened
citizen on this matter.
First call for school in the afternoon
sounded at 2.2D and at assembly ~
minutes later, the field officers gath
cred for practical talk on Infantry
VS.. Cavalry" Here Capt. Trott weh'
into detail regarding all phases Oh
these tyYf, branches from nOiutS of at