The Evening Tribune July, 1891

State Encampment.

7/1

   Encampment of State Troops July 15th. The Quartermaster and Adjutant General are putting things in ship shape for the boys.

7/7

   All members of the company are hereby ordered to be present at the armory tomorrow evening for the purpose of special drill, and to receive encampment orders. By order of

F. A. MANSFIELD
Commanding Co.

H. F. HARBECK
First Sergt.

7/8

   Company F of this city will leave for camp in about one week. The old veterans are fixing up and putting things in ship shape for camp, and will do themselves and the city they represent , great credit by proving themselves soldiers and gentlemen while on duty.

7/13

   Thursday, July 16, commences the annual encampment service of state militia which takes place this year at Whitmore lake. The supplies for Co. F. including the usual amount of Nerve Tonic, blood purifier, fever medicine, cure for snake bite, etc., without which it is not safe for the Michigan soldier boy to go into camp, will be sent Tuesday, accompanied by a couple of the boys. Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock the company will take the Grand Trunk to Durand, and thence by special train over the Toledo and Ann Arbor and then over the Michigan Northern to the encampment grounds, which they will reach at 3:20 p.m.

   The soldier boys will be made happy this year at the encampment, by the presence of a canteen for each regiment modeled after those of the regular army. The sham battle will be dispensed with and the different regiments will be called out at night by sound of bugle, and will take the field in heavy marching order with a day’s rations in their knapsacks and during a forced march of 15 or 20 miles they will practice skirmishing and other tactics.

   The girls who want to see their brave boys in blue leave for the scene of action should be at the Depot before nine o’clock Wednesday, where the boys will probably be allowed to break ranks and bid them farewell before falling in and "Count fours," "Left forward, fours left march," and the dear boys are on the train and away they go to Whitmore lake.

7/15

   Everything was hurry and bustle and rush at Co. F armory this morning while the boys were packing knapsacks and giving last touches to uniforms and guns. Each one was equipped with state fatigue uniforms knapsack and gun.

   Roy and Ray Lockie will furnish the rub-a-dub-dub, while C. E. Conger goes as commander general of the commissary department. The members of Co. F, who go to camp this season are: Captain F. A.Mansfield, Lieutenants, Pellegrom and E. H. Andres; Sergeants, W. F. Harbeck, Verhoeks, Kelly and Palmer; Corporals, Smith, Rosbach, and Nyland; Privates, N. McDonald, Briddles, Clark, Cummings, Clevenga, J. Dykema, Dykhouse, Dickenson, Archie McDonald, J. B. Moll, Pennoyer, Scott, Savidge, W. VanShelvan, VanLopik, J. VanDongen, Bert VanDongen, VanderNoot, Vyn, VanTol, John Williams, R. Williams, Welsh, Will Gibbs, Zeldenrust, Hunt, Kamhout, Gill, Harbeck, Kieft, Kinkema, VanMerlein, J. Fisher, Harm Woltman of Holland.

7/17

   HEADQUARTERS Co. F, 2nd Regt., M.S.T., Camp Custer, Whitmore Lake, July 16.—Special to THE EVENING TRIBUNE.]—Company F arriving in camp at 5:30 last evening, all pretty mad, on account of being behind time over an hour. However, by hard work the boys were able to sit down to supper at 9 o’clock. By this time they were extremely hungry and thirsty, particularly the latter, as no one except Kamhout and Woltman had found anything to drink except very poor water, consequently the good coffee dished up by Cook Williams was thrice welcome. Quartermaster Rosbach seemed to be always present where most needed and by bed time had succeeded in bringing order out of the chaos. Ed Buxton, in charge of the mess tent, is also the right man in the right place. Company F takes no back seat for any company on the grounds as to appearance or efficiency in drill. Her officers excel all others for manly beauty and sobriety, while Private Donaldson is the hardest hitter to be found in a day’s travel.

   Many of the other members excel in many ways that will not be mentioned here further than to say that they average all right.

   The camp is pleasantly situated one quarter of a mile from the lake and a mile from the little village of Hamburg, the home of Governor Winans. They are 2,500 militiamen on the ground besides 150 of Uncle Samuel’s regulars, the latter being commanded by Captain Leisium of Company E.

   There was very little sleep for anyone last night on account of the turbulence of the loud elements, but at our quarters, at least, better order will prevail tonight as Captain Mansfield has just been detailed as officer of the day, consequently we are likely to get a good night’s sleep tonight.

   The weather so far has been all that could be desired, and everybody is in the best of spirits. In fact it would be impossible for the weather clerk to do anything to dampen our spirits as we keep them in tight boxes that are only unlocked when we have callers.

   Another day we may send you a few more notes from our diary, concerning the future pensioners of this glorious land of liberty, now so numerous at Camp Custer, Whitmore Lake.

