Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Probable Camps Of the Light Battery and
the Cavalry Troop.


TIE DIFFICULTY BOTH THESE COMMANDS ExPERI-
ENcE IN SECURING GOOD HoRsKs-rHE
LIVERY MOUNT NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY
PRACTICE scHKDULx-NoTKs-
THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST sEpA-
Il rate company otherwise known al the Pres
fdcnt's Troop, and occasionally referred to as
Troop A. have definitely concluded to enjoy
themselves in an al fresco manner some time
during the summer. This means that on some
fine morning in that slightly-heated division OF
time known as July about forty-fve troopers
will mount as many horses and then ride away
either into Maryland or Virginia. followed by
the necessary wagon train and an ambulance.
Just now the only question to be decided is that
OF tho route, but the probabilities are under
stood to favor a line of travel which will take
the command to Harper's Ferry and through
the Shenandoah valley to Winchester. The
Maryland pilgrimage would include Hagers-
town. Frederick and Baltimore. AS to the
length OF tho trip-the first practice march in
the history of the District National Guard-it
is generally understood that the distance to be
covered In from ten to fourteen days will not
exceed IT'S miles. If the Virginia route is ac
cepted the command will probably camp at
Winchester for three or four days. Prepare
Campaign hats and the regulation service shirts
will add what may locally be regarded as novel
features to the appearance of the troop. Con-
tracts have been made for q number of the
horses which will be required.
THE LIGHT BATTERY's CAMP.
Summer camp is the principle topic Of con-
versation at the light battery armory but the
plans have not yet assumed a definite shape.
The chances are that Bay Ridge will be the
favored location where the artillery boys will
drill and rest and fiirt and eat and get them
selves chewed up by sea nettles for about six
days in the early part of August. Negotiations
are now in progress with the Bay Ridge manage
ment and it is almost certain that the battery
Will seek recreation at that point on the
Chesapeake. Where the artillery goes there
also will be found the ambulance corps; the
two commands will camp together. Just why no.
body seems to know. The chances are, though,
that the ambulance corps is needed to bind
up the many broken hearts--feminine hearts
which the battery always leaves behind it. Some
journey to camp over the road and that PROPOSE
ton is now being discussed, but the chances
are favorable for an all-rail trip.
DIFFICULTY AS TO HORSES.
More annoying than any other military prob
lem, SO far as troop A and tho light battery are
concerned, is the difficulty Of procuring suit
able horses. Only infreauently it is possible
to secure the same animal twice in succession,
and even then he or she may not occupy the
same position on both occasions Under these
circumstances the success which attends both
cavalry and artillery movements on the streets
is nothing short Of wonderful. In the army
nearly every horse knows the bugle calls and
responds to them voluntarily; but it is safe to
say that there are not three horses in the Dis
trlct National Guard that can distinguish be-
tween the somewhat abrupt sound of '.halt'
a on -tr i{v e
Is naturally great diversity of action in such
hurriedly -assombled and undrilled horsefiesh
One OF the animals hauling caisson may be
meek as the proverbial Moses and as devoid of
ambition rs Caesar was when Brutus got through
with him, while his mate will probably be in
dulging in the Authorization that he is a Jack
rabbit and will be doing his utmost to give a
faithful imitation of how a jack-rabbit moves
over the face of nature. Such dissimilarity of
movement causes the drivers a good deal Of
trouble and encourages profanity, to say moth
ing OF the effect it has on a critical public
The horses are not to blame; they don't know
any better. Lieut.. Gus. Forsberg. who has
given this matter good deal of careful
thought, says it is only natural that hill horse
should be surprised when he is anchored to a
calsson and has to bear the burden of driver;
the change OF occupation is too sudden. The
lieutenant thinks it is only right that the poor
hill horses should be allowed to see other por-
lions OF the city than that abbreviated section
over which they almost constantly travel, but
he does not think they should be afforded recre-
alton on such prominent occasions as presi-
Dental reviews and brigade dress parades.
The light battery dreams of some day having
In Its custody sufficient number of United
States horses TO attend to the transportation of
their deadly weapons.
NECESSITY OF TRAINED ANIMALS
The troop has good deal of trouble with its
About fifteen of the members own
their horses and these do their work we'll, but
the hired horses are and must be the cause of
much perspiration and epithetai eiouuence
One of the commonest tricks of livery animal
il to insist on standing with its tail just where
its head ought to be. An effort is being made
to secure stable which will accommodate
about forty horses, and in the meantime the
troop will endeavor to get hold of about forty
horses to occupy the stable. People who see
the blue and yellow robed warriors in parade
compare them with the regular cavalry failing
to realize that Uncle Sans salarled killers ride
trained animals
PORTRAIT OF CAPT. BARBOUR.
Corporal Springmann has been more than
generous to troop A within the past
week or SO. On several occasions he has solidly
testified to his esteem for the company, but he
crowned his liberality by presenting to the
organization very fine crayon portrait, col
Ored, of Capt. Barbour and the bride which
was worn by Stonewall Jackson's horse on that
day at Charlottesville when the great rebel
chieftain laid down his life. The portrait has
been given-a central position in the art gallery,
much to the qualification of Corporal Keyser
who is the artist. A glass case is being made
for the bride.
RIFLE PRACTICE SCHEDULE.
The gallery rihe-practice schedule for the
immediate future is as follows:
Tonight-First separate company.
Monday-Company B, second battalion.
Tuesday-Company A, second battalion.
MISUNDERSTANDING b. fifth battalion.
Thursday-Company b, fourth battalioa.
Friday-Company c, fifth battalion.
Saturday-Engineer corps.
The percentage returns for March in the COM
petition for the battalion trophy are not COM
plete yet, but it is questionable whether any
command can get away with company of the
third. Company averages in Maj. Harrison's
command for last month were.
Company A, 81 per cent; company b, 60 Der
cent; company c, So per cent; company D. SO
per cent.
Lieut.. Constantine Chase, third United States
artillery. had an appreciative audience last
Monday evening when he delivered his lecture
on attack and defense. The valuable facts &C
cumulated by the lecturer were related in an
admirably popular manner and the lessons
taught will not soon be forgotten.
Company d, first battalion washington
Light Infantry COrDs1- proposoS tn 10 }linr,