The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-07-14
Militia Enjoyinglife
at Camp McCO,
Lieutenant j. Lauterbach Writes Of
Camp Life New to Many Com
pany L. Boys
Men From Minnesota, s. Dakota and
New York Meet in Wisconsin to =
Study Military Tactics
All Submit to Vaccination; Plans Made
For Big Sham Battle; Home We'd
nesday Night

Inc following letter, from L1euten-
ant John Lauterbach gives an account
of the arrival of the Boys of Com
pany L at Camp Mccoy, and will give
to the ordinary citizen some idea of
the duties connected with being real
soldiers. The company left Redwood
Falls Sunday night, July 5, and are
expected to return Wednesday, July
15-probably on a late train.
Company L. arrived at Camp Nc
Coy after a very enjoyable and I'M
eventful trip, landing at the camp
about two-thirty Monday afternoon.
"Our first duty was to detrain which
took long time as there were very
few teams to transport our baggage
to the camp, distance of mile.
'aThe first night in camp was real
ly not very enjoyable as we had a
hard time to get tents and other sup
plies from our commissary depart
ment and it was nearly ten o'clock
before the tents were up so that the
boys could sleep.
"The second day was spent in vac
cinating the whole regiment for ty-
phoid fever. There was an awful
bunch of sick men in camp that day
every once in while we would see
them carrying some one by to the
hospital. In our company there of
the boys tainted and two of them
were taken to the hospital. Nearly
every man in the Regiment took the
treatment and it surely is wonder
full thing. 1t is used in the regular
Army and out of 10000 soldiers only
one case of typhoid is reported.
All Vaccinated
"The first day was spent in vac
pany drill from Z A. NJ. to $3.50, then
battalion drill in close order move
ments followed by regimental drill
until 1880. After that the boys were
allowed to do as they pleased until
seven in the evening when we had
grand mount lasting about one hour.
"Our third days work was in Out
post duty. In establishing the out
posts the commander estimates the
situation and issues outpost orders.
The order gives the approximate line
of resistance to be held, divides the
outpost into its tactical components
and gives necessary instructions to
each.
Sham Battle Planned
"July 10 or II will be the day for
a big sham battle between the First
and Second regiments which promises
to be very interesting.
"The troops stationed here consist
of the First and Second Regiments of
Minnesota, the Fourth Regiment of
South Dakota, and part of the Fifth
Field Artillery and one company of
the Twenty.niIth Infantry of Buffalo,
New York.
@The Regular Army officers in COM
mand of Camp Mccoy are doing all
they can to make this encampment
as instructive and at the same time
as pleasant as possible, and when the
Boys of Company L. get home again
we are sure they win say they would
regret having missed this camp ex-
perience. The old boys are having
lots Of fun with the new men, send
ing them after tent stretchers, can
teen poles, etc.
AOne noticeably good thing about
he camp is that no liquor is allowed
m the grounds, and everybody gsts
hong quite as:weH rs though there
we're s-ss. 80 ss..ss...