Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-01
THE NATIONAL GUARD CAMP.
Gen. Ordway Pushing Preparations-A
Lecture for the Soldiers.

The preparations for the first annual encamp-
ment OF the District national guard are being
theoretically pushed, and guard headquarters
Is busy place just now. The survey Of the
camp ground at the fort has been completed,
and the general is making mental plans for
plotting and laying out the camp. The camp
viii lie entirely northeast Of the fort, on the
plain that extends out on top of the high bluff
to the extent Of many acres. The brigade drill
grounds are to be at the extreme southeastern
limit of the level ground in space formerly
grown over with scrub pines. These are being
cleared. force of men has been at work for
some time cleaning up the reservation, getting
the underbrush out of the way, cutting down
obstacles in the way of trees and bushes, and
sweeping the carpet ready for the Dance" as
be run over the grass and reduce it to good
marching height.
TO GO BOTH WAYS By STEAMER.
The camp is to open Monday, July o. and
will be broken on the following Monday, July
49, 1t was Gen. Ordway's original intention
to have the brigade march back over the roads
leading up to the city ON the Maryland side of
the river, and thus give the guardsmen a lesson
In that one of the most important functions Of
the soldier. But survey Of the roads shows
that they are in such bad shape that a march
over them to the city would be rather too much
for the boys. They are rough, billy, and al
together out OF repair. Consequently this part
Of the program has been abandoned and the
brigade Will return, as it goes, on board of
boats. Arrangements have been completed with
the Inland and Seaboard transportation COM
pany to carry the guard down to Fort Washing
ton and back for very cheap rate. and the
steamers Leary and Moseley will probably be
used. The privilege of landing visitors at the
fort wharf during the encampment will be
omen ia Init
viii have to be paid on each person landed to
the camp officers o consideration. This
money, it is estimated, will just about pay the
expenses of getting the brigade down and back.
The camp has not yet been named, but sug-
gestions are coming in from various sources.
Some advise that it be called Camp Proctor,
while others urge Camp Ordway, some want it
to be Camp Washington, and SO it goes.
GEN. oEpwAY's TRIPS TO THE FORT.
i Gen. Ordway makes a trip down to the fort
every few days to keep an eye on matters there
and to keep the workmen stirred up. He has
been shipping the tents and other camp goods
down all during the week. and will have the
stuff ready in ample time. The goods will be
stored for the present in the fort buildings
On the opening day the men will have to raise
he tents, under the direction of their captains,
and In a few moments the green plain on the
bluffs will be changed to the home of a small
army, with rows ON rows of tents, arranged in
company bueebS anu III groups according 10
and regiments.
The latest returns show that the present
strength of the national guard is 1,624 and
Gen. Ordway expects that about 800 of this
number will go down the river.
TALK TO THE BOYS.
Gen. Ordway has issued a circular to the |
guard, commenting quite severely ON the slim |
parade of the brigade on the 30th of May. He !
says: THE brigade looked more soldierly, |
better. and performed evolutions bet |
ter than ever before. This fact is worthy of /
and is encouraging for the |
future.
lon the other hand. only about one-half of !
the organizations reported on the brigade line |
at the time designated The others were from |
five to fifteen minutes late. Such a fault can |
not and will not be tolerated. Absolute pune |
tuality Is military necessity that should be |
such fixed habit that any movement may be |
calculated without allowing a margin for con- |
tlngencies; otherwise, men will be unneces-
sarily exhausted by requiring them to assemble |
long before the moment requisite. I
1.-The absence of a large number of men. and |
Of several organizations, deserve the severest |
censure that is possible to be conveyed in lam |
guage. 1t shows such disregard of their |
duties as soldiers and citizens that inexpe-
rience and ignorance are the only possible ex- |
cuses for such an utter disregard of their obi
vatioDs and oath