Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/188

 186 THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

and those whose bunks were in the huts across the ravine marched three times daily back to receive their rations.

Having secured a bed, the candidate's next move was to be fitted for a uniform. There w^as a room in the permanent barracks for this purpose. Two or three supply sergeants were there to measure and equip. Service hats, coats, breeches, canvas leggins, sox and shoes w^ere available if a man could find a size that would fit him, but no hat cords. The training camp hat cords had not yet arrived and did not come in until several weeks later. Many men unable to get a fit in coat or breeches w^ere forced to appear in part civilian attire for more than a w^eek. No part of the uniform w^as of gratuitous issue. The value of the portions secured w^as deducted froin the monthly compensa- tion. This compensation w^as later announced to be $100.00 a month.

For those that arrived before the 1 5th there was little to do after perma- nent barracks had been located, and cots, mattresses and uniform secured. Time was consumed in hiking, policing, buying text books, perhaps taking out a little insurance, and visiting friends.

On the 15th of May, training started in earnest under the direction of Colonel William J. Nicholson, Commandant of the Camp. Assisting Colonel Nicholson in instruction were Major H. LaT. Cavenaugh as senior instructor; Lieut.-Colonel James A. Ryan and Major James S. Parker; Lieut. -Colonel Ryan being in direct charge of the Michigan-Wisconsin group; Major Parker being responsibie for the Illinois men. The Michigan-Wisconsin camp was called the Tenth Provisional Training Regiment (abbreviated "10th P. T. R."); and the Illinois section, the "11th P. T. R." ; the numbers being derived from the military section of the country from which candidates were chosen. Each of these regiments was made up of fifteen companies; each company, of betw^een I 60 and 1 70 men. The instructors placed in command of companies were Regular Army officers of the rank of either captain or first lieutenant. Assisting the company instructor were generally two reserve officers of the rank of captain, first or second lieutenant.

There were three chaplains at the camp. Major E. J. Vattman, who was the dean of all Regular Army chaplains and had a record that went back to the Indian campaigns as well as a conspicuous record in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines. With him were associated Chaplain Charles W. Gilkey and Chaplain Myron E. Adams, by appointment of the commanding officer.

By most companies, the morning of the 15th was spent in organizing temporarily into squads and platoons, with men acting in the various posi- tions of non-commissioned officers and officers. The men w^ere first arranged according to size, having the tallest man on the right of the line. Then men w^ho had had some previous military experience were temporarily placed to act as non-coms and lieutenants. Some sort of organization having thus been accomplished the balance of the day's w^ork consisted of preliminary drill in the school of the soldier, physical exercise, lectures and hikes. Speedily the men progressed with their infantry drill until by the end of the first week they w^ere marching and going through physical exercises w^ith rifles.

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