Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-19
SUMNER TRIP OF OUR SOLDIER
BOYS.
The Grand Tour OF the National Rifles
TO Lake Minnetonka. Minnesota, i'm
June.
HOW THEY ARE TO BE WELCOMED.

The National Rifles have been invited to
visit Lake MinnetOnka in June next. The COM
pany has accepted the invitation and will leave
here on the seventh of the month for that
beautiful summer resort. The command has
made complete arrangements for an extensive
trip. and will take with II every available mem
Der. The Rifles will, en- route. visit many of
the larger cities. where arrangements are now
being perfected to receive and entertain the
company in manner characteristic of genuine
western hospitality. The company will travel
10y way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in
first class paIlor and sleeping cars. and will
halt first at Chicago. and next at Burlington.
Iowa. From the latter place the Rifles travel
ny steamer UP the Mississippi river to Dayen-
port. and from there 10y rail TO Lake Mime
tNnka. The command VIII quarter at the Hotel
Lafayette the largest and best hotel at Mime
tOnha Beach, and ore OF the finest and most
elegant public resorts i'm America 1t will remain
af the lake eight days. curing which time dress
Edrades, excursions on the lake exhibition
drills ana fuli-GrGSs receptions Will form a part
of the program of amusements Returning,
the company will visit Minneapolis St Paul
and AGAIN at Chicago. where it Will be received
and cntert AIMED by the military and corporations
al those cities Tie company will take with it
"A large number Of its honorary members for
whom arrangements have been made for halt
Will be absent from. Washington eighteen or
twenty dayS.
The following handsome notice of the Rifles
Is clipped from the Burlington HG'rb2e of April
18th. 1t is very complimentary. it Will be seen.
to the gallant young command:
This excellent military body is a reorganization
ct the famous Old command bearing that name
winch was the pride and glory OF the city of
Washington. previous to the late war; and
which contained in its ranks. the wealth,
NJ
Of the nation at that period. At the breaking out
OF TIE rebellion it was one Of the first three com
panIeS in the United States call of which were
from Washington 10 enter the government ser
wee. and the first company Of volunteers to
cross the line into Virginia III defense Of the
union.
The present command the one that will visit
burlington in June is an organization COM
posed entirely Of a representation OF the lead
ing young citizens of Washington, all of whom
have fine record at home. both in covermen-
tai and commercial life. It's reputation. not
alone in that city but wherever the Rifles have
visited Is that of command magnificent in
personal appearance and physique, refined and
educated i'll its moral ana social standing I'M
eNcrlIed in its knowledge and mastery of the
tactics. ana wearing uniform that is brilliant
and attractive in the extreme.
us command was re0rganized June O. 1880.
bping nade up. mainly. Of veterans of other
military organizations Of Washington. At the
GATE or its formation it possessed nothing in the
way III personal or real property, not even own
ing Vcstige of a uniform or the articles ncces-
sary to equip company in a manner that
would make It pre-entabie. 1t had however
Iii its ranks the material that would eventually
by its ndomtabIc will and perseverance, force
hSe,l 10 the front. and though only four wears
has elapsed since its formation, it stand, to-
day. Ill the east. with scarcely q rival. Ry its
industry II has uniformed command OF ninety
mtA. IN full dress and fatigue including hand
some oierco2tS. at "a cost Of $4,000. 1t
mas built itself grand annory and music
ha!l IN the fashionable quarter of WASHINGTON
the dimensions OF which GSX114 feet A
Iir9e GRILL room Is located on the first floor ana
a music or dancing hall on the second This
beautiful cdilce is elegant in its appointments
ana Contains all the improvements known to
modern architecture. 1t is the sole property OF
ii!' HiiIrS. ana cost tn" company including its
furnishings. the sum of 80. 900. 1t was in the
aIln"ry OF this command that the best of Wash
in@tDn society held high carnival during the gay
winter season Just closed. Ii was there that
the President Of the United States. the general
uI the army. admiral of the navy. Cabinet min
l-t"rs. judges Of the supreme Court members
OF the diplomatic corps, Senators and members
OF Congress mingled with the yotaries OF fash
ionabe life.
The Rifles have been the winners in one or
more military contests since their reorpanjza-
ton. and to-day they fly the champion colOrs
won hY them in a competitive contest at the
"Garield fair, held In Washington December
!. loS3. Their competitors We're picked conna-
Mes from various sections in the east two of
them having been famous prize winners in pre-
vious contests. The judges on the occasion
were Gen Ayres and Major Rodgers of the reg
uar army. and Major Anderson, of the 9Th
Maryland regiment. Gen. Sherman presented
the trophy to the victOrs in complimentary
speech. in which he stated that in his opinion
lit would be difficult to find better drilled
bodies of men than those on the ground"
In all the social and beneficial entertainments
given by this popular organization in Washing
ton. it has received the undivided support and
enthus astic encouragement Of the leading citt-
zens of the city. Its wonderful financial and So
clal success has been unparalleled. It Is
noted for its warm and generous hospitalities
and during its existence 1t has received and en-
tertained many military commands from various
parts of the country, the most prominent OF
which were the celebrated Michigan Battalion
$50 strong, who visited Washington in going TO
and returning from y Yorktown. Va October 18th
and oath. 1881, and the 18th regiment OF Penn
sylyanla troops the Boston Fuseers and the
Lowell Phaanx, who visited Washington
March Attn. 1881.
The Rifles were the guests of Congress hall
Cape May, last year, and in their encampment
OF two weeks at that delightful resort they lent
a special charm to the place. The Philadelphia
Press. OF July nth, said, that 1.-The presence Of
the Rifles at the Cape renders Congress hall de-
cidedy the center OF attraction here this week.
and the high social standing of both rank and
HE rciluerS thtif Vlst as much aSOclety mil
itary event Of the season."
The following are the officers i'm command:
Col. j. o. =. Burnside, captain commanding:
Leuts James F. Oyster. George W. Evans and
Joseph O. Manson. Col. Burnside is an old vet
eran Of the late war. He was born in Knox
county. Indiana but previous to the utbreak
of the rebellion he became citizen of FreepOrt,
Illinois. where lie edited and published IA paper
for eight years: When the first call for troops
was made In 1861 he enlisted &c private in the
Fifteenth Illinois regiment, and after
ward, became captain OF company G
of the same. He gradually rose in rank
until he was finally made a lieutenant colonel
OF the Scventy-1 Illinois infantry and par
tcipated in the western campaigns during the
first two years of the war
In the campaign of 1863. which included the
battles Of Charlottesville and Gettysburg, he
served on the staff Of Gen. s. S. Carroll, who
commanded the famous 'Gihraltar Brigade of
the second corps, army Of the Potomac Since
the war he has resided in Washington where he
has been frequently honored with important
civil and governmental trusts. He now occupies
the important position OF discussing officer and
superintendent of the Post Office department.
and is well and favorably known for his strong
traits Of character and the energy and perse-
yerance with which he prosecutes every under
taking.
First Lieutenant James F. OYSTER. the
youngest of the officers, is one OF the rising and
most prominent merchants OF Washington and