7/18

   HEADQUARTERS Co. F, 2nd Regt., M.S.T., Camp Custer, Whitmore Lake, July 17.—Special to THE EVENING TRIBUNE.]—Since writing you yesterday, nothing of special importance has occurred at this camp to interest the general reader. The battalion and skirmish drill yesterday afternoon was very fine and was witnessed by quite a crowd of spectators. Col. Irish, of the 24th Regiment, is well pleased with the men and officers. Dress parade after supper, was a magnificent sight, well worth a journey to witness. This morning orders were given to the 2nd and 4th Regiments to prepare for a forced march. The quartermasters issued a day’s rations to each man and at 10:30 they started, their destination being unknown, but supposed to be Ann Arbor. Boos’ Saginaw band, the Kalamazoo Military band and the 4th Regiment band are all here, and hardly an hour of the day passes that you cannot here them playing the latest airs. They are way up in their line and the soldiers say that never at any previous encampment did they ever have the pleasure of listening to to such soul-stirring, delicious music. The weather is pretty hot through the middle of the day, but nights and mornings are cool. Only few have been prostrate from the heat so far.

NOTES.

   One of the men of Company B fell in a fit last evening and was taken to the hospital.

   Ed Pennoyer has trouble with his digestive apparatus and cannot eat any solid food, having to depend entirely on liquids. The number of bottles emptied by him daily will never be known. The change to liquid diet does not seem to make him any the less "previous," however.

   Gen. Robinson this morning complimented Buston and Williams on the order and cleanliness maintained in and around the mess tent and cook shanty.

   Ray Lockie, at the dinner table today scalded the right leg of his military trousers by tipping over a cup of coffee, and was placed in the sun to dry.

   Good judges say the lager sold on the grounds is of fair quality. The bar is next door to the Y. M. C. A. headquarters.

   Lieutenant Pellegrom was senior officer of the guard yesterday.

   Lieutenant Andres is junior officer of the guard today.

   Perfect order was maintained last night, Capt. Mansfield being officer of the day, and the boys put in a good night’s sleep.

7/20

   HEADQUARTERS Co. F, 2nd Regt., M.S.T., Camp Custer, Whitmore Lake, July 17.—Special to THE EVENING TRIBUNE.]— Since writing you yesterday Nyland, Van Lopik and Harbeck arrived today while the boys were at dinner, bringing many tender messages from the loved ones at home, also a box of cigars.

   They were accompanied as far as Durand by that unequaled pedro player D. C. Wachs who went to Detroit, but who is expected to arrive in camp tonight. On his arrival the boys will elevate him in a blanket after the most approved modern style in vogue at all registered camps.

   Gov. Winans was here all day yesterday and witnessed the drill, and dress parade after supper, expressing himself highly pleased with the maneuvers.

   Three men of the 2nd regiment who were on the march yesterday, gave out last night while on dress parade and were taken to the hospital in double quick time by the ambulance.

   I forgot to mention that musician Ray Lockie plays with the buglers every night and morning during guard mount and is frequently complimented on his playing.

   We have a "coon", who, as I am write is entertaining a crowd by imperiled feats on the slack wire.

   A slight rain this morning freshened up the atmosphere giving us good supply of ozone.

   A large crowd of visitors from all over the state will be here tomorrow, consequently the barbs are doing a rushing business fixing up the married men who expect to make many conquests, and they certainly will if the weather is warm.

   Tuesday we pack up and start for home but are not likely to reach there before midnight.

7/21

   The Menomonee Military company will pass through here on their way home tonight arriving on the 6:15 train and leaving on the Milwaukee boat.

   HEADQUARTERS Co. F, 2nd Regt., M.S.T., Camp Custer, Whitmore Lake, July 20.—Special to THE EVENING TRIBUNE.]—There are three West Point cadets on the ground to to give instruction, and one Lieut. Upton, was requested that night by Col. Irish to instruct the officer of the day, the officers of the guard and sentinels in their duties.

   This morning, (Sunday) at 8 o’clock Inspector General Lothrop inspected the companies in their quarters after guard mount. At 2:30 p.m. divine services were held and at 4:00 p.m. comes brigade dress parade. Monday, in place of battalion drill, the troops will all pass in review before the Commander in Chief, Governor Winans.

NOTES.

   There is a big crowd of visitors here today and everybody is happy and contented.

   Saturday, before he had been in camp an hour, John Van Lopik fell into a sink hole from where he was finally rescued covered from head to foot with dish water and other filth. A corporal’s guard took him into an adjacent field where he was scrubbed and fumigated.

   Private Archie McDonald, who by the way could have an office if he wanted it, has had no adventure to speak of since the first night in camp, when some bad soldiers fired at him through an opening in the tent a squirt gun full of ice water. With nothing on to speak of except an ugly scowl on his face Archie pursued the midnight marauders armed with a hatchet but they were too fleet for him.

   Hospital Steward C. K. Esler is constantly looking after the health of the boys of Co F keeping them in good shape for hard work. He fill the position ably and is very popular with his brother officers. He has charge of a small boy who was bitten by a rattlesnake today, who is thought will recover. Mr. Esler has extended to your correspondent every courtesy, and to him we are indebted for most of the news gathered for the TRIBUNE. C. K. is now City Auditor of Lansing, a good fat office which is filling acceptably.

   The EVENING TRIBUNE understands today that its war correspondent from the field at Whitmore Lake is covering himself with glory. His next commission will be a more extensive one; probably to the Indian "bad lands" or to Africa.

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