1                                       Bucks County Intelligencer,  Camp Incidents.  Page 3  Col. 3                                       1

 

Camp Incidents.--The election held in Camp Lacey

last Tuesday was a very dull affair.  All the voters re-

siding within a distance of ten miles from the camp had

leave of absence for the day, and none of them failed to

avail themselves of a day of liberty.  Many living outside

of that limit also departed, so that the whole number re-

maining in camp was not more than two or three hundred. 

The election was held at the rent of the commanding offi-

cer of each company, and was conducted without any ex-

citement or difficulty.  In two or three companies no

election was held, in consequence of all the members be-

ing near to the former homes.  The men from Philadel-

hia and Reading, we believe, did not vote.  A statement

of the result at the camp will be found elsewhere.

On Wednesday and Thursday last, arms were supplied

to all the companies in the camp except the Artillery. 

The men were marched by companies to Fort Simpson,

which had been converted for the time into a sort of ar-

senal, where each man was invested with a cartridge box

and belt, bayonet scabbard, and cross-belt, and had a gun

placed in his hand.  This process consumed an hour or

two for each company.  On their way back to the camp

the men wore an air of consciousness that they would soon

be ready for active operations against the rebels.  The

two flank companies received rifled muskets of an im-

proved pattern; the others were armed with smooth-bore

muskets, carrying a round ball and three buck shot.  The

guns looked bright and clean, but they have evidently

seen service in the three-months campaign.  Some of

them are marked with the initials of their former bear-

ers.  They weight about ten pounds each, and are handy,

and efficient weapons.

Since the muskets have been dealt out to the troops,

they have been kept closely at work learning the various

movements of infantry soldiers.  The officers are strictly

drilled every forenoon, and they in their turn impart the

knowledge acquired, to the men at the company drills in

the afternoon.  Colonel Davis is an excellent drill officer,

and knows how to educate his men in the “ school of the

soldier.”

On Wednesday evening the regimental band turned out

and complimented the officers residing in Doylestown with

their delightful music.  Beginning at the house of the Col-

onel, they visited six or eight different dwellings, and

during the whole evening the air was filled with their

melody.

One of the most pleasant events of the week was the

presentation of swords to Captain Pickering, and Lieuten-

ants Yardley and Kephart, by their respective friends.—

Owing to unfavorable weather, the attendance at the

Court House was not as large as it otherwise would have

been.  An account of the proceedings on the occasion is

elsewhere given.

Visitors continue to throng the camp when the weather

permits, many of those bringing contributions of socks,

blankets, and articles of food not provided by the com-

missary department.  An occasional taste of butter, eggs,

or sweet potatoes forms a pleasant variety from the con-

stant diet of the soldier—bread and meat.  Any small

gifts of this kind from the surrounding farmers are thank-

fully appreciated by the men in camp.

A handsome sword will be presented to Lieut. James M.

Carver, of the Ringgold Regiment, on Thursday evening

next, at Camp Lacey, by a number of his friends in Buck-

ingham township.  This is a deserved compliment to a

good man and esteemed officer.

Blue cloth caps have been served out to all the men in

the regiment, and they now present an appearance of uni-

formity strikingly different from the effect produced by

the motley head coverings previously worn.  The regi-

ment is now in all respects, apparently, ready for active

service in the field.  We are not saying too much in as-

serting that in appearance and thorough equipment the

Bucks County Regiment is fully equal to the best that

have been sent forward from the Keystone State.

By general orders read at the dress parade on Friday

evening, the non-commissioned officers and privates are

not to receive leave of absence from camp except in cases

of sickness or urgent necessity ; not more than six men

from any one company are to be permitted to leave the

camp at any time; and it is forbidden that arms or equp-

ments shall be taken or worn outside of the camp upon

any pretence, except for repairs or on duty.

The field and staff appointments of the Bucks County

Regiment we believe are now complete.  They are as

follows:

Colonel—W. W. H. Davis, of Bucks county.

Lieutenant-Colonel—John W. Nields, of Chester county.

Major—John M. Gries; of Philadelphia.

Adjutant—Thompson D. Hart, of Philadelphia.

Sergeant-Major—-E. A. Wallace, of Philadelphia.

Quartermaster—James D. Hendrie, of Doylestown.

Quartermaster-Sergeant—Robert Holmes, of Doylestown Tp.

Commissary-Sergeant—James M. Rogers, of Doylestown.

Surgeon—Dr. Washington G. Nugent.

Assistant-Surgeon—Dr. Robinson, of Montgomery county.

Chaplain—Rev. William R. Gries, of Doylestown.

Wagon-Master—Michael E. Jenks, of Newtown.

Sutler—Lewis B. Scott, of Newtown township.

The rain storm of Thursday night was a severe trial of

the fortitude of the men in camp.  The water washed

in through and around the tents, and completely flooded

the ground on the lower side of the encampment.  On

Friday ditches were cut and the bulk of the water drained

off, but the soil was wet and slippery throughout the day. 

Rain is a worse enemy to the soldier than cold.  Not-

withstanding the dampness, the health of the men contin-

ues good, and there are very few, if any, cases of sickness. 

A stand of colors for a Regiment consists of a National

and a Regimental Flag.  By a resolution of the last Leg-

islature of Pennsylvania, the Governor is directed to pro-

cure for each Volunteer Regiment from this State a Regi-

mental Standard, with the arms of the State upon it,

which “ after the present unhappy rebellion is ended,” is

to be returned in the Adjutant General, to be preserved. 

The ladies of Bucks county, desirous that the Ringgold

Regiment should be fully appointed, instituted among

themselves a subscription, and have ordered for the Regi-

ment a National Flag, according to the regulations of

the service.  We understand that this Standard, on be-

half of the contributors, will be presented to the Regiment

at Camp Lacey, on Monday next, the 21st inst., at three

o’clock in the afternoon.

The “Old Guards,” under Captain Orem made a street

parade through Doylestown yesterday afternoon.  They

are preceded by the full regimental band, and presented

a fine appearance.