Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-24

Before the artillery salute was concluded the
President had dismounted from the ambulance
and was resting under sheltered tent in front
OF the headquarters Office. In the adjutan,
generals Office lunch and punch were served to
those who felt hungry or thirsty Incidentally
1t may be remarked that outside the building
were large number of persons who we're both
hungry and thirsty, but who did not enjoy the
lunch aforementioned simply because they
were not invited to participate in that pleasing
portion of the ceremony. The headquarters
parade ground was cleared at once and in a
little while was occupied by Capt. O'Brien's
company, to whose lot it had fallen to interest
the President with the guard mount. This was
conducted under the close personal supervision
of Adjt. Gen. Long. 1t was q success IN every
respect. Skirmish drill by company C of the first
battalion, Capt. Ourand. Afterward came an
exhibition drill by company c of the second
battalion, Capt Domer, known as the National
Fencibles. The movements of this command
were closely watched by the army and navy
and militia officers who were visitors. Not one
of these competent critics had anything but
praise for the company. The President was
more actively interested than any one else; ac-
companied by,Gen. Ordway he moved as closely
rs possible to the line. Every movement made
by the company was closely watched by the
President, and his comments showed that he
was by no means unskilful in the later-day
tactics of infantry. The Secretary of War was
troop of friends to another and in his quiet
way was highly euiogistic. Gen. Schofield, too
failed entirely to conceal his admiration. And
so it went
THE DRESS PARADE.
The feature of the day, however, was the
dress parade. Not one of the thousands who
witnessed that ceremony yesterday will ever
forget it. The long line of white helmets and
blue uniforms was simply perfect, and every
movement made by those who composed it
went off as smoothly and as swiftly as though
the men had been drilled five years for the
occasion. In the manual of arms the brigade
worked like machine, every white glove rising
and falling with a unison that the least military
of the observes could not fail to appreciate
There was no break in the foot movements; fif-
teen hundred pairs of trained pedal extremi-
ties moved over the rough ground without
an apparent break. No man slipped; no
man fell, and no man was taken off the
ground in the ambulance. Up to GER
tain point the ceremony differed but little,
save in its perfection of detail, from any other
dress parade, such as most of those present had
witnessed, but when the command was given
which brought the cOlors to the front and
center most of those who knew anything about
military affairs was satisfied that novelty WAS
before them.
MARCHING PAST THE CoLoRs.
Who could describe the scene? The pen OF
neither Capt. Jno. Bourke nor of Capt Charles
King could possibly do the occasion full justice
The color guard came up and passed the
brigade; the band commenced its march; the
brigade wheeled and swept down the rugged
surface of the parade ground with solidity
that could not be beaten by thoroughly
trained soldiers maneuvering on a smooth
asphalt pavement. The colors were saluted
with admirable promptness and the ceremony
was over when the various regimental and bat
TALON color guards moved from the left and
marched to the right in the rear of the camp
People who have never witnessed such an af-
fair may smile when it is intimated that there
is in it great deal that draws upon the SYM
pathles of the average beholder Let any
man who believes in the stars and stripes
come down to Fort Washington and see for
himself, and, II he can. feel for himself There
were tears in Gen. Hawley's eyes yesterday
afternoon when the last company had done
homage to the flag he loved 80 well, and Gen.
Hawley vas not alone. 1t was truly affecting
scene. Why it is affecting no one seems to
know, but that it is SO there can be no doubt
THE PRESIDENTS TROOP.
1t had not been Gen. Ordway's intention to
have the cavalry troops participate in the dress
parade, but the troop had evidently made I'D
its yellow-striped mind to be there because it
was the Presidents troop, and this was Just the
time when 1t ought to come TO the
front. When the infantry had concluded
paying respects to the colors, the
cavalry came down the slope at a walk.
10 say that Its movements were perfect would
be to do no more than tell the sober truth; the
alignment OF its platoons was marvelously ac-
curate and won from old officers who watched
them critically encominms of which any COM
mand might be proud. They gave a fitting
conclusion to the fine military spectacle 1t
had been suggested that the proper way to honor
the President would be by a review, but Gen.
Ordway thought otherwise. Had there been a
review the President would have been a mart
Of it. Instead Of that the general wanted the
President to see something without compelling
him to have anything to do with it. and tho
President appreciated the generals action in
the matter.
CONGRATULATIONS.
Now, as to what the guests thought of this
display: To reproduce the pleasant things that
were said about Gen. Ordway and his brigade
would take more space than could well be
gwen them and the whole result can really be
given in one word. 1t was u revelation, Not
one of the guests thought the National Guard
Of the District would put up any such
maneuvers, and not one of them but now
believes that the National Guard of the Dis
trict can more than hold its own with any other
brigade in the country. Congratulations OF
the most sincere description were showered on
the general continuously-a most embarrass-
ing situation for such modest gentleman as
committees Oh military affairs and the mil
ita saw moro in the citizen soldiery
yesterday than they ever saw before: the
chairman of the House committee ON appro-
priations realized that the United States was
getting on; the members of Congress who have
heretofore voted against large appropriations
for the militia felt ashamed Of themselves and
vowed that they would never do it any more
The testimony in favor of the guards was
simply overwhelming.
AFTER THE PARADE.
When the parade was over the visitors dis
tributed themselves over camp. The President
and his immediate party left for home very
soon after leaving the parade ground, but the
army and navy officers and the large numbers
Of visitors scattered themselves all over the
reservation and saw the camp just as it always
is. The scrutiny was very Keen but no one
was caught mapping. Men and the arms and
the tents and company streets, all alike, were
In hrst-class condition. Army officers were
very much interested in the commissary and
quartermasters department. They made in
quiries after the most minute details and were
very liberal in their compliments on the man
ner in which these departments were being
conducted. A number OF the visitors went
down to the rifle range and there saw several
yards. Another party of visitors went to the two
and three hundred yards firing point and in
dulged in little competition. Tomorrow a
number Of army officers from the city will come
down to camp for the purpose Of thoroughly
inspecting the range. Most Of the guests had
departed before darkness set in, and by the