In Camp with L Company, Second Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry

Company L was organized and mustered into the State service June 22, 1893, and assigned as the 11th company of the Second Regiment with headquarters at Paterson, with the following officers: Addison Ely, Captain; Wilkin Bookstaver, First Lieutenant; Joseph J. Blake, Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant Bookstaver resigned in February, 1896, Lieutenant Blake was promoted to First Lieutenant and First Sergeant Robert A. Brunner was promoted to Second Lieutenant. From its first season at rifle practice the Company was a decided factor in the making up of the State records; the first year, out of fifty-six companies it stood sixth, in 1895 it was fourth and in 1897 second on the list with ten sharpshooters and fifty-eight marksmen, pushing Company C of Paterson hard for first honors, that company having twelve sharpshooters and sixty marksmen. A match was arranged in the fall of '97 between the companies composing the Second Battalion, E, F, G and L, ten men constituting a team; this match we won handily.

Matches between the squads proved exciting and interesting, the prize being a silver loving cup donated by Lieutenant Brunner. Our range being on the meadows not only insured safety, but was actually one of the best ranges used by any Company in the State. Our discipline was excellent and our annual inspection invariably showed 100 per cent. The armory was built during the winter of 1896-7, and was formally opened in March, 1897, with a grand fair which was honored by a visit of Governor Griggs and a large number of military and civic officers. It cost about $20,000, and contains, besides a large drill-room, a well appointed stage, meeting rooms and living apartments.

During the winter of 1897-8 particular attention was given to Regimental, Battalion and Company drills in extended order and when spring opened and the mutterings of war were heard, the Company had been drilled quite thoroughly in battle exercises, and an enthusiasm had been instilled, so that every man was on his mettle. It was natural, then, that when the orders came the Company was enabled to turn out a larger percentage of National Guardsmen than any other Company in the regiment. The personnel of the entire body insured an honorable mention in the State annals. Our officers were capable and well liked; and the non-commissioned officers, that body of men in our armies which are the fighting unit, were a potent factor in our make up. How well these officers and subs did their duty the records of details, escorts, provost guards, etc., will show.

April 30, 1898, the orders we had been expecting arrived and from this time on a nervous excitement prevailed in the armory and spread for miles around. Final visits were made; business affairs wound up; underclothing bought, and when Sunday evening arrived it found us all ready to start. During the night the telegraph ticked off the rumors of the battle in Manila harbor, and at dawn all the country was aflame with patriotism and eager to know the facts. Every hour brought fresh tidings of that grand victory and it was with lighter hearts and more cheerful faces that we set about our final task.

Everywhere now was bustle and excitement, but it was freely predicted that we would not get further than Sea Girt, and we heard this repeated so often that we began to be rather anxious to be off, as if afraid the war would end before we had fairly got in it. The time to don our war togs came at last; mothers, sisters and sweethearts were given final injunctions not to worry, just as if we expected they would obey, and then we repaired to the armory, where the excitement was at fever heat and the crowd of sightseers outside pushed and swayed, the boys were impatient to be off. The clear notes of the bugle sound the assembly. The command to fall in is given. The drill-room is hushed, but the excitement is still there. Impatient commands are given and finally the sharp command, "March!" starts us on our journey and the beginning of our little world of warfare.

But bedlam had broken loose. Steadily we marched out of the doorway, only to face a great crowd. Our feelings were various at this time, I doubt not. Personally I wanted to get away from that crowd and felt angry that they should be cheering so, not daring to look aside, but deaf to all the shouts of encouragement. I was fully realizing the fact that it was not such a fine thing to leave home and friends for a perilous two years of strife and bloodshed. Finally reaching the station by a circuitous route, we waited fully an hour for the train. This was extremely trying to us, but amid an outburst of cheers we boarded it bound for camp, and now our spirits rose, for we were off, and instead of looking behind it was forward, and we determined then and there to make the best of everything as we found it, and that duty in its plainest, boldest light lay before us, and now was the time to begin. Our officers and non-coms were hurrying through the cars, making up lists, detailing guards, making assignments. Every engine we passed saluted us with deafening screeches; factory, street and doorway contributed their share of waving handkerchiefs and cheering crowds, the streets of Newark near the station were packed with people, and so the patriotism followed us all the way to Sea Girt, which was reached at four in the evening.

