Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-17
RETURN OF THE BATTERY.

RETURN OF THE BATTERY.
Incidents on the March Home From Camp
At Bay Ridge.
Sunday evening. the last night In camp st
Bay Ridge OF light battery A, d. c. n. G., was
passed very pleasantly. The men Of the bat
cry and quite . number Of visitors gathered
around the flagstaff In front OF the officers
quarters and made the night melodious with
song. led by Trumpeter Cullison. whose voice
has done much toward making the camp Gre
attractive. The moon rising over the bay
looked down upon = very happy company Of
soldiers and visiting ladiee and gentlemen. the
non-miltary portion seeming to enjoy camp
life fully as much a. the warriors.
great quantity of freshly cooked crabs we're
disposed of, cigars were passed around by
Manager Seciey, who was present with his wife,
and several speeches were made appropriate 10
the occasion.
Monday morning bright and early reveille
called every one TO work preparatory TO break
Ing camp, but IL was 10 o'clock before the
battery pulled out from the deserted ground
and left Bay Ridge amid the cheers Of all the
employees, with whom the artillerymen are very
popular.
The pleasant ride to Annapolis along the
shore of the Severn river was accomplished in
al hour and halt WAS made at the market 10
water the horses. have shoes adjusted and par
take ct refreshment rendered BY one OF the
business men Of the city. Up through the town
ratified, past st. Anne's Church and out
the baltimore pike brought the battery
to Parole station. Turning here to the left the
route lay across an open country with little
shade. The halt for dinner was made ct South
river. After good rest for man aud beast the
column moved on TO Davidsonvile. where an
Other short halt was made. Instead Of turning
northward from here to Governor bridge the
route going over the march was continued west
ward.
After four miles travelling over q very pretty
road the highway drops into the valley Of the
Patuxent river, which it crosses over a new iron
bridge into the village OF Queen Anne.
CAMP AT QUEEN ANNE.
Camp was made on a ridge back of this quaint
little settlement, which shows traces Of much
more prosperous condition in former days The
guns and wagons were parked and horses tied
to the picket line, rope stretched from car
riage to carriage and then TO convenient trees.
Then Private Houriet, an ex-regular superin-
tended the preparation OF supper, assisted by
q detail OF men, the horses were watered in q
little branch not far of and given their even
ing portion Of oats and hay, after which the
men spent short time singing camp songs and
discussing the march.
A number of the villagers were interested
time III the memory Of the oldest inhabitant
that the town had been visited BY q military
organization. A whole family. including three
little children, from a house close by, watched
the strange proceedings With much interest and
the little ones will probably remem-
Der for many years the night the
soldiers came to town. very heavy dew fell
after sunset, but nearly every one slept under
cover, some under the gun Carriages, over which
the paulins or canvas covers had been thrown,
while Others appropriated q barn close by. The
officers registered for the night In
and under the baggage wagon, while
the ambulance detail utilized their
camp on q horse. which be claimed was the
fastest in the county, and was easily induced to
venture a trial Of speed with Master Gus Fors-
berg on his Indian pony Minnie. Although the
stranger managed by trick to get good start
he was soon overtaken and distanced by the
temper later would have led to his introduction
to the blanket brigade had he not retired from
the field.
A gorgeous sunrise and the morning coffee
put every one in good humor, and the work OF
feeding and hitching up was done rapidly, 90
that at O'Clock the column pulled out and
started on the last days march. The route
home proved quite interesting, a. the battery
had never travelled over il before. The line Of
march for Ave or six miles in the afternoon was
over Central avenue, otherwise known a. Mud
pike" which proved to be hot and dusty,
SO that on reaching Benning everybody and
everything was covered with q yellow coat.
A short halt was made on Maryland avenue at 8
o'clock to tidy up bit, blouses were put on and
the command marched up Pennsylvania avenue
to the treasury and back down f street to the
armorv, looking very tough" and dusty, but
soldierly and business-like, Is many spectator
was heard to remark.
The whole trip has been characterized by
hard work, as every one familiar with light ar
tillery can realize, and illustrates the military
spirit Of the National Guard troops Of the coun-
try. II all tours of duty in the militia savored
less Of ''picnic" and more of business. like this
one. the force would be in q more efficient con-
dition and subject to less criticism than Is now
the case.
Although this was the first work Of the kind
since Capt. Forsberg has been in command he
exhibited his well-known business ability. and
with the vast amount of experience gained in
camp and on the march he will undoubtedly
make the next trip even more of q success.