Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-14
"THE WAR c9y.t
important Items IN Bulletin of Inter-
est to National Guard.

tains an unusually large number of
items of interest &c. the National
Guard companies of the st@se, Fol
lowing are scIle of the ilose impor-
tant ones;
In his report on The ID Maine In
fantry in the Connecticut Vancouver
campaign, aug. 1918. 1872, Capt H.
A. Wiesensten. 18th infantry, T. S.
A.. says: "Consida ring that in our
national forces State troops will have
10 he callet! out to assist the regular
! establishment in meeting the inn
mediate needs of war with a first
class power, 4 is believed the "a
Maine Infantry should be among our
leading State Troops IN the field forces
first organized. AS the question is
open to an expression of opinion and
dependent largely on ahe standard by
which measured the undersigned
would say that he has not yet seen
/ any state troops who can be raised to
war strength on present standards
and gotten ready for efficient field SER
vice in one months time. That some
| can be gotten ready who would he of
some value is undoubtedly true and
when considered under this asstmp-
| ton it is believed the I'd Maine In
fantrT would. II our supply depart
ments can promptly meet the demand
upon them frpm all sources, be ready
10 take the field in the time spaci-
! fed He states that the men as g
+. whole are rstIeng and rugged. en-
1 thusiastic in military work and not
grumblers. and many Of them natural
/ woodsmen and engaged in work which
- III
! he adds: 1T is learned that in time of
| war many such men would come into
/ the service so that the rigors of active
| service would not likely be so much
! felt by this regiment at first as *
would be by many Others" rs evil
/ Gence Of the regiments ability To stand
| together under difficulties he cites the
following: IN the engagement west OF
/ Inars Bridge. 13 Aug. r. the 2d
+ Maine Infantry was ordered to come
VI on and join the left Of the line.
I'm executing this the regiment had to
!, cross Z bog, quite large and heavily
| overgrown in underhrush, making
moving and contact exceptionally diff
| cult. The undersigned being mount
| ed had 20 find a way around this bog
and went to where the regiment was
/ supposed to join the line, intending to
: ala IL getting al least a portion of the
! regiment into the line at The designat-
: ed place, as II SCENE certain the regi-
/ ment would become confused and
broken up IN the swanp aud -same of
, IL possibly being diverted from its
proper cowrse Much to Ely surprise
! found the regiment emerging from
the swamp in akirmisil formation, in
| its proper place, and seemingly in the
same order as at first directed while
stiil on favorable - ground Capt.
Wiegenstein states that the observ-
ance Of military courtesy was very
good, that promptneSs and orderliness
were excellent for state troops, that
| the conduct of the men was excellent
and that the officers With the possible
exception of two or three are 'ener-
seties intelligent and seemingly in the
work for reasons other than To display
| uniforms and insignia of rank" The
uniformity in the matter of footwear is
commended and il is stated What the
rifles We're in excellent condition for
State treops. The report was for
warded BY the chief of tie Division Of
| Militia Affairs with the following COM
ment: The secretary of war IS graft
fled TO note Tn efficiency Of the Sec
! ond Resimeni Of Infantry, as indicated
/ 0y The resort or that regiment
Cent. james i. Bagley, Ret. is en-
| gagged in efeeting the reorganization
Sc he National Guard Association in
ifhe State of Maine.
| Instructions from the Division of
! Militia Affairs state ahat 81, the in
4 sf.c
| spring OF 1913 the personnel of the or
eanigations wiiia&itSReeted ana mus
| tered in service uniform and equip
ment. II is left optional with states
to say whether full field equipment
! will be worn and in this state enlist
| Cd men will be required to wear the
| service coat brooches. leggins. russell
| shoes, campaign hat and hat cord,
with cartridge belt, bayonet and seab-
bard. Overcoats, blankets, ponchos,
| shelter-halves olive drab shirts. can
| teens haversacks, mess kits, intrench-
+! ing tools and other articles of per-
sonal uniform and equipment will be
inspected with the property. Com
missioned officers will be required To
wear service uniform with campaign
| hat and leggins and sidearms.
| The last company pay-rolls for the
Connecticut Maneuver campaign were
not manifested to the State Auditor
until Nov. 4th. The delay is due to
| failure on the part OF organization
commanders to comply with the care
fully prepared instructions accom-
panying the pay-rolls. Capt. Fl. A.
Niegenstein in his inspection report
, on the I'd Infantry in the Connecticut
| Maneuver campaign. August 1918.
! says: 1T was apparent that sorne~of
| the company commanders had not con-
| suited the printed instructions cover
| ing preparation of rolls. One company
| commander had permitted his men to
| sign rolls in pencil, necessitating
! making a new set Of pay-rolls after
| arrived in camp"
| First aid packets and pouches viii be
| habitually kept in company store
| rooms and will not be issued to in
dlviduals unless specially ordered By
/ competent authority. 1t is believed
| that this rule, will reduce losses and
! make easier the work~of accountable
| officers When First Aid packets are