Immediately disembarking, we formed rapidly and marched to the camp grounds, passing in review before the Governor. This was my first view of the War Man of our State. Standing upon a horse block in front of the White House with uncovered head and a sober, serious countenance, Governor Voorhees impressed me with the belief that he, at least, felt the full responsibility of his position. Well and nobly did he fill it. From Trenton he brought his headquarters to Sea Girt and there he stayed until he saw the last regiment depart for the south, having ceaselessly urged forward equipments, personally looked after the comfort of the men, taken a deep and thoughtful interest in all our surroundings, and finally bid us Godspeed upon our journey, a loyal, devout patriot.

As we marched to our streets ominous mutterings and black storm clouds in the west warned us to get sheltered as quickly as possible; and at the word, ranks were broken and a wild scramble for tents began; but we were soon roused out again to get sacks of straw to sleep upon. This news was comforting, for the fresh green sod, still moist from recent rains, was anything but inviting. The sacks were intended for two battalions. Our battalion was to have had cots. There was considerable confusion and orders got mixed, so we sailed in with the other fellows to get sacks. These were stored at the rear of the mess houses about 200 yards back of the camp. Eight hundred men got the order at the same time and all made a dash for the pile. The sacks were about seven feet long and it was a most ludicrous spectacle to see the men dragging these clumsy things after them. The field seemed alive with great brown ants crawling after each man. The boys enjoyed the fun greatly. Guards were being posted and we soon made ready for the night. While the blankets were being issued it commenced to rain; and after eating the last crust of bread we had brought from home, we turned in and slept soundly.

Tuesday we received cots, while those tents which could boast of floors were given the sacks.

The rations or "grub" served the first day consisted of a small piece of steak and a whole loaf of bread. The bread broken in half with the meat between would make a home made sandwich that could be eaten on the installment plan. The loaf was our allowance of bread for the day. Coffee of rather doubtful quality was served, also one whole boiled potato, and some of them appeared to have grown for a couple of years. This breakfast was duplicated every day during the week. At dinner the meat ration was varied by bacon, liver or fish.

Mustering officers and surgeons were very busy all the time, and companies of the First and Third were constantly passing our tents, to and from the mustering field. Orders were received to hurry up the mustering of the Second Regiment. Rumor had it that we were to go to Washington in a few days, the Third to stay and the First to go to Chickamauga Park to act with the Regulars in the contemplated invasion of Cuba. During the week the showers and wet fields kept us continually indoors and the first Sunday in camp it rained a flood. The streets were turned into quagmires and every now and then the slip-slop of some soldier passing the tent made the situation all the more gloomy.

Detailed news of Commodore Dewey's victory in Manila harbor reached us Sunday morning. The completeness of it, with such slight injury to ourselves, was pronounced as marvelous and cheering broke through the sodden air, stirring the dripping camp to life and action.

This day was my initiation as Corporal in Guard Mounting and, although the Junior Corporal present, I was detailed to take out the first relief. It rained incessantly and at nine in the evening the guard was dismissed. My face then was quite numb from exposure. At three o'clock the next morning the guard resumed its duty.

The second week turned out to be a pretty stiff one for drills, the weather being less wet. Friday, May 13th, we were examined by Surgeon Brien of our Regiment and all but four passed. One man failed to report; he had left camp for home. In the evening G Company started out with fife and drum to have a good time. They carried nearly the whole Battalion with them to the quarters of the commanding officers, who were repeatedly called out and made short speeches amid much cheering, after which the boys paraded through the camp. They were received with considerable enthusiasm in every street. The escapade proved welcome, for it diverted our thoughts from the weather.

I had been temporarily assigned to the Quartermaster's Department shortly after our arrival at camp and was kept quite busy all the time making up schedules of equipments for each Regiment, and these were completed only within a few days of our departure south. Col. George G. Felton, Deputy Quartermaster-General, was in charge and was a most efficient officer. His department was a hive of industry, unloading cars, filling quotas, making out lists and distributing to the regiments, and when everything had been supplied he viewed with satisfaction as well an equipped force as ever entered the volunteer service of the United States.

While serving here I missed a number of marches the Company participated in, the most notable being the march along the beach and through the thick woods and swamps, ending with a vigorous charge over the sand hills bordering the ocean.

The manual of arms used by the National Guard was abruptly changed to conform to the army manual and this change was brought about in an incredibly short time under the able instruction of our First Lieutenant, and the movements were executed with marked precision. Considerable attention was given to setting up exercises as practiced by the United States Army, so that we became quite proficient in the simpler movements. Though not having enough clear days to go more deeply into the more difficult exercises, the Regiment in companies would be at times seen on the field and it proved quite an interesting sight.