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

NNA-H rain had poured down
&@HI\ steadily all night and
fE >NE&N3 was still dropping his
Why * monotones upon the
Alk) MN tented city near Fort
WITH N\9p Washington. Reveille
nv. w aroused the soldiers,
but there was no duty
to do, so the men Just dressed and then sat
down to wait for breakfast time. II would be
only reasonable to suppose that a'large proper
ton of the men would be cross-the rain was
enough to make very patient individual think
Of profane expressions-but the reverse
was true. The utmost good-humor prevailed
in all the camps, and q thousand
means were put into operation to keep dull care
as far away as possible. Even on the right Of
the I'd regiment, where the water had accumu-
lated until the tent floors were in danger Of
floating away, there was laughter and song;
the boys were bound to make fun out Of every
thing. and they succeeded admirably.
At little after $50 the various company de-
the fort to prepare the tables for their COM
rades, who followed half an hour later. There
was no attempt made to march the men down
the road. That was miry sea, in which all
hope of pedestrianism was drowned.
The regiments formed for breakfast
They made long detours to avoid the road and
its vicinity, and held up the skirts OF their
overcoats to avoid bedaubing them with the
ever pleasant slime. Not a few Of them had
were less careful; with their trousers
turned up to the knees they plunged
into the pools Of liquid clay and splashed the
surrounding raiment with showers Of brilliant
yellow hue. Everything was soddened that
was not sheltered by house or tent, but the
n1n al Nf dnvD aud r,1D ov,I No
go into dinner but come out much thinner"
were as frequent and as noisy as they ever
were.
THE MOUNTED MEN AT AN ADVANTAGE.
The cavalry and artillery pounded around on
horseback, apparently obvious of the bespatter-
ing results Of their steeplechasing, and the
envy of nearly all the foot soldiers in camp.
Breakfast was soon disposed of and there were
no complaints as to the either the quality or
quantity Of the food.
THE WELCOME SUNSHINE.
The different phases of human feelings and
desires were plainly developed in camp when
the rain ceased and the sun came out The
first regiment cheered vociferously as
the c,o SrI s OF a sni,sd slid from behind
but the cavalry gave groan, for
they are water worshippers (for external ap-
plication only and were Just getting ready to
drill. In little while they conquered their
aversion to the sun and decided to drill. They
they got ont and commenced maneuy e
ering over their parade ground. The artillery
had its guns booming in great style, and in
spite OF the heavy condition of the ground put
up remarkably fine gun drill. The camp is
rapidly recovering from its soaking; clothing is
hanging out on tent-ropes and there is much
hilarity. To be true prototypes of Mark Tayley
the brigade should have become gloomy, but
it didn't it is not built that way.
FAST coLoRs.
When the flag went up to the head Of the
brigade flag staff this morning everybody sup
posed it had gone up to stay. The man who
pulled the colors up fastened them to one end
of the halyard and when he got them
in place he had rendered extremely
probable that one could get them down with
out amputating the flag staff right at the ankle.
Gen. Ordway said he would give a dollar to
any man who would put things to rights, and
he will pay the money to Gene Crist the we'll
known bicyclist and member OF the Fencibles.
A Fencible man had made the blunder 80
Crist thought he ought to retrieve the COM
panys reputation. He climbed the 60 feet of
pole and despite the fact that there was great
danger of its breaking, took the flag down when
he Slid to the ground. 1t was a good deal Of
| an athletic feat
ADJUTANr BARKsDALE's TROPHIES.
If world of sentiment can be twined around
one lock Of hair, what possibilities Turk in the
tangled tresses of half hundred fair maidenss
Adjutant Barksdale, of the first regiment, has
just about that number Of scalps strung on
ribbon.
| 1t makes a novel ornament for the interior OF
his tent and the dangling locks give the black
quite "I-want-you-to- understand-I 'm-on-the
warpatb look. The clippings are from ladies
| who think the major is too sweet for ANYTHING
| and who don't hesitate to say so. He is all the
adjutant any regiment is looking for.
AN OBJECTIONABLE FISH LUNCH.
But few men made any pretense Of enjoying
the fare which was set before them in the mess
sheds at lunch yesterday. The principal article
on the bill of fare was fish chowder, the in
gradients of which were paddock, tomatoes,
| potatoes corn and onions.
| Goldfish had been served for breakfast and
in some way or other the idea took possession
of the men that the chowder had for its basis
| the refuse of the morning meal. This notion
| (Which was wholly without foundation) would
have been enough of itself to prevent any con-
| siderable consumption of the chowder but
there was another serious obstacle-it was
badly cooked. OF this there can be no doubt,
| and it was not at all surprising that q great
majority of the men would not touch it. But
there was no mutiny.
No army regulation in any country at
not like, and the national guard is not con-
| structed on a disciplinary basis more severe
| than that OF the German or English armies. 1t
has been by no means uncommon occurrence
for soldiers in the army Of the United States to
| leave their mess table and to complain of the
quality of the fare to their company COM
mander; it probably happens every day in the
week at some post or another. But there is no
mutiny in it.
The Constitution has made careful provision
for the protection Of the right of petition, and
| it is the prerogative of every American citizen
| to appeal tc higher power when he believes
he is not being fairly treated. This 10 all that
was done yesterday.
| AN INDIGNANT CoMMIssARy DEPARTMENT..
| The commissary officers are not little exer-
cised over the sweeping criticisms of which
they have been the subjects in print The as
sertion that stale scraps of food-the sweep
| ings Of the tables-were dished up again. they
| regard as reflection on them, and they feel it.
| They are the ones who provide the cooks with
every ounce of the material used, Who
| that knows Commissary General Cranch McIn-
| tyre would accuse him of trying to feed his fell
| low-men with the refuse of previous meals?
| The difficulties under which those in charge
have labored have been numerous and almost
heart-breaking, but they have stood right up
to their work in the most praiseworthy man.
ner. From or o'clock in the morning until
long after dark they have labored with
| out cessation ever since their arrival in
| camp, and they deserve moro credit
than any one can give them. Fewer GROWERS
| and more men Of honest purpose and ability to