Newark post., 1912-08-07
CAMP CANNON A GREAT SUCCESS
ii W BOYS RETURNED ON SATURDAY

checking the advancing army. The
men returned to the camp at II
a. m
Mess was called at noon and
Immediately after it the men began
to prepare for camping for the
night and a service march. The
hours seemed to drag along. for
everyone was anxious to be off and
see just what it was like. At
O'Clock the order was given to ad-
vance and with Company A lead
ing and Company II bringing up
the rear the boys left camp and
proceeded down the road toward
Delaware City. They went in heavy
marching order. that is the men had
all of the belongings with them
making a pretty fair sized load
each man carrying besides his rifle,
cartridge belt and bayonet, a
blanket roll. containing an army
blanket, a poncho and one-half Of
a shelter tent, a canteen. Il hayer-
sack. containing a knife, fork,
spoon. mess pan with cover and tin
drinking cups. and one day IA
! tiCns.
"They proceeded down the road
for about mile and half and
then cOuntermarched to camp, pass
ed through it. and marched out to
the knoll in the southwestern cor
ner of the range overlooking the
river. Here they biY0uacked for the
night.
The men were paired, each car
rNing one-half Of shelter tent. and
in short time the knoll presented
a miniature encamplnent. The
spectacle was unique and in Il way
comical, the men moving about the
tents that came only to their waists
and could be jumped over with
ease. Despite the short time. every
thing had been planned with great
t0retthought
Mess call sounded at I o clock
and each man took his mess kit and
all marched to the beach in COM
panies. 1t was almost dark when
they arrived and soon huge bon
J fires were built. which made spec
tacle that was as picturesque and
beautiful! as any that had been seen
during the encampmcnt. The men
: acted like school boys and had Il
great time cooking their bacon. po-
tatoes and onions over the fires and
: incidentally burning quite few
fingers. To the men nothing they
have had during the encampment
tasted quite as good as that bacon,
; done to a crisp, before their own
: eyes and by their own fires. They
sang and ate III turns and to quote
one of them were having a regular
picnic. One of them humor-
! ouSly named the bivouac Camp
t Onion.
| After mess the boys went back
: to the knoll and sang and told stor-
les to pass away the time From III
, front of the governors tent
the band was playing the strains
Of We're Tenting Tonight on the
| Old Camp Ground. which hoated
| over the range and made one feel
: that they We're III a real camp
, rather than practice one. Though
it was but practice camp, it
: showed cOnclusively that the First
l Regiment of Delaware Infantry is
: ready to take the field on a mo-
: ments s notice.
5 "Taps sounded at 10 o 'clock and
} the men turned in for the last night
| at camp. A light rain had fallen,
. but did little or no damage other
< than to dampen the spirits of the
| men. but with it's end they We're
t soon revived and everything was as
!, merry as before. -
| Company f, numbering 43 en-
| listed men. was the largest company
. in camp. Lieut.. Clark and Private
l Trnitt upheld the former reputa-
: ton of the company by making an
:, average Of 43 cut Of 80 in shooting
on all the ranges.
| There were eight Delaware Col
[ lege men in the company.