The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-01-25
D. {. GIBSON WRITES
OF SEEING COMPANY
C AT DOUGLAS


Ny Dear Mr.. Hardy:-
AS l have just come from Douglas
some of your readers may be inter-
ested about our Canon City boys in
Company &C.. It was my good for
tune to arrive there in time to see
General Funston Thursday morning
review all of the troops in Douglas.
He had two reviews. First, all the
Federal troops and their equipment
and directly after the Militia and it's
equipment. We went straight from
the review of the Federal troops to
that of the Militia. 1t is my certain
conviction that our boys made equally
as good if not better appearance in
this review than tie Federal troops.
1t might be thought, perhaps, that
would be a biased judge. but Mr..
Hines who was with me is of that
opinion also.
Our Captain Livingston rode
'charger" at the head of the whole
Battalion or Division, or whatever it
might be called; what l mean. he
was in command of all the militia
and looked every inch a soldier. Our
boys clicked it OF like clock work
with a perfect alignment. One could
not help but stand little straighter
and hold his head little higher as
they went by.
This review was one of the most in
spring military sights that l have
seen. and l have seen a good many on
this border. This review was held
in the early morning and it included
all of the soldiers In Douglas, and
this means thousands. and their
equipment AS the review began in
the early morning there was mist
that made the army and its equip
ment appear to extend clear TO the
horizon. AS far as the eye could
reach there were soldiers. escort wag-
ons. bands and artillery Of all sorts
and descriptions. Each regiment went
past Gen. Funston. its band at the
head. It was very thrilling. Also as
they went by. the band of each regi-
ment wheeled to the left and dropped
out of line and what they call in
army phraseology. played its regi-'
ment by" and then dropped in rank
in the rear of the marching regiment.
There was a mounted cavalry band
of probably forty or nifty pieces. One
of these rode his horse and played
kettle drums, one on either side of
his horse, and instead of using his
hands to guide his mount he used hts
feet, with the reins from the bride
running to his feet. AS the horse
would dance around it seemed impos-
sible for him to both handle the horse
and play the drums but he did.
AS soon as the mist commenced
to rise. then the dust from all these
soldiers began to be seen both near
at hand and in the distance. It never
did wholly obscure the view, but il
had a tendency to make the whole
thing more real.
The artillery went by in formation
of fours, that is there would be four
abreast. 1t was surprising to see the
alignment kept.
At the head of the different regi-
ments were the colors. Our flag is
lost beautiful of all flags, and of
course, it got salute from each Of
ficer and those who were not in
ranks, and from most of the civilians
too.
went out to the camp of Company
&C" and / never saw any place SO
clean. Our boys are all looking ex-
tremely fit. / think nearly all have
gained in weight. not that they are
bulky, but as hard as nails and well
set up. They certainly do look
military. The officers look like real
army officers. The boys think they
have the best drill master on the
border.
/ had no notion that was going to
have the feeling of pride and emotion
did when I saw our boys in line
and when l went thru their camp.
Ours is the only company, / under
stand, from which no desertions have
occurred since they came here.
think they are all of one opinion, that
they have the best set of officers
down here.
Soldiers are in evidence everywhere
in Ell Paso. One can drive for miles
and go thru nothing but encamp-
ments.
After arrived In Ell Paso. the Mich
igan boys were ordered home at
least a part of them, and they were