Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-19
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Looking Forward to the Encampment
I'm July.

I'm July.
THE "EvENISa STAR" MEDAL TO BE SHOT FOR
THE SOLDIER BOYS AND THEIR UNIFORMS
NEW EMBLEM FOR THE oUARD-FAIR ONES
ATTENDING DRILLS.
More interesting and of perhaps more real
practical military value than any other feature
in the course of instruction through which
every National Guardsman has to be put is the
target practice, and this matter is receiving a
good deal Of attention at headquarters. From
the time the February shooting commenced in
the gallery until now there has been a continu-
Gus growl because the eccentric scores made
| that month were much smaller than the Guards
men supposed they ought to have been. Had
the totals been scientifically large it is not i'm
probable that there would have been less COM
plant, but there is no room for doubt as to the
quality OF the ammunition which was used du-
ring the month of st. Valentine; that was very
bad indeed. Those who made abnormally
small records in February will be pleased to
hear that it is in contemplation to wipe out the
| entire months record and substitute for it
| gallery-shootng to be done during the month
OF May. This suggestion was made to Gen
| Ordway, and 1t is not improbable that it will be
| concurred in February was the month when
| o'"Ii NiaSh sHOts ds MAJ. lOllaTu ana capt.
Cash succeeded in making as many as IL or II
| points cut of possible So
OUTDOOR RIFLE PRACTICE
! good many of the more enthusiastic marks
men or wouid-be marksmen, moved bv the
mlldness OF the climate, are inquiring as to the
time when the rifle practice will be conducted
IN the open air. Given an even quantity of
light and the conditions in the gallery never
change. On the range this is different. There
the distances are actual, not nominal ana the
same thing may be said of the powder charge
and the recoil. Breezes of all descriptions
from the June zephyr to the September hurri-
cane, cause deviations in the course of the ball
Practically it has been settled that there will
be no scheduled shooting at the range until the
brigade goes into camp. There, on the range
which is being laid out in the ravine to the
rear OF Fort Washington. will the July shooting
be done. The balance of the outdoor work will
be done at the Washington Barracks in August
and September.
THE EVENING STAR" MEDAL.
Crack shots will be pleased to hear that all
the shooting this season will not be of a merely
honorary nature. 1t is Gen. Ordway's inten-
ton, SO soon as the men are properly classified,
to offer prizes for which teams and individuals
are to compete. The EVENING STAR Company
desires to STIR up competition among the sharp
shooters and others this year, and to that end
has offered to the Guard gold medal to be
shot for during the encampment. The offer
has been accepted by Gen. Ordway, and the
medal will be made and placed on exhibition
within reasonable period. Ordinarily such
possession Of the man who makes
the highest score, for it is only
occasionally that even the best rlfleman sue
ceeds in winning badge or cup three times
which is generally the number requisite to
ownership. The STAR medal will be a moro
liberal institution, for when it is won 1t will be
the absolute property of the man whose skill
gains 1t. Then, when another shooting season
comes around, there will be another medal
provided and another man will win it: for it
has been decreed that no man shall win more
than one STAR medal. Regulations governing
the competition for this valuable badge will be
duly promulgated by Gen. Ordway.
THE DATE OF THE EScAMPMEST.
Some of those in the Guard who have already
been trying to figure out the time and place of
their annual vacation would like to know Just
when the encampment will begin and end.
The dates have been selected and unless some
unforeseen event interferes the brigade will
leave for Fort Washington on Monday, July q,
and will remain in camp until Monday, July
o. All the preliminary arrangements are
being made to fit those dates and any devia-
ton therefrom is the emptiest kind of posi-
bility.
THE EMBLEM OF THE GUARD.
For long while Gen. Ordway, assisted by
number of interested parties has been hunting
around for an emblem which could be en-
broidered on the headquarters flag and which
would be at once simple and yet so distinctive
in character that the wayfaring man. though
fool. should readily associate the emblem and
the National Guard of the District of Columbia
This was not an easy task. The various army
corps had, during the war; taken out
popular patents for all the suitable
| Antr Ia Iat f,.l1
emblem hunters toiled was decidedly bare A
large number of suggestions were made, the
majority of them jocular, and 1T was a long
time before the right one came Pennsylvania
citizen soldiers wear on their caps the keystone,
and 1T was something like that that Gen. Ord
way wanted. Finally a member of the general
staff limited that the dullest observer could
hardly do otherwise than associate the Ratchet
with the name Washington. The idea struck
home at once and now the general has come to
! the conclusion that the Ratchet is the very
thing. When the headquarters flag waves in
front of the generals tent in camp there will
be an old-fashoned Ratchet on the silk.
THE BOYS AND THEIR UNIFORM
Congratulations ON the review and parade of
last week have continued to pour in upon the
guardsmen of all ranks and military conditions.
great many people regretted that the local
boys had not the full dress uniforms with which
| the regular troops were clad and decorated
Dul eAprebsiOus Oh opinion from tnree or four
officers of great eminence in the paid organi-
ZatIon were all to the effect that nothing can
| look more busnesliike. more soldierlv than the
| fatigue uniform worn by the amateur boys in
! blue. The new woven cartridge belts contrib
uted materially to the generally good APP
pearance of the men, and the man
ner in which they were worn was the sub
| ject of much complimentary comment by men
| whose compliments of some value. One
defect was somewhat marked and, as it can
| be easily remedied, il need never make its APP
| pearance again; a number of the caps did not
| fit. When a man with large. round head
| wears cap three sizes too small for him the
! spectators must be excused if they smile; and
! hardly less ludicrous is the figure of some
slim, small-headed youth crowned with a
| fatigue cap that maintains its position only
because its wearer has become an expert
balanccr.
oBsTRUCTING PARADE.
| Next time the National Guard has a street
parade the street cars will be very much less
obstructive than they were on the l1tE instant
In any number of instances car drivers spoiled
| alignments and knocked whole regiments out of
| shape by display of haste not usually notice.
| able when any one on the car is hurrying to
| catch train. On 18th street one driver did
| his best to run down Capt. Aldrich and Capt
Jeffrods, and that he did not succeed
| was due to no failure in his endeavors
The law under which the District National
| Guard is organized meets the emer-
| gency in every way and Gen. Ordway
Will use it the first time he has good chance