Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-21

Progress Of the Cavalry Corps Of the District
Militia.

How TIE BOTS fKLr WHEN rHKY REACHED CAMP
fERRS-AMAzEMESro OF THE COUNTRY PEOPLE
AT THE UNEXPECTED sIoHr OF soLpIKRs-THE
FIRST CAMP AND THE FIRST REvEILLK.
special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
"CANP PERRY, NEAR Dickinson. ND.
Sunday Afternoon.
Horses are snorting and men are laboring at
Cots Mill this afternoon. The usual quiet Of
the neighborhood has been ruthlessly invaded
and emooth piece of ground near the creek
turned into an active, busting cavalry camp.
The second days march Of cavalry troop A Of
the ID. 9. N. G. and their allies. the delegation
from the New York troop, ended here about
O'Clock this afternoon. After q short wait for
the wagon team to catch up, camp was pitched
and formally named Camp Perry, in honor Of
Lieut. Perry of the ninth regular cavalry, who
has proved himself indefatigable in his efforts
to make himself useful. So far this rather for
midsble undertaking Of . 2O0-mile march has
proved success in every way. The tremen-
dous rain which beat down on the moving col
umn for considerable portion of yesterday
had simply the effect of arousing the most ex-
pressive vocabulary possessed BY the men and
putting them on their mettle Camp was
pitched accurately and quickly and the amateur
troopers after riding for hours through a driv-
ing rain and Q sea OF mud erected the tents
and arranged to camp with the steadiness Of
veterans and still had energy enough TO accom-
plish considerable skylarking.
THE CONFINEMENT o. rRs xARcH.
Az stated in Saturdays STAR the column
moved from the armory on New York avenue
at 10 am. Out 4 street the long and unusual
looking procession drew crowds to the side
walks In spite OF q slight rain which was
already showing its temper. The troopers
wore divided into three platoons, the first
under Lieut.. Eiker Of the local cavalry, the sec
ond, composed Of the New York troopers, under
Lieut. Bridgemap and the third under Lieut.
Ferguson. Behind came the wagon train, three
four-horse wagons, loaded down with provis-
bulance wagon, . light wagon and the water
cart, driven by . diminutive specimen of
humanity supposed to possess the elements of
. mascot aud dressed in full cavalry regalia.
Here, there and everywhere were the hard
workers from the commisssry department.,
Capt. Ed Neumeyer Of Gen. 0rdway's staff,
Corp. Springman Of the troop and the assist
ant In general. Ed Appelin. At the head of
the marching column rode Capt Barbour, in
command, Capt. Roe OF the New York troops
and Lieut.. Perry of the regular service. Quar-
termaster Sergeant Rennie, another Of the en-
ergetio workers, divided his attention between
the two ends Of the line, while Sergt. Pillsbury
had charge Of the baggage train.
On out the Conduit road went the horses and
wagons the plain blue shirts and fatigue uni
forms Of the men and the canvas tops Of the
wagons giving a veteran look to the company
Smoothnsss, however, is usually not of q continu-
GUS nature and very shortly the troop receiveda
jar which was thought to have permanently
loosened Capt Neuneyers teeth. It was dis
covered by some prying young man, who in all
probability had no business back with the
wagons anyway, that the word ''commissary,"
N at NM nf fha
was minus an So
THE HALT AT GLEN ECHO.
At the new Chautauqua at Glen Echo an IN
expected wheel was made and the line entered
the grounds. It seems that Secretary Jen-
niDgs Of the assembly had sent down the road
and invited the travellers to take look at the
big educational undertaking on the Potomac.
column front was formed in front of the Red
Cross Association building and Miss Clara Bar
ton, famous among soldiers, even when they
are merely militia, said few pleasant words to
the boys and was cheered heartily in return.
The line was then marched into the amphi-
theater and the band rendered several selec-
lions for their especial benefit. With hearty
cheer for Glen Echo the men mounted and
started once more to consume the miles be-
tween Washington and Harper's Ferry.
Above Cabin John bridge the route turned
Oh the Conduit road and struck into q country
dirt road leading through an exceedingly wild
and heavily wooded region for miles. The
houses were few and far between and even
those encountered were of the cabin order,
inhabited usually by about ten colored people
OF ranging ages and An equal complement Of
dogs.
The march of the troop excited the widest
interest among the inhabitants and the general
impression seemed to prevail that another war
was imminent and Q second emancipation prob
able. At one cabin in the widest portion of
rfn TrrvrG rA
necessity for water within (the heavy clouds
were actively attending to the external por-
tom, stopped aud asked the group ranged on
a descending scale at the cabin door for water
The eldes. OF the group was young girl about
nineteen and when asked how far It was and
which which was the shortes way to get to
Washington replied naively: "Wel, amt
never been to Washington, but when pop goes
he goes right down de road" Further ques-
tons brought out the fact that she had lived on
the spot all her life, but had never been out
side Of fve-mile radius.
A CAMP IN THE RAIN.
Camp was pitched Saturday night in an in
closure about three miles this side of
Potomac, and in spite Of the drenching rain
which had poured down. and from which the
ponchos had been merely partial protection,
the boys pitched their tents merrily and pre-
pared for supper and rest. The commissary
department so far seems equal to any emer-
gency, and the supper was y good one and a
welcome one. Ffty-nine troopers and sixteen
went into camp and ffty-eight
troopers and fifteen non-combatants expected
to sleep, but fate and one trooper and one nom
combatant willed otherwise, at least to a partial
degree. The camp was pitched with one line
Of tents for the men, four tents apart for the
officers and the wagons drawn up in line. The
horses, after being fed, were turned loose and
guard was set. In the Enclosure were about
twenty pigs and hogs and the guard proceeded
to have fun with the animals Private John
Linney aweke from bright dream to find a
young shOat making free with his person. A
brother shoat had been tied securely to Lieut..
Ferguson tent and the squeals emitted by the
Disguised animal, put rout to the general
idea that nothing could exceed Ferguson's
shores in intensity of sound.
THE FIRST REvEILLE.
At o'clock the clear notes from three
trumpets aroused the camp and the mystery Of
taking three trumpeters along was explained.
1t takes three trumpets blown with great vigor
to arouse the cavalry camp from sleep.
Today march has been through q more than
pretty country. The hills rSu of on each side,
while glimpses Of the outlying hills of the Blue
Ridge have been pleasant background for the
well-cultivated fields and neat farm houses. The
day being Sunday . tremendous number of
neatly dressed people have been passed on their
way to church and the looks of amazement, Is
they fully appreciated the invasion, were ludi-
croua Along the road the inhabitants turned
out en- masse. Before leaving camp Lieut.
Perry talked Interestingly to the boys on the