Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-18
GOOD MOUNTED DRILLS
Light Battery Making Splendid Record
in Camp.
Firing Many Pfojectiles mt a Target
Good Lot of Horses at Mar
shall Hall.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

The third day Of the battery camp opened
| bright and beautiful, and the prospect of
| another fine day was fully realized. The
| only fault with the men of the battery Is
their getting up long before reveille, it is a
very good fault Of it is faulp, and it is
| Hoped that it will continue. After stables
the battery went to fine breakfast, after
| which the cannoneers were put through a
standing gun drill with the gatlings. The
great improvement in this drill is apparent
| to ali, each succeeding drill is an improve
ment on its predecessor. Lieut.. Griffith had
| charge of the drill While the cannoneers
were at the guns the drivers were out at q
| bareback drivers drill, under the direction
| of First Sergt. Longley and Sergts. Tappan
and Marion-the drill was without blankets
or saddles. This drill is of great benefit in
instructing the drivers as to the proper dis
| tances and intervals. Both drills lasted
| something over an hour. After the morning
| drill there was general ghtening up
| of the camp. Capt. Forsberg was called to
the city last evening on account of sickness
| and business affairs, he returned tonight on
| the Manchester. During his absence Lieut..
Grifiths was in command, thus leaving but
| one officer in camp. This camp is not over
| stocked with officers. After the morning
| drill was over the Napoleons were placed in
| position and preparations were made to fire
| with projectile. Sergt. Marion having taken
| such interest in these guns, he was directed
by Lieut.. Griffith to sight and fire the first
| shot. 1t was expected that these guns
| would not prove very accurate, this being
the first time they have been used by the
battery with projectile.
| 1t is very probable that they have not
been fired since the late war, when they
were used pretty extensively AS stated
before the first shot was fired by Sergeant
Marion; the distance was judged to be 600
yards, and the gun elevated accordingly
The shot struck few yards in front of the
target thus showing the sergeant's good
judgment Sergeant Tappan fired the next
shot the projectile falling a trife to the
left. The third shot was fired by First Ser
geant Longley, and II was a little high
Lieut.. Griffiths also tried to hit the center
of attraction, but he failed to score a bulls
eye. Eight shots in all were fired and con-
sidering that this was the batterys first ex-
perfence with proiectiles the practice was
extremely good The size of the target was
four by six feet. Had the boys been shoot
ing at a house, vessel or body of men there
would have been considerable damage done
More practice :, Ill follow both THURSDAY and
FRIDAY, and 1t Is surely expected that the
present target will be frequently hit. Each
shot WAS an improvement over It's prede-
cessor. The battery has an excellent record
in the handling of ammunition. Thousands
of rounds have been fired and thus far
without a single accident of any character
This is spler did record considering the
dangerous character OF the EQUIPMENTS
An accident with the guns of the battery
would probably be a very serious one and
constant care and vigilance is Of the utmost
necessity. No chances whatever can be
afforded.
Shortly after target practice was con-
cluded for the morning STABLES" was
sounded, and the noon ration of oats fed
With the good quality and ample quantity
of forage fed the horses they are improving
In looks, and their work is also much bet
ter.
The horses will no doubt be in much bet
ter condition when they reach the city
than when they were put in the service of
the artillery. Constant attention and good
forage Will tell TO advantage every time.
After dinner some target practice, with the
revolver was INDUCED in. The arm used is
the colt. 40 army pistol. Some excellent
shots were made The variety Of arms
used by the battery makes it necessary to
keep at some kind of practice nearly con-
stantly, to attain any degree of efficiency.
At one time it is the gatling, then
the Springfield rife and now the
revolver. Had the battery but one arm like
the Infantry, there is no doubt but that the
majority of the men would soon become
quite expert. At pm. the trumpet called
mounted drill, and the horses were harness.
ed and hitched in a commercially short
time. While the drivers were hitching the
cannoneers were engaged, under direction
of their respective guDners, in folding and
placing the paulins On the chests of the
limbers and caissons. AS soon as paulins
were placed and all horses hitched prop
erly, the cannoneers and drivers were
Griffith, forward" right by sections"
march," the battery moved off for the drill
field. After reaching the drill field, a large
number of important and somewhat difficult
movements were very creditably executed.
At the command, action front" the gat-
lings and caissons were halted, cannoneers
dismounted with alacrity, gun trails car
ried briskly, $50 degrees to the left and the
guns were ready for action. Several times
the battery was placed In action, and each
time it was well done. All movements were
executed at the walk, trot and occasionally
the gallop. There is no prettier or more
exciting drill than that of a field battery,
and especially when 1t is Unanswered at
the trot or gallop, the rumbhng Of guns
and caissons over the rough drill field, ex-
citable horses. sharp words of command
and the blast of the trumpet, makes the
drill of battery bring one to the realiza-
ton OF what war is. Further Improvement
was easily apparent in the drill today, es-
pecially the handling of the teams by the
drivers in fact, all the men performed their
respective duties well. The drill lasted about
one and half hours. and as usual was
in fatigue uniform, flannel shirts and cam
paign hats.
The great improvement in the drills as
they progress Is a matter Of considerable
pleasure to the officers. The officers con-
slider today's mounted drill one of the best
the battery has, put UP since its organiza-
ton, over six years ago. After returning
from drill horses were picketed, they being
too warm for either feed or water. After
of, they were watered and fed. Supper was
then partaken of. after which preparations
were made to salute the Manchester on her
arrival on the evening trip. As the steamer
neared the wharf thirteen guns were fired
In her honor. After the first few shots the
steamer turned her powerful search light
on the gun crew, making the surroundings
appear as bright as in broad daylight
Capt. Forsberg arrived on this steamer,
and at once assumed command of the camp
Just little before the arrival Of the
steamer thunderstorm came up, no dam
age at all resulting. in fact. 1t was quite
welcome. as 1t settled the dust. One of the
many good features of Marshall Hall is the
absorbing quality of the soil. In about a
half hour after rain falls the ground is as
dry as can be. So rain Is no hindrance to
drills here. The management of the resort
are doing everything in their power to
m AXE things pleasant for the men, in fact
II looks If there would be q number Of
sroilt men, so kind has been the treatment
Some mention should be made of the
horses with the battery. As a usual thing
the majority of the horses with the battery
on it's previous marches have been but fair
This year is an exception, for some of the
horses are very fine indeed. Capt Forsberg
has his own fine spirited bay with him. and
when on the drill field horse and rider seem
as one. so perfect is the mutual confidence
between them. Lieut. Griffiths rides n
hanr. tf.,l