Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-29

To some the experience Of the past week has
been rather gruesome, but to a large majority
OF them-to fully 80 per cent Of them-it has
been full OF instruction and of inestimable serv-
ice.
WHAT THE CAMPERS HAVE LEARNED.
1t has taught them how to conduct them
selves with soldierly precision under the re-
straints of military discipline, how to bear up
under the Inconvenience Of camp life, how to
aan drunk , strong fs't aos sser weak how coffee
to chew tough beeksteak, and to
subsist on bean soup. 1t has taught them that
they have in Gen. Ordway a commander de-
serving of the highest consideration and praise
and that he is assisted by as competent a corps
of officers as can be found in any of the volun-
teer forces in the country.
VALUABLE LESSONS.
In fact the lessons taught by the camp have
been many and valuable, and it is no exagger-
alton to say that the brigade comes back to-
day improved in tone hundred per
cent at the very least, with every man
who participated feeling the responsibilities of
his place, and with an esprit du corps" en-
gendered that will grow with succeeding en-
campments until the national guard Of the
District will be justly known as the flower of
the American militia.
REvEnLR
this morning woke up tired camp, and the
reservation for the next few hours was the
scene of the most nervous activity. Company
streets were filed with men with blinking eyes,
cleaning out their tents. packing
boxes, rolling up their blankets, trimming
their knapsacks, cleaning their guns-in fact.
giving the finishing touches to themselves and
their effect before starting on their home
ward journey. Orderlies dashed hither and
thither with commands from the general
and the colonies, and questions and answers
flew about at lightning speed. The interior
guards were withdrawn at reveille, but the ex-
terror guard was continued. Owing to the
PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
the breakfast was postponed from until $50,
and long before the latter hour hungry men
| who had completed their work of making ready
tramped up to the fort and sat in patient wait
| ing on the earthworks and ramparts watching
| the busy scenes on the wharf below.
The camp was disntegrated piece by piece,
and from the sound of the reveille it kept melt
bn as the until tn there een was or5S 9hn ssods
that it would be unwise to strike
the tents in their damp condition, for there
was great danger of their mildewing. Accord
ingly, they were left open, with the flies tied
back and cleaned out, and in a few days they
will be taken down by a force Of men under the
direction of Sergeant Joyce.
THE CAVALRY COMPANY
left at o'clock this morning, striking out into
the muddy road in great spirits. They were
loudly cheered as they marched up the road,
and they responded by firing volley
from their carbines as they left the reservation
They broke camp pretty well satisfied with
their weeks work, for they had won encomiums
| on every side for the almost feverish anxiety
they had displayed to make the most of every
| minute of their time. They did not let the
81. l,n,- ~
went at it tooth and nail, rain or shine.
AN ARTILLERY PROBLEM SOLVED.
| AS the cavalrymen went up the road on their
way out they passed the batteries going to the
wharf to embark for home. Here was one OF
the most difficult problems encountered
during the week. With the deck OF
the Noseley three feet higher than
the level of the wharf the loading of the guns
and caissons was no easy matter, and valuable
| time was lost in making gang plank long and
wide and strong enough to permit the passage
of the wide-gauged trucks. A lot OF
lumber that had been brought down
together by the united efforts of a dozen men
and Capt. AldrIch, who went down on his knees
with Ratchet in his hand and drove as many
nails as any of the rest of them. The guns
were loaded without difficulty or accident, the
horses being first unhitched. Twelve to sixteen
men
| PUT THEIR SHOULDERS TO THE WHEELS
and walked the great things up the gang plank
with ease. The horses were next put on board
each led by driver. Once started the whole
affair worked as smoothly as though it were
an everyday occurrence to put eight field
pieces and fifty-fve horses aboard a small
| steamer to pack them in SO that there was Just
| room for every one and no more, and to get
| out of the sbrape without accident But il
was accomplished with a degree of accuracy
| that was wonderful in amateurs.
| There was also an immense amount of per.
sonal baggage put aboard, and the ambulance
| the horses. There were, besides the men be-
longing to the battery, fully two hundred pas
| sengers, mostly those who had been left on the
wharf last night
THE GUNNERs HOME AGAIN.
| Washington was reached in safety at 1890
about an hour from the time of starting, and
after unloading the guns, caissons, baggage
and other freight, the steamer was
turned at once and sent down
| The artillery company proceeded to the arse.
nal, where the guns were parked and guard
| set around them. A few of the men were given
permission to go home, with promise to return
at 4, in time to join the brigade in its parade
through the streets.
THE INFANTRY EMBARK.
| At o'clock the sound of the ASSEMBLY
call rang through the camp and brought the
guardsmen into line in the company
streets equipped for their home
ward march. After q round of cheering
by the men and few words OF thanks
and commentator from the officers the
brigade marched by battalions down the
road, down the hill, and upon the
steamer. This was at 8 o'clock. The best
of order prevailed. The discipline in the
ranks was excellent and the process Of en-
barkation went on without O hitch. The co |.
ored troops were on the hurricane deck, the
second regiment on the upper deck, and the
first regiment and the staff on the lower.
CHEERS FOR THE GENERAL AND THE CANT.
As the boat left the wharf the brigade gave
asprolonged veil for Gen Ordway his. officers