Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19
PRACTICAL FIELD WORK.
Which Was the Feature of Company
C's, Engineer Corps, Encampment.

- SOERos hhCAhA PnChts
The encampment of company c. engineer
corps. District National Guard, at Harper 8
Ferry was the first event of the kind in
the history OF the organization. Now that
1t is over, and the officers and privates can
look back over the record Of the work &C
complished, they realize that 1t Is one to
be proud Of.
A great deal Of signaling practice was
had, the company being provided with he
liographs and flash lanterns, and aided
by Capt. Ireland and Sergt. Lichty Of COM
pany B. The men became familiar with
the Morse alphabet, and acquired consid-
cradle freedom and ease of movement in
handling the Instruments. Four gabions
were constructed under the direction of
Lieut.. Middleton. The squads went TO the
woods and procured their own materials.
getting practice in that, as well as in the
actual construction of the gabtons. Grape
vines were used instead OF willow, which
pole was felled, brought to camp. painted,
erected. and now stands a monument to
the industry and ability Of company c. The
Capt. Averill and Private Freeman. and
of which SO much was expected, was un-
fortunately broken in transit to Harpers
Ferry. 1t was not repaired until the day
before the camp broke up. when it was
used with perfect satisfaction. A Charlie
wois non-insulated telephone was carried
up to be experimental with, and 1t was
used with such entire success that once.
when young lady was at one end of the
line. she requested Private Freeman, who
was at the other, not to stand so close to
the phone. as his mustache tickled her.
Another story about the telephone is that
a farmer tried to roll up the wire to take
home with him, but was discovered in time
to save the wire.
Barometer readings were made by Sergt.
Chandler for several elevations around
Harper's Ferry, and their heights will be
computed hereafter. The topography Of
three points was taken by Corp. Steward
with transit. level and plane table. and will
be used as a test of the plottings Of those
same points from photographs. The re-
suits of these experiments are awaited
with great interest: as photography may
Private Stevens gave instruction In swim
ming and the art Of resuscitation. and the
boys improved their opportunities to de-
Private Tegethon taught the company
how to tie ropes. Only about a half dozen
OF the most common knots were taught,
as they Will answer all the ordinary pur-
poses.
The company was provided with 1000
ball cartridges, and considerable practice
three days were given up to this practice.
Several of the company went out at diff
ferent times with the students of the Cor
road surveying. Four curves of the pro-
posed line were staked out and notes taken.
from which the topography Of that section
tunnel Of the B. and o. was inspected by
the company. and through the kindness
Of the chief engineer they Inspected also
the plans of the improvements to the
tracks. the new bridge and the new de-
pot
Lieut.. Holt. adiutant of the corps. and
Sergt. Chandler. with a squad detailed to
assist them. made a night survey OF about
eighty acres. while being hunted for by
squad under Sergt. Dennison. The map
made was very good. giving even the points
where Sergt Dennlsons flash lanterns were
stationed.
A new feature Of the report of this en-
campment to the general commanding will
be photographs of the men at the various
kinds Of work. taken by Capt. Averill with
his snapshot camera.
In addition to the engineering work the
company has conformed more or less to
the manual of guard duty. and has i'm
proved wonderfully In its drill as might be
expected from two drills each day. The
adoption of the white duck pantaloons
proved itself a most happy idea. The
company hasn't the dress uniform as yet.
but 1t makes fine appearance In white
ducks, not to mention the comfort of them.