The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-27
VISIT TO FORT LINGO


Mr.. Editor: Last Wasa IS.
Forbes, Vernon and k5 the
pleasure of visiting ASional
Guard at Fort Lincoln and it has
occurred to me that there may be
many of your readers who would
enjoy a brief report of our visit.
We were much gratifled at the
many good accounts we heard "a
bout Company l and its CAPTAIN,
which we began to hear as soon
as we reached Bismarck. We ar
rived in Bismarck late in the even
ing and upon alighting from the
train saw two National Guards
man, and inquired of what Com
pany they were members. To
our surprise they responded that
they were members of Company
l, though not residents of Wah-
peton or vicinity. They inform .
ed US that they inquired about the
various companies and finally
selected Company as the hes:
one to join and did so. Friday
morning we met Paul Sewrey al
the Mckenzie Hotel, and he took
us out to the Fort where we wer.
very pleased to meet and greet all
the members of Company I. W.
found a great tented city on IL
most beautiful camping ground
with pleasant scenery on all sides
made up of verdant hills decorat
ed in places with natural woods.
The tents and streets of the camp
are kept scrupulously clean, be-
cause no crumbs or waste paper
or other unsightly or Ay-at-
tracing substances are permit
ed to gather or acculumate in the
camp. Although it was a warm
day, and food was being prepared
and distributed to the soldiers, all
over the grounds not a fly was
seen and the camp from a sani-
tary standpoint is all that could
be expected.
Old Fort Lincoln is an interest
ing institution with many we'll
built and capacious buildings
about thirty in all. These build
ings consist of residences, bar
racks, dormitory.I dining rooms,
and gymnasium and are all kept
in good condition by the care
taker in charge. was even in
teresting to visit the stables in
which the calvary horses We're
kept, when the Fort was used by
detachment of two companies
of regular. and to read the names
of those !lerses on stall 'or nanger
In the evening we had the plea
sure of seeing the Governor re-
view the guardsman, and to wit
ness the dress parade on that oc-
cassion of which moving pictures
were taken. The various COM
apnies have made good use of
their time in Fort Lincoln, and
appear to be quite we'll trained
in exercises and maneuvors, and
it was a very imposing and in
spring sight to see them on dress
parade. There are nearly 1900
OF the guar1sman. and when the
various companies are Seen in
one body they present the ap-
pearance of being quite an army.
The boys We're all IN good health,
except some who We're rendered
ill by their innoculation and vac
cination. All of them had wounds
On their arms. caused by innocula
ton and vaccination, and every
arm movement was therefore
most painful, but that did not de-
ter the manly boys from going
through their drills or exercises
which they bravely did without
murnlur or complaint. All of the
boys wer" anxious to cntrain for
tn" Mexican border which they
did last Saturday. The boys
We're very hoSpitable and we were
invited to take both dinner and
supper at the camp. We accepted
the latter invitation, and enjoy
ed a Very nice meal at Captain
Thompson tabl" at which Ar
mold was also an invited guest.
Company is recognized as one of
the best trained and best behaved
companies in the regiment, and
it is certainly made up through
out the splendid young men.
This company should rcuniv.
more generous Treatment from
the city of Wahpeton. Upon in
quiry found that other cities
have been much more generous
toward their companies than We
have been, and | trust that some-
thing more can be done for the
comfort aud conveniences Of our
company while on duty on the
Mexican border. IT would not
seem to be too much for the men
who stay at home to be somewhat
generous toward the boys who
have had the patriotism to go to
the front at ime when danger
threatened. The fund which is
practically raised is not, as some
seem to think, for the purchase
of luxurfies but for absolute nee
essities, many of which the gov
eminent, on account Of lack of
preparedness, finds itself unable
to furnish. For instance some