Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-27
communication in reply to the comments made
Inst Satnrdax hy :. N OLD Soldia.

COMMUNICATION IN reply 10 the comments made
last Saturday by IAN Old Soldier
As member of the third battalion" saws
the lieutenant. 'and one who was with the COM
mand during the entire encampment. consider
1t my duty. both in justice to the commanding
ofhcer OF the third battalion. Mai. T.. b. Harri-
son (whose name itself should be a REPUTATION
OF such charges) and the officers and enlisted
men VINO composed his command during that
encampment, to eradicate. if possible, the erron-
eons Impressions conveyed to the minds by "Old
Soldiers" remarks.
Par. 5. Orders No. %. dated headauarters
third battalion, DONG, Washington, Au-
gust 5, 1892, Is as follows:
The object Of the camp is in
struction in military duty, to which all other
considerations must be subordinated, but when
on duty the men will be encouraged to enjoy
themselves In every reasonable manner"
NOW venture to say, and without fear Of
contradiction, that that paragraph was strictly
enforced in the spirit and to the letter.
have participated in number Of encamp-
ments. both brigade and battalion, since have
had the honor OF being member OF the Dis
trIct National Guard, and have no hesitancy
In saying that believe the encampment OF the
third battalion, recently held at Colonial Beach,
from strictly military standpoint, was without
precedent in the history of the National Guard
OF the District of Columbia
After showing how attentive the battalion
was to guard duty driils and ceremonies, Lieut
Columbus says: After the close of the military
day and taps had sounded the silence that
prevailed was more marked than any ever ex-
perienced in any other National Guard encamp-
ment. That members of the command when Of
duty enjoyed themselves t'like lot Of school
boys) will not attempt to deny but that liz
not violation OF any article Of war. nor is it
an ,unmilitary proceeding Now, in reference
to the special charge that the command in
dulged in practical Jokes ut the expense of the
major commanding This presume, had it's
origin In the publication Of the letter OF the
18th Of August, In which the writer (who Ia
well known to us ALL humorously describes q
certain non-com. appearing before the naior's
tent In bathing dress, DC. The facts Of the
case are these: This non-commissioned >ofseAr
who had arrayed himself in the costume de-
Scribed, did not parade himself before the COM
handing officers tent, but the major saw Elm
nevertheless, and quickly ordered him to don
his uniform and never again offend, under a
severe penalty. The writer Of the description
only saw the hupor in the situation, and I nm
satisfied never wrote it expecting any such criti-
cism as odd Soldier subjected it 10. Taking
the encampment as a whole, think the officers
and men who COMPOSED Maj Harrison's oom-
mand upon that occasion have. by their gentle
manly conduct, their strict obedience to orders
and their uniform courtesy and respect to their
superiors, made a record for themselves that
they and their friends in the District Of Column
bia can well afford to be proud Of"
NOTES.
1t looks now as though Gen. Ordway was
going to disband that fragment of company
which is now the only surviving portion OF the
fifth battalion-the Sheridan Rides. Gossip
around the armory has it that unless the COM
pany Is speedily recruited up to the loyal
minimum Il will cease to exist before the 6rst
frost comes.
One Of the most enjoyable excursions of the
season was that given by the light battery On
Wednesday evening last to Marshall Hall.
Every one who went had . good time. The
which Sergt. j. 81. Griniths was chairman, while
the committee on public comfort" in charge
on foreground ground, consisted Of Capt Fors.
berg, Lieuts Robbins, Alexander and Foreberr.
Corp. Tappan and Prvts. Fletcher, Tappan.
Lombard and Pierce.
Another company, composed Of sx-Eieh
School Cadets, is an easy possibility In the near
future. A battalion, composed exclusively Of
these finely drilled and promisins young
soldiers, IL what Gen Ordway y sid 70 be
aiming FOR.
Capt Domsr has received . second in,t.,-
ment Of the prize money won 1t Omaha. The
big Nebraska city stn owes the Fsncihass
Joe Bradley, aliss John Butlsr, wss arrsstsd
end lodged in jail at Fayetteville, N. c., ysstsr-
day charged with the murder Of Z. D. Thylor
1t Bennettsville. 8. c..
James Carroll, senior partner Of Oarron.
Adams Co.. Baltimore, dropped dsed IN Ri.
president Of the Drovers end Nschsuics' Bsnf.
Heat tros1hla cannod Ma AnatA