The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-07-21
LIKED ENciMpMEhT,
SUMTER BOYS RETURN HOME
AFTER PROFITABLE OUT
ING ON PARIS MOUNTAIN.
Most Instructive Encumpmcnt ever
Had. Says Robert II. Brown, First
Lieutenant of Sumter Light Infan.
try--Iess Whislicy Sold Militiamen
and Best Order Maintained-Sum-
ter Men Pass as Sharpshootcrs.

The Sumter Light Infantry, Com
pany l.. National Guard of South
Carolina of the Second Regiment
which has just been on a ten days en-
campment at Greenville, S. c., re-
turned home Saturday, reaching the
city at about $50 on the special train
which was put on here to take the
Sumter, Charleston, Elloree and Tim
monsivlle militia off for their sum-
mer camp. The members of tie COM
pany report having a fine time on
encampment and say that the site of
the camp was one of the best in re-
cent years. Nothing of an unfortu-
nate nature happened to any of the
company members during their alb
sence from the city and save for a
slight amount of sunburn the SOL
diers seemed in excellent health on
their return.
First Lieutenant Brown was very
enthusiastic on the subject of the en-
campment just ended. He stated that
1t was the most profitable and pleas
ant that he had ever been on, and
one that the second regiment could
we'll be proud of. In reference to
the published statement that there
had been liquor sold on the encamp-
ment to the militiamen. he stated
that he had not seen q single drunk
en- man during the whole encamp-
ment and he could vouch for the fact
that less liquor was consumed by the
members of the regiment than on any
other encampment they had been on
in recent years. He stated that he
had heard Of number Of "hip"
tigers loating in the woods on the edge
OF the camp, but this was an enemy
that the militia officers could not
handle.
Lieut.. Brown stated Col. Springs
told the members Of the regiment that
he knew that many of them would
have to give up their summer vaca-
tons to come on this encampmeut
and he would therefore do all in his
power TO make tile program one that
would have this IN mind and at the
samc time give instruction in military
maneuVers. There were no lorg
mikes. nor were the troops kept out
marching during the heat Of the day.
Each battalion was required to go out
on one hike and pitch their shelter
tents for a bivouac on the mountain
side for the night, but the boys rath-
er enjoyed this novelty. They had to
cook their own rations alongside their
tents, feature which proved i'm
mensely diverting and which all en-
Joyed. The camp was pitched on the
side Of Paris mountain and although
the weather was warm in the middle
of the day, at night blankets had to
be hauled out and used for covering.
A feature Of the daily marches and
drills, as viewed by Mr.. Brown, was
the fact that every day captain and
two lieutenants We're to be seen with
the company on its drills, where on
other encampments generally some of
these officers loafed around tent
while the company went on the
marches. The troops were pleased
with Greenville and Greenville was
loud in it's praises Of the excellent or
der maintained by the militiamen.
Two of the Sumter company secur-
ed places as sharpshooters, First
Lieut.. Brown and Sgt. Jack Owens.
and two were numbered with the
marksmen, Sgt. Allen Ri lrdson
and Private Jules Morris.
The other companies which arriv-
ed here Saturday afternoon on the
special train waited over until later
In the afternoon, when they left for
their homes at Elloree, Timmonsville
and Charleston on the regular trains.
Capt. p. NJ. Brown has not yet re-
turned home, having taken a trip off
at the breaking up Of the encamp-
ment.