 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
| In July, 1908, Colonel Macklin took the Fourth to what probably was its greatest camp—at Pine Plains, New York, not far from the Canadian border, and where again the militiamen worked with regulars under the command of General Grant. It was perhaps the largest regiment that ever left Baltimore in times of peace, and it was admittedly one of the most strenuous camps in the history of joint maneuvers between the army and the organized militia. It was hard tour of duty, and some militia organizations fell down under the strain of almost constant work in the field. There were long marches through sand ankle deep in many places, and little or no shade. It was an ideal location for field instruction—off the beaten path and miles from thickly settled localities; so there was nothing- for the soldiers to do but work, eat and sleep. Not much time was allowed for sleep, and many of the meals had to be cooked in the field. The Fourth had not been at Pine Plains long before the men realized that what Sherman said about war was true. Frequent high winds and sand storms added to the discomfort of the troops, There were rain storms, too, and one night the Fourth was called out to save its camp from destruction by wind. It gave the men a real taste of war. There is not sufficient space left in this history to tell what the Fourth, in common with other organizations, really went through at Pine Plains—forced marches, problem after problem and regimental, battalion and company drills. And yet, when the time came for the Fourth to march several miles to the train that would carry the organization back to Baltimore the soldiers went out of their way to give General Grant a marching salute. With heads erect and with steady step the men swung past the "Hog's Back," the commanding" general's headquarters, with the band playing "Back, Back to Baltimore," and "Maryland, My Maryland." The Fourth left the camp with more spirit than they had entered it. The Fourth went to Westminster with the brigade in 1909 and participated in some extensive maneuvers, coming away with more stars in its crown of efficiency. This was followed by another brigade encampment at Frederick in 1911, the Fourth participating. In 1912 the Fourth was again sent to a joint army and militia camp at Mount Gretna, Pa., where it took part in extensive maneuvers. Meanwhile, the officers had been in camp at Westminster and at Saunders Range, Anne Arundel county. The regiment went to Belair with the brigade in 1914, and in 1915 the organizations of the First Brigade encamped at Saunders Range by battalions. At various times in its history the Fourth has gone out on practice marches and on regimental camps of instruction, taking advantage of every opportunity Pdfff Forty-nine |