On the 20th of June, Private Edward Carpenter was notified of his appointment, by the President, as a second lieutenant in the regular service. He had long been anxious to make the army his profession, and was greatly pleased. The first Khaiki uniform in the Trooper's camp appeared the next day upon Lieutenant McFadden, and was the subject of much attention. Fifteen men from each troop were constantly on guard duty over the camp grounds and railroad property. "Two hours on and four hours off," was the rule with the men during their day's duty.
A blacksmith's forge was set up at the foot of the Trooper's camp, and men were detailed each day to act as assistants. The horses had all been unshod upon their arrival, and it was a long job getting them properly fitted out.
June passed into July, and still the Troopers remained at Mt. Gretna. By this time the Troop had practically its full number of horses, and the men were drilled almost to the point of perfection. They were as fit for service as soldiers could be, and the orders to move, which came July 7th, were welcome indeed. The squadron was to go to Camp Alger, but all the men felt that this was but a preliminary move, and that soon they would be at the front. Tents were struck the same day. No countermanding orders came this time, and all the camp luggage was despatched to the station ahead of the cavalrymen.
The squadron at this time consisted of three troops and nine officers. Each troop consisted of one hundred men and one hundred and six horses. The men of the three commands had become well acquainted with one another during their long wait at Camp Hastings, and upon their camp sites left mementoes of their stay which will be seen for years to come. Two of the Troops names are cut deeply upon great rocks, together with the dates of their arrival and departure. The men of the Governor's troop erected a huge monument of stones, held together with mud, and great pride was taken by the Harrisburg Troopers in this "work of art."
CHAPTER IV.
FIRST DAYS AT CAMP ALGER.
From the little valley, in which the Troopers had pitched their tents seventy-one days previous, they rode away late in the afternoon of Thursday, July 8th, in the best condition of any command which had been mustered in at Mt. Gretna. No comrades in arms remained to be drawn up in line to give the cavalrymen a parting cheer, but fully two hundred cottagers of the Chautauqua grounds were at the station to witness the departure. The train was in waiting, made up in two sections; the baggage, horses and horse detail were to go in the first, and the work of loading was at once begun.
While the greys were being led aboard the cars, many friends of the Philadelphia men gathered upon the railroad platform to say a last good-by. Among those from whom the Troopers parted with sincere regret were T. Dawson Coleman and William T. Smith, President of the Cornwall and Lebanon road, both of whom had done much to contribute to the pleasure of the men in camp during their long stay.