Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
THE SIXTH BATTALION.
The Excellent Training to Omcers and Men
Derived From the Experience in Camp.

THE SIXTH BATTALION,
The Excellent Training to Omcers and Mon
Derived From the Experience in Camp.
THE LAST DAY IN CAMP CECIL cIAY-THE BATTLE
OF BAY RDaE-INpvIDUAL INSTANCES OF
HERoIsM-THE RETURN TO wAsHNoroN-
ECHOES OF THE LATE CAMP.
The encampment of the sixth battalion at
Bay Ridge, Nd, came to an end, much to the
regret of all concerned, on Monday afternoon
Early in the morning. under the impression
that the troops would not leave until the early
evening train, many Of the boys were dismissed
from duty for the day by order of the captains
commanding. Later on. however, arrange
ments were effected for a special train to leave
at II am, many wishing to return to the city
as early as possible in the day. Maj. Bartlett,
however, demurred. saying that the men were
then scattered, could not be collected together
in time for the special and that he would not
permit them to return to the city in detach-
ments. Moreover the boys were entitled, he
SAID, to at least one days recreation after tn
arduous labors of the week. and he proposed
that they should have it. Orders were issued
accordingly, and the senior captain, Jesse NJ.
| Bassett OF the Treasury Guard, WAS placed in
command, Maj. Bartlett being compelled to re-
| turn to the city by the early morning train A
number of the men passed the day at Arundel
| on-the-Eay, visiting friends who were soJourn-
ing for the summer at that place. Others visited
Annapolis and spent the day there, visiting the
| Naval Academy grounds and the other ob1ects
Of interest in that ancient town. Many more,
however, remained in camp seeking out the
shady places and taking what was to many OF
| them the only square, uninterrupted sleep they
had been able to indulge in for a week. 1t was
| a day of res. and recreation and was genuinely
| enjoyed by the department boys.
| The quartermaster's department was on the
| qui yive from carly In the morning. Tents
were struck and rolled, camp equipments of
every conceivable Kind gathered together and
| packed, the thousand and one details of break
| ing camp gradually consolidated, and finally
everything made ready for shipment. This de-
partment was crippled from the start, owing
| to the absence Of many Of the men and the i'll
ness of Quartermaster Sergt. Donnelly, and
hence the work Of breaking camp progressed
| but slowly. The day was intensely hot and
volunteers for work under such conditions were
not numerous. However, at o'clock in the
afternoon everything was safely packed on
board the freight cars and the real work of the
| day over. The lessons learned at this en-
campment will not be lost upon the quarter
masters department. System and order are
| essential features necessary to the proper ac-
| complishment OF any and all duties connected
with a military organization, and that these inn
| portant elements will hereafter be given more
| prominent place in all orders issued in the
future from headquarters relative to the quar-
| termasters department. goes without saying if
the personnel Of that department is to remain
as it is.
Promptly at els Capt. Bassett. senior officer
commanding, formed tho battalion for the
last time on the parade ground of Camp Cecil
Clay. In heavy marching order, with their
faces tanned by the exposure of week by tho
seaside, the boys looked every inch the soldier
| as they broke into columns of tours and marched
across the field toward Tho rail afat
En- barkation was soon effected, and at $50 the
train rolled out of the station, the boys cheer
lug like mad in response to similar greetings
from the enthusiastic crowd OF excursionists
who had assembled to see them off. Lieut..
Parsons, quartermaster, was left behind to ad-
Just the accounts OF the command with the Bay
Ridge management, and, Incidentally, to Sc
cure a much-needcd rest after the toll of the
week. The journey home was uneventful, the
battalion arriving in Washington on time and
promptly taking up the march for the armory,
where they arrived about 9 O'Clock, tired and
dusty, but conscious that they had served their
| country faithfully and we'll and lad paid TOR
| the glorious privilege of doing so.
BATTLE OF BAY RIDGE.
This interesting event. instr active in the
highest degree from a military standpoint to
| all who participated in it, and heretofore re-
ferred to in TEE STAR, occurred on the Friday
night preceding breaking up Of camp. Its in
ceptioE is due to that interchangeable worker and
| thorough soldier, Adjutant Alexander L. Nc
Dowel who, two weeks before the battalion
pitched its camp, conceived the idea of giving
the boys surprise, some thing tina: would
prove and test their metal as soldiers and at
| the same time rise above the ordinary status of
| that much indulged-in affair known as q ''sham
battle. After consultation with Maj Bartlett
and Capt Horton OF the brigade staff (who had
been detailed as add 1t was decided to fix upon
| Friday night for the event, Capt. Horton
| would be duty as officer of the day, and
thus the secret would not have to be
| communicated to either OF the COM
| pany commanders. The intention from the
| outset to give the camp a complete
surprise. In furtherance OF this plan. just
after guard mounting in the morning. the off,
GERS named strolled leisurely out of camp, SO as
not to excite any suspicion, and mel under cover
OF the woods near by, where the final arrange
ments were perfected and the different posi-
tons to be occupied by the troops mapped out.
10 guard against any possible danger, Capt.
Horton and Lieut.. Vale, inspector of rifle prac-
! tice (who had been taken into confidence),
were detailed to make a thorough inspection of
| the tents and at each one The question was asked
| Have you any small arms dangerous weapons
or loaded cartridges in your possession?' Sew
| eral revolvers were handed over to Lieut. Vale
and as such weapons are not deemed an essen
tai part OF the equipment of an infantry SOL
der In time OF peace, the boys, if they thought
| OF 1t at all, imagined 1t was merely wrinkle on
the part of Capt. Horton. the officer of the day,
IN his Jealous efforts to perform his duties.
Every precaution having been taken to avoid
accident, and the plans being all matured, the
! officers in the secret were cautioned to give no
| intimation of what was TO happen, but to per-
| form their respective routine duties as usual
and await the appointed time of attack, which
had been fixed for o'clock a. H. Friday was a
busy day in camp, and after taps the boys all
| turned in for good nights rest, little dream
ing that in a few hours they would be called
/ upon to turn out in hurry and defend the
| camp and, for augnt they knew. their lives
| Many events had occurred during the day to
| cause excitement among the boys, but no one
| for a moment gave serious consideration to the
rumors ahoat. Among these was one to the
| effect that several members of the visiting Bal
/ timore battalion intended to remain behind at
| Bay Ridge to catch the stra3Slers of the sixth
outside of camp lines and have some fun with
them, such as tossing in the blanket, ducking in
the pond &C.. but every one laughed at such
insinuatiOns, the boys feeling well able to take
| care of themselves. Still it is not improbable
that these rumors had their effect and were re-
| sponsible in TO small degree for the earnest
ness Of the men while in action later on.
| THE SURPRISE.
/ At precisely o'clock the whole camp was
alarmed by few Shots followed q short time
after by continuous volleys Immediately in its
rear. The adjutant hurriedly turned out the