The Washington critic., 1889-06-11
THE COMING ENcAMPMENr.
what General Ordway Says About Hi
N Summer Plans.

Summer Plans.
The interest in the proposed camp OF
instruction for the District National
Guard at Fort Washington increases
daily among the militiamen. Since
General Ordway and staff's visit to the
place many Of the officers have gone
there on the quiet for the sake of obser
vation and general information, and
they speak highly Of the selection of
this beautiful spot for q camping
ground.
Surgeon III. L. Leach of the First
Regiment looks upon the spot from q
sanitary view as being the best OF any
site that could be selected ON the river
side He Is enthusiastic over the camp
and believes that In time Fort Washing.
ton will become favored spot on the
Potomac. General Ordway is fully
satisfied that the General Government
will be very generous to the District
militia on account Of it3 close relation.
ship to the regular army, and he has al
ready received assurances from the
War Department that everything pos
siblc for the comfort Of the soldiers In
camp will be provided for by the War
Department, except such incidentals that
cannot be expected to be given, and for
which his men will, for the coming
camp, be asked to contribute
He states that the assessment OF 81
on each member of the National Guard
Is TO be looked upon as a loan, as he
intends to insert in the deficiency, bill
next year an amount equal TO the loan
and to return the money to every sol.
dier contributing.
The assessment, he says, Is necessary
to pay for the music needed during
camp hours, to provide board floors for
the tents, for the pay of hired cooks,
for the purchase of china ware and other
necessaries. II could not said he,
"put men in camp and have them un-
dergo the vicissitudes of such life,
when they are not accustomed to It,.
1t would be foolish TO have any one en-
joying q good home place himself in a
position where he would suddenly be
deprived of all the comforts of a, we'll
regulated home. Another thing wish
to be understood and that is. that the
camp is not to be conducted on prison.
like plan. intend soon to have q con.
sultation with my officers and consider
the matter of providing amuscanents
for the men.
when the soldiers are on duty ]
expect them to perform the same with
| fidelity, but Wien not so occupied they
| are entitled TO recreation. As far as the
work is concerned for the men, they
will be guided by system that will, !
think, be found beneficial to them.
Great care is TO be taken in the instruc.
tions. Say, for example, in skirmish
drill, in target practice, in guard mount
ing and in brigade movements, es
pecially looking to the formation of q
line of battle. There are so many things
in view that | would have to stop and
think out what they are. We will have
quad mounting and parades, and IN
fact, there will be attractions enough
daily to cause many of the citizens tc
avail themselves Of trip to the camI
frequently. My idea in selecting For
Washington was for the purpose OF
letting our citizens see their soldiers il
| camp and how they get along. The
place is near this city, and, II
case Of sickness or accident Detailing
anyone the journey home would bt
short My great idea was, however
to take advantage of this site for tn,
benefit of the friends of the soldiers. 1
is just far enough to make trip pleas
ant, and ! don't think that it would b,
| proper to hold my camp out of til,
reach Of any citizen who would desis
TO visit 1t. l expect 10 make goot
terms with the river boats for certain
privileges offered them, and have IL $,
arranged that the trips to and from TIL,
camp will suit the people. "
"After getting down to Fort Wash
ington recently was surprised at tn,
beauty of the place and its size. Dc
you know that the Government own
over d hundred acres there, and tha
there is room enough to maneuver
| brigadeY There is, and l saw at
| glance that my best plan was to taxi
the site and make It permanent camp
ing ground for the militia. l vii
make the camp so interesting that th
soldiers will look upon Its annual for
| nation with pleasure. can't just noy
tell you all that will be done for us a
| Fort Washington within a year or Sc
but this much ! will say, that it vii
not be many months before that plac
will be the garden spot on the Potc
mac" i h's'1a