The National Guard’s Growing Pains at Camp Murray
A critical inspector's report details the state militia's encampment struggles, the sudden death of a beloved officer, and the push for a permanent home for Washington’s citizen soldiers.
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The annual encampment of the National Guard of Washington at Camp Murray, near Tacoma, faced a somber shift when Major K. K. Trotter, the camp’s instructor, passed away suddenly from a cerebral attack on June 28, 1892. Lieutenant William Kimball, who oversaw the encampment, noted that for several days following the Colonel's death, all training ceased, with guardsmen showing profound respect and mourning. The report highlights broader challenges for the militia: improper sanitary conditions, struggles with volunteer discipline, and the inconsistent state of equipment. Kimball strongly urged the establishment of permanent camp grounds—specifically pointing to Woodland Park in Seattle—and argued that the adjutant general’s office required more staff and salary to handle the growing logistical burden of the state's military.
“A standing army is out of the question in a republic, and for this reason the reliance of the people on their citizen soldiers for protection against mob violence or sudden invasions must be complete.”
Lieutenant Kimball's struggle to professionalize a volunteer militia while navigating limited space and funding echoes today's debates about how Seattle balances growing institutional needs with limited public land. The quest to turn Woodland Park into a permanent state landmark in 1892 predates the park's modern identity as a civic hub, showing how the 'best use' of city land has been a flashpoint for over a century.
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