Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-05

could well be imagined. CAPT. JESSE NJ BAssETT.
Tired and worn out with the labor already ac-
complished in pitching the camp and getting
their quarters in order, the members of the
Treasury Guards must have felt but i'll
prepared for long tour of monotOnous
guard duty, but it is the business of
the soldier to obey. and it is almost needless to
say that the duties assigned to Capt Bassetts
detail were satisfactorily performed. During
the evening the downpour of rain was contnu-
Gus and violent. accompanied with high winds
blowing with great force, but the guard detail
continued Its duty In spite of the elements. and
when Adjutant Mcdowell made his rounds on
Monday night he found the sentincls alert and
active and guarding their posts with the fidelity
OF veterans, challenging promptly and cor
rectly. Maj. Bartlett much pleased with
the report in this connection made by the adju-
tant.
THE COMFORT OF BED SACKS.
The experience Monday night of the sixth
battalion during the terrible downpour of rain
before alluded to has proven to the entire salts
faction of the command that it is possible to
60 into camp without tent floors and be COM
Portable to a degree that was hardly to be an
ticipated This assertion rests TO great ex-
tent. OF course, upon the nature of the soil
upon which the camp is pitched Here, at Bay
Ridge, the soil is sandy and porous and readily
absorhs all moisture. Hence the use of bed cks
filled with good, dry straw. is not at all incom-
patible With comfortable sleep and rest For
department boys-tba ''fellOws with patent
leather shoes and dude Manners" as they are
called by soDe-Obtain god nights rest, the
explanation which follows NAV be of interest:
bed sack is simply bel tick, made Of can
| vas, about the size sufficient ~ cover Il small
| single bedstead. with small sli. opening on
one side, into which the dry straw is forced IN
I'll the sack assumes the proportions OF the ce'e-
brated German feather bod" This il then
laid IN ''ponchO or rubber blanket the lat
hain ,,la Tho ula 81. IL
down. 1t will this be that no moisture
from the ground can communicate itself to the
sleeper. With tents, on sandy soil. the use Of
| tent floors would seem to be q superiuity.
MANY FAIR VISITORS.
Monday afternoon the camp was overrun
with visitors from Baltimore and the national
capital. among whom we're a large representa-
| ton Of the fair sex, who actually took possess
| sion Of the camp and explored its every nook
| and corner.
Lieut.. E. D. Smoot, senior officer If the
guard IN Monday, was born in old Virginia, in
| the historic county Of Fairfax, on April a.,
| 1851. Early in his youth he rem we'd to WASH
| ington, u. c., graduating with high honors in
| the public schools of that city. shortly sfte-
his graduation he became interested in military
| matters, and, IN account OF his faithful aud
meritCriOus service, WAS unanimously elected
second lieutenant Of company A. Post Office
| and Interior Guards, sixth battalion. and otter
| serving probationary period IN this capacity
and passing a mort creditahle examination be-
fore the brigade board Of examiners, was pro-
| NOTED to the first heutenancy Of the same CON-
pany and received his commission on July
1890, Independence day. Lieut. Smoot is OF
revolutionary descent, his grandfather having
served in the war for independence and the
earlier Indian wars. He is very popular with
| his company and is q deserving soldier.
| The following orders were read by Adjutant
Mcdowell just after supper on Monday evening
Headquarters Sixth Battalion, ID. C. N. G.
| BAY RIDGE, Nd, August 8, 1891.
| "Orders No. "a.
| 81. Capt. W. E. Horton Of the brigade stan
is hereby detailed as special aid on the staff Of
the major commanding He will be obeyed and
| respected accordingly.
III. First Lieut. and Adjt Alexander B. Nc
| Dowen will, in addition to his duties adju-
tant, act as special instructor Of sentinels.
| ''By order of MAJOR BARTLETT.
| "ALExASpER b. MCDOWELL,
| First lieutenant and adjutant."