Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-29


COMPANY UNDER ITS PROPER sHED-A TRIP OF
POINT.
1t has been settled bevond question that the
District National Guard will be fed as a whole
when it goes into camp a. Fort Washington
next July. For short time after last years en-
campment there was a good deal said about
company messes as the only panacea for the
ills which resulted from an endeavor to feed
the entire brigade at one time. There will be
no company messes, at least not this year. But
there will be a better system and better food
and better discipline and more general salts
faction. The new plan was outlined in
The STAR some time ago, and since then the
general and his cOmmissary officers have been
hard at work perfecting the plans and getting
ready to make every guardsman happy 80 far
as camp fare is concerned. Common-sense
cooks and competent walters will carry out
regulations that seem to be all that could be
desired. The work has been carefully subdi-
vided and each man will be held to strict &C.
countability.
EACH COMPANY IN ITS PROPER SHED.
One OF the great troubles in the last camp
was the attendance. Details of men from
each company prepared the tables and COM
pany servants wrestled with the details in wild
rushes for the bread which perisheth and
the other varieties of victuals that were
ON tap. Some companies got enough to eat
and some went over to River View, where
there was stock of edibles and LIQUIDS
The camp was largely experimental and its
failures in few minor particulars have been
regarded in the plan which will be put in
operation this year. Each company, complete
except for those who may be doing guard
duty, will be seated beneath its proper shed
and all the officers will be there to see
that order relgns supreme. Last year the
officers had a table all TO themselves,
but the newer idea Is to use
that table to accommodate the men
whose duty will prevent them from
eating at the regular meal hours. There were
times during last camp when a man--wet and
tired out from doing his sentry-go in some I'M
protected spot-would appeal in vain to Stew
ard Vassiere for mug of hot coffee or a little
something to prevent total collapse of his
stomach. The modern way is an improvement
All day and all night there will be some one on
duty at that table and thither may the mealless
guards repair for solid refreshment.
WHY NOT COMPANY MEssEs?
'But why can't We have company messes?"
asked an infantry officer who was at headquar-
tiers the other evening
The question was afterward repeated to Gen.
Ordway by STAR reporter, and the general
said: because the entire camp would resolve
itself into nothing more or less than huge
cooking school. If the brigade was going into
active service, was out on the field then every
man would have to know something about
cooking and every officer would have to be pos
sessed OF good deal of practical information
upon that important subject, but as we are
going into camp only for few days company
messes would result in an enormous waste of
time. Before the true principles of coffee
brewing could be instilled in the minds Of the
command We should have to break camp,
leaving n baE of adi
at least a thousand men untaught Suppose it
was possible, in a week or ten days, to give
every man in the brigade reasonable idea of
camp cookery, of what advantage would it be
in military sense? very large percentage
of the men who we're at Fort Washington last
year will not be with us this time, and when
we pitch our tents in 1891 there will be COM
paratlvely few of the original command on the
reservation. 1t is infinitely better to give mil
ltary instruction-it may be only smattering-
for then you have put the men in possession of
something which can be recalled with profit to
the country If the necessity should ever pre-
sent itself If a man desires to acquaint him.
self with the principles of cooking he can do it
at home; 1T cannot be done in camp because OF
the limited amount of time at our disposal"
GEN. oRDwAY's EXPEDITION.
There are yet number of finishing touches
to be put to the ground plan and elevations of
the camp cuisine. At David's Island, N. Y,
daily, and in order that the District Guard may
reap the benefit of that which long experience
may have suggested at that depot Gen. Ord
way is going up there to look at it. He will leave
here on Saturday next on other business, &C
cOmpanied by Gen. Kelton, Col Long and
Chairman d. b. Henderson of the House COM
mittee on militia. They are going to see the
23d New York show itself off in review. Col.
Partridge, who commands this crack Brooklyn
branch of the National Guard, was
1f al,
old war times, when the colors of
the oath Massachusetts were always in
the right place just when they were needed
On the following Monday Gen. Ordway and
Col. Long will be joined by Maj. and Conn., Gen.
Mcintyre and Com. Sergt E. H. Newmeyer.
Together they will proceed to David's Island,
and it is not improbable that they may run up
to West Point to see how the cadets kitchen
and dining room Is run. If there are any new
or original ideas lying around loose at either
place they will bring them away and utilize
them for the comfort and convenience of the
local soldier boys.
''lwant to arrange our commissary," said Gen.
Ordway, $50 that no man in the brigade shall
think any more about his food than he would
were he at hotel. He will simply be called
upon to eat and depart. Then he can give his
undivided attention to matters that are more
purely military"
WARNING FOR SOMEBODY.
Unless there is speedy change SO far as sew
eral companies of the guard are concerned
there will be a large number of disguised SOL
diers and a few much-abused and decidedly
angry officers around some of the armories.
Before there was any shooting done at the rifle
gallery instructions were issued to the officers
generally in which their attention was directed
to the urgent necessity which existed for a rea-
sonable quantity of position and sighting drill
in the armories. This provision was made for
the purpose of aiding the inspectors of rifle
practice as much as possible and in order that
there be but little time wasted when the men