Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-27

i
for him and then gave him the Light Infantry
corps cheer. He treated to soda at the can
| teen.
| Capt E. O. Edwards Of the Corcoran cadets
was the recipient Of barrel of crabs sent to
| camp by his father, who is summering at
Colonial beach. They were distributed around
and greedily devoured. Crabs d. not grow at
| Camp Ordway.
Through the courtesy Of the light battery
HE STAR reporter WAS yesterday provided with
horse. Quartermaster Sergeant Howe acted
as escort while Gunner Shannon performed the
trying duties OF orderly to perfection.
THE SUCCESS OF THE CAMP.
What the Officers Think of the District
National Guard.
Gen. Ordway's voice has lost its usual clear
ness. Five days of camp life, with three dress
parades and two days of rain, have given 1t a
hoarseness that makes il hard for him to talk
with comfort. But as he sat on his tent
porch" last night, just after tattoo, with his
son, Maj. Mcintyre, and a STAR reporter, he
was moved to speak of the results Of the camp,
notwithstanding the condition of his vocal
cords. "When it is considered" he said, that
this camp has been started and carried on
under the most dscouraging conditions with
almost insurmountable obstacles in the way of
success. think that its results have been more
than gratifying. The advantage to the men has
been lncalculable. They came down without
any idea of what camp life meant except a few
In the hrst regiment-and they deserve great
| credit for the way they have taken hold and
learned the ropes. They cannot be praised too
| nlgnly Tor the eagerness they have shown to
| gain q knowledge of the duties of soldiers. OF
course the rain has deferred US greatly, and it
Is source OF bitter disappointment to me that
we nave had so little opportunity for drilling
One day OF rain would have been not only toll
cradle but desirable, for it would have given
the men an idea Of camp life under the most
adverse circumstances. But when it rains and
rains and rains, SO that our camp is turned in
10 mud puddle 1T becomes positive block to
our progress. Still I can freely say
that this weeks experience has aided the guard
In wonderful degree. The men have acted
like old soldiers, and their conduct and behavior
have been wonderfully good when We consider
| the fact that most of them had the idea at the
start that they were bound for picnic. must
give them creditor a large portion OF the work
come.
| THE DRESS PARApEs
| 1--WE have had three dress parades and do
not feel that am rash in saying that would
not be afraid to pit our brigade against any
other in the country for parade. That of
| Tuesday was especially marvellous, since il was
absolutely the first experience.
| The difficulties which we have had TO
encounter were many, and were surmounted
| only through the persistent efforts of the
officers of the guard, who have helped me
beyond measure with their hearty cooperation
! The men, too, have appreciated our trouble
and have borne with the rough fare and in
many cases the poor accommodations that they
| encountered at first with considerable patience
that Is truly praiseworthy.
| TO BE THE MODEL NATIONAL GUARD.
| hat tha % L. \
the guard an enormous degree and has put us
on the road to being what the District militia
should be-the model national guard of the
country. Whatever credit their lies in that
belongs between the men and their officers for
both have worked hard and faithfully Our
great difficulty has been in solving the prob
lem Of feeding the brigade. There are in
camp between LOCO and LOO men and their
| appetltes form the most formidable sort of an
tagonist. We can now see very clearly the mis-
| takes OF the system We adopted this year. We
could not help adopting this system, il is but
fair to say, for 1t was the only one Mt hand
We shall devise better plan for the next
camp, based on our trials this year. and have
no doubt that our mess arrangements next year
will be perfectly satisfactory.
I'VE practically lost two days here before we
settled down to business, this being unayoida-
BILE on account of the newness of the ground
the rawness OF the men and the untried state
of our plans. Next year this waste of time
| will not occur and we can get at once to work
| drilling and lnstructing. week is too short
| a time for an organization as large as this to
camp. Ten days Is short enough. but two
weeks is about right. As il is we Just get
nicely settled and started when we have to pull
up our stakes and go home"
WHAT COL. MOORE SAYS
Col. Moore, the commander of the first regi-
ment, is certain that the camp has placed the
national guard of the District on solid found
alton. The enterprise" said he, did not
begin one moment too soon, and it has been a
| thorough success.
This camp has drawn the members of the va
rious commands very close to each other and
| to their respective organizations Both officers
and men have had real taste of soldering
and they enjoy it. This camp could continue
| for another week with large number of
men. The good order which has
been maintained has been most graf
that it was entirely voluntary and born of re-
spect. OF the discipline you may form your
| OWL opinion. Last Tuesday morning I at
tempted to enter the fort but was stopped by
the officer Of the guard, who informed me that
| his instructions we're to allow no one to enter
| l appealed to the officer of the day, and
| he gave me permission to go in The
| second lieutenant who refused TO admit me
is not only an officer OF my regiment, but am
his paternal progenitor. He would not have
oho"Su ahC w pass tuouSu, IL Odpl. hOes
had not said SO. Look at these company
| streets IL you want to see evidences Of
the budding soldier. Down the
| center Of quite a number has been laid fir
branches on which to walk. Some old soldier
taught the boys that and they will remember
it as long as they live. Newspaper enterprise
has helped Us much and we are grateful for it,
COL CLAY,
companding the second regiment, IL more
than delighted with the manner in which the
entire brigade has behaved itself, and he says
| that the District national guard IL tar beyond
the experimental stage; II 10 as solid e any of
the state organisations ut will be-" said he.
1.-THE model militia brigade Of the United States.
The material il of the best, and this camp has
shown the ability Of the men not only 70 drill
well, but also to take mp the many other duties
which belong 10 the daily life Of O soldier.
There have been drawbacks, il IL true.
but they have been met good humor.
eddy and have succumbed. Nowhere else
than In just such camp - this could the men
have received the instruction with which thew
are now full. We shall improve from wear 10
year, but already the District Of Columbia Ia
. militia Of which IL can we'll Be proud"
IIxUr.-coL. WALTON.
Lieut. Col Walton Of the first reeiment
said: 'The camp has done more to benefit ths
guard than any other thing. Bad weather has
prevented ~ from drilling q much n ve
intended to, but We have mined In - v.r;eS
experiences Of camp life that which ve Iost IN
other vaya The fuers Of tie guard : sssursd
hevond A0n,kt