Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/348

 346 THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

coming to the First Camp. They had shown to their instructors their ability along these lines and were selected on this basis.

A great deal of credit belongs to the instructors of companies in the Second Camp, every one of w^hom was a Reserve officer. It w^as a difficult problem they faced. In addition to the responsibility of giving correct military instruction and of keeping up w^ith the constantly changing methods of war- fare, these men had in their companies older, more experienced men w^ho w^ere leaders in every walk of life, and younger men who had had little training and some who were not qualified for leadership. These must be continually inspired and their true values estimated v/ith fairness. It w^as some job.

They did it, and did it w^ell. It was one of the fine accomplishments of

these early days. Sure there w^ere some w^ho w^ere not satisfied — others w^ho

felt that their personal abilities were not properly recognized, but the rank and file recognized the splendid services given and much of the loyalty so evident between officers and men in the First Camp was transferred to the more inti- mate relationships of the Second.

There w^ere several noticeable changes in the Second Camp. One w^as the weather. July and August, w^ith their bright sun, their hot days, their w^arm nights, had departed. September tried to be kind, but it couldn't.

Whew! B-r-r-r! The old wind began to blow off the lake. The early cold of Northern Wisconsin came hustling across the waves.

Some of the candidates who had been enjoying a brief leave came back the third Sunday afternoon looking like "Washington's forces at Valley Forge."

Big sheet-iron stoves w^ent up in the w^ooden barracks and every one joined the "Hot stove brigade." Lumber was brought hurriedly to the rescue to line the walls of the w^ooden barracks and to reinforce the floors. The old

sun came back in a few days smiled deceptively as much as to say, "I w^as

just playing with you. " But he didn't fool the rookies again. They were ready next time and although there w^ere some cold, w^et days before December 1 st, they were all set.

On Sunday evenings, the men came back from leave at 4 P. M. Colonel Ryan arranged for get-together meetings in the gymnasium. The opening address w^as made by Major-General William H. Carter, Commander of the Central Department.

A crowded house greeted General Carter. With soldier-like simplicity he seemed to speak directly to each individual man. He said:

I urge every one of you to maintain the standard of ethics laid dow^n by General Washington.

Conduct yourselves in a way that will be a source of pride to your- selves, your family, your friends and your country.

Some of you, when you become officers, will feel that you are not appreciated. I warn you against that feeling. The only object of your living should be to give the best that is in you. Opportunity plays a great part. Some may be observed to perform achievements w^hile others may be ignored for a time, but, remember, if you continue to perform the task before you that fact w^ill not go unheeded.

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