Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-08
Light Battery "a" Will March to
Marshall Hall. 81
IT is A FIRST CLASS ORGANIZATION
Something About Its History and
Its Officers. 90
GATLNGS AND NAPOLEONS


light battery A, DONG. has had an en-
campment. and this year will be no excep-
ton to the rule. On Saturday afternoon
next it will leave it's armory, on Sd street.
and march to Marshall Hall, where this
years camp is to be. The boys have not
forgotten the good times they had last
year at the same place, and when the man
agement of Marshall Hall complimented
them by again offering the same location
to camp on this year the offer was eagerly
| accepted. Within easy reach of the city.
with boats running three times day, the
green lawns. pavillons and other numer-
Gus attractions of that beautiful pleasure
resort, afford excellent opportunities. for
the brave cannoneers, after the days drills
are over to talk, dance and enjoy the even
ings with their lady friends and sweet
| hearts. and there many secrets of the heart
will be unfolded to sweet Marie ere the
battery boys return. .":i''' ,a.
Battery A. light artillery District Of Co.
| lumbia National Guard, was organized in
July, 1883, with Arthur Yates. now lieu
tenant in the ninth United States infantry.
as its first captain. Under his management
the battery grew until, at the present time.
1t ranks as one Of the best light artillery
organizations of the militia Of the United
States. But, great as was Its progress I'M
der Capt. Yates and his able officers. the
greatest has been made under its present
commander and his lieutenants, for Capt.
Forsberg is a prime favorite with his men.
and his able assistants are the pride of the
battery. The battery boasts of having tie
most popular officers of any command in
the District militia.
These Wear Shoulder Straps.
Capt. H. G. Forsberg was elected to his
present position March I. 1892. He is one
of he I'M htlSp T,,eD IF he pit
being senior member of the firm Of Fors-
berg & Murray. Before joining the chat
terry Capt. Forsberg was In command of a
pla toon of the engineer corps of the Nation
al Guard. He is an excellent officer, his
eminent business qualifications combining
well with his natural military tendencies.
First Lieut.. A. p. Robbins, the senior
| lieutenant of the battery, enlisted July IL,
1883. and was one OF Its organizers. HIS
energy and interest in all things connected
with the welfare of the command has Sc
cured for him the position he low holds. 1t
is almost needless to say that as long as
the battery Is In existence Lieut.. RobpinS
will be with 1t and hold theswarm place he
does today in the hearts of the members.
Second Lieut.. }. III. Gritiiths enlisted in
the battery February -, 1SS9. and las held
the various positions Of corporal, sergeant
and first sergeant. up to his present rank.
He has but recently been elected Junior
first Heutenantbut owing to red tape" will
not receive his commission before the pres
ent encampment. He was commissioned
second lieutenant just before last year s
camp, and in his honor the camp was
named Camp j. II. Grifhths.
NOn-COmmissiOncd ..Hustlers."
First Sergeant Milo Quackenbush Joined
the battery December s. 1872 was soon
after appointed a corporal and subsequently
first sergeant. He has had five years ex-
perience in the United States army and is
well qualified for his position as first SER
geant.
Second Sergeant James w. Murray, or
"Jim." as he is best known to the boys. en-
listed February 4, 1889. served three years
and again enlisted September s. 1892. Some
say that Sergeant Murray goes to camp
each year to increase his weight; how well
he has succeeded is patent to all. ~
Third Sergeant J. G. Tappan enlisted jan
Cary %, 1891; was discharged at the ex-
piration of his term and re-enlisted for
three years in January. 1894. He is IA
mliarly known "Smalley' and is quite q
ladies man" and fine dancer.
Fourth Sergeant Thos. Marion enlisted
May %, 1880; was discharged in May, 1893,
at the expiration of his first term, and re-
enlisted for year. He is deservedly
popular with the boys, as his recent election
to second lieutenant evidences. For the
same reason given for Lieut.. Griffiths, he
will not assume the duties of his new posi-
ton before this years camp.
Quartermaster Sergeant Joseph s. Biondi
enlisted March 30. 1892 Joe" is also a
great favorite with the boys as we'll as with
the captain, for he is, by virtue of his po-
sition, one of the captains right-hand men.
That he fills his important position well
goes without saying. 1t might be said at
this place that the position of quartermaster
Of the battery Is most responsible one.
Few outside of the members realize the
great quantities of boots. overcoats, blouses,
trousers, gauntlets and the numerous arti-
Giles of camp supply which are under his
care.
Saddlery Sergeant Fry enlisted October
q, 1880, in the engineer corps of the District
National Guard and was transferred to the
battery April 10, 1892. On the expiration of
his first term of enlistment he re-enlisted
for three more years. Sergeant Fry is no.
toriously energetic and recognized as an
Indispensable acquisition to the battery, es-
pecially during camp.
Corporal w. /. Henderson enlisted October
2S, 1871. He is gunner of the first section
and recognized an efficient officer
Corporal w. F. Pierce enlisted July 10,
1890. in the ambulance corps and was trans
ferred to the battery in November 1891 He
is competitor of Sergeant Tappan as the
ladies man. of the battery and a very sue
cessful one. He is gunner of the second sec
ton.
Corporal H. c. Wilson enlisted March IS
1898. By strict attention to duty he at
tanned his present office. He Is gunner of
the third section.
The trumpeterS for the battery are A. C.
Pickels and G. N. Fraser.
Acting First Lieutenant and Surgeon E;
G. Smith. NJ. D.. looks after the health of
the boys and it is to be hoped that his ser
vices will not be much required during
camp.
The other members of the battery are:
Everett Oxley, j. j. Condor, Z. E. LOngley,
j. G. Chiffon, Julius Nilsson, W. w. Biondi.
f. p. Goodng, j. H. Lowe, j. E. Bell, Geo
NJ. Nix, J. ii. Simms, Q. w. Cooksey ]. NJ.
Jones, l.. p. Wells. c. z. Morgan, Chas Nj.
Hoover. Henry jacobson. j. f. MulhalL II. j.
Dyer, Lawrence Sherwood, N. A. Hilbron
r. C. Nash, Floyd Mcfarland C. l.. Platz,
Henry Knoche. Fl. G. Strong, E. d. Vernon,
]. B. Moore, Paul NJ. Taylor T. ]. Hughes,
w. H. Chase, David Flynn, Chas. H. Du-
mont. F. R. Underwood. B. B. Knell. JOS
F. Hurdle, Danl. e. p. Murphy, Henry Mil
Ter. A. Phillips, w. B. Tanner, T. F. Nc
Keen, Chas. Eike and H. B. Durant.
Where the Battery Lives.
The armory of the battery is at Ala Sd
street northwest, and is well adapted for
the uses of an artillery command, consider
ing it was not built for that purpose The
ground floor is devoted to gun room, saddle
and harness room and the officers quarters.
The gun room, though not large is -sufi-
cient for the purpose of standing gun drill,
The harness and saddle room is the sane
tum of the saddlery sergeant Both of
these rooms have a business-like air about
them, and are conspicuous for neatness and
nr1e second &c ba