Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-28
MAINE BOYS
GIVE BARBECUE
I'M THE SOUTH

Even war has pleasant features, ac-
| cording to reports from Camp Wads-
worth, Spartanburg, S. c.. where the
Maine boys in the s6th Pioneer In
fantry, Did Miiliken Heavy Artillery,
are in camp. and where they recent
! ly were hosts at barbecue attended
by 1000 People. This barbecue was
prepared ty class of cooks and
mess sergeants under the personal
| direction of Capt. G. D. Reynolds,
regimental school instructor. and as
sisted by three battalion school in
structors, Lieuts. r. F. Stevens of
| Co. y. E. F. Thevenet Of Co. NJ. and
John NJ. O'Connell of Co. G., Bangor.
The Spaftanburg Herald tells the
story of fhe event as follows:
| Nearly two thousand persons par
took of the feast prepared and served
by the seth pioneer infantry in a
| grove on the Greenville road, Sunday
afternoon. Several hundred of those
were SpartRnburg citizens for officers
and men Of the Maine outfit made the
most of the opportunity to recipro-
|
appreciation of the many courtesies
which have been shown them since
they took up their residence at Camp
Wadsworth.
/ There were many prominent mill
tary men present. among them being
Brigadier General Leroy Sweetan.
and staff; 1t. Col. Gohn, chief of
~ NJ
the same staff, besides the colonies
of all the pioneer regiments now in
this camp.
/ While The chief feature of the day
was intended in the committees plan
to be the barbecue, the social side of
the outing rivaled it closely. Much
color was added by the vision of the
many ladies present all in summer
gowns of many hues. The outing was
/ indeed social success.
! The Maine boys had spared no eff
fort in preparing for the outing nor
did they stop then, for they saw to
! it that their guests enjoyed every
minute of the stay in the picturesque
strip of woodland.
| Marched to the Party
| Except the camp guards all mem
bers of the seth, both officers and
men. were in attendance. The regi-
ment commanded by Major George T..
Fogg marched to the picnic ground
over a route of about four miles. Col.
Arthur y. Balentine, commander of
the seth, taking advantage of the OPP
!
march in conjunction with the out
! ing.
| The march was started at o'clock.
| the seth band followed by the fife and
drum corps, heading the parade. The
first halt was made in the hostess
| house of the Y. w. c. A. when the
regiment met its guests and provided
them with transportation to the pic
mic grounds. With the aid of trans
port wagons and mules the several
hundred who had gathered at the
hostess house for the outing were
treated TO a straw ride. distinct
lively Maine institution.
Arriving opposite the grove where
in the afternoons festivities were to
take place, the big party found that
a new road winding around the edge
of a cotton field and crossing brooks
with rustic bridges had been con-
struCted foi the occasion, numerous
signs pointing out the route to be
| followed.
| Arriving finally at their destination
| it was found that in selecting the
place the boys from the Pine Tree
state were possessed of a true eye
for natural beauty.
| This fact was most pronounced for
a more delightful spot could hardly
| have been conceived. 1t was without
question ore Of the prettiest within
the confines of South Carolina. A
soft, cooling breeze swayed the foil
age ever so gently and purling
brook. winding in and out of shady
| ing, moss covered banks offering the
most inviting resting place.
Two Bands Play
| Two bands, alternating, the 56th
and the 51st, at once opened a con-
cert program. making the usually
tranquil woods ring with their mu
sic.
Other events were items Of sports
such as riding mules bareback. pie
eating contests, fitting contests, etc.
the enlisted men participating in al
and the officers in some Of the events
Many an enlisted man carried five
dollar note, the prize given the win
ner of the events. All the events were
of an amusing nature affording the
spectators 10 end of entertainment
When finally the afternoons pro-
gram was completed the white robeC
cooks announced themselves ready tC
serve the harbecued beef and all tina,
went with it. On hillside over
| looking III, grill where two large
steers had been cooked. the big
crowd gathered and ate dinner while
the band played. 1t was a dinner
quite unlike any ever served in these
parts and it demonstrated beyond a
question that the Maine regiment was
endowed with cooks who were all past
masters in their art. The barbecue
! was under the personal direction of
| Capt. 6. ID. Reynolds, a native of
Virginia. the state which claims the
barbecue all its own.
/ The plan was to follow the dinner
with mock Maine town meeting but
threatening rain made it necessary
I for Capt L. b. Hinckley to call off
; this part of his program of entertain
ment.
The one regret Of the day aside
from this MAS that at the La st min .