Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-15
LIGHT BATTERY WORK
Captain Fosberg's Command T o IN at Mar
shall Hall
The Flag Raised and the Drills Com
menced-PracticinE With the
Deadly Calling.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

CAMP FORSBERG,
MARSHALL HALL. Nd, August ii, 1894
On Sunday morning at $50 sharp the
light battery pulled into Marshall Hall after
march of about twenty-nine miles over
Maryland roads. The time consumed on the
march was about nine hours. AT precisely
3:45 pm. Saturday the command Forward
march was sounded by the trumpeter, and
the march to Marshall Hall began. The
route Of march was via Sd street. Pennsyl-
vania avenue to 18th street east, thence
over the Anacostia bridge, passing by the
Hospital for the Insane and through Pts
quotaway. Md. The first stop was made at
Friendly post Office, at which place the
horses were winded for about fifteen min
utes. This place was reached at O'Clock
After leaving Friendly post office nothing
of note occurred until within about one mile
Of PisQuotaway. when one Of the rotten
bridges of Prince Georges county gave way
under the weight of caisson. Fortunately
nothing more serious than delay of few
minutes was the result. though several can
noneers were precipitated to the ravtne be-
low. but being pretty tough they bobbed up
serenely. PisQuotaway was reached at $50
pm. and preparations for the evening meal
were at once under way. AT the command
"Cnhitch." all horses were unhitched and
then the harness being placed on the poles
Of the carriages, and everything else being,
secured, horses fed and watered, the bat
terry went into bivouac until GAO SUN
day morning, the cook private Jacobson)
being awakened a half hour earlier to pre-
pare breakfast, which consisted of good hot
coffee, rye bread and hot sausage. sNo~tent~
age was carried on the road, officers and
men sleeping on the ground. with the sky
for cover. A great number of the men
found comfortable beds on some ancient
tombstones OF an adjacent graveyard; IL
vas a rather grueSome sight 10 see man
arise in the small hours of the morning and
commence to rub his eyes and wonder where
he had been during the earlier hours OF the
night. or course, he soon realized where he
was. 1t was quite different from awaking
in snug bedroom at home. After feeding
and watering horses and the men had break
fast the march was resumed. At o'clock
rain commenced to fall in considerable
quantities and continued to fall until some
time after reaching Marshall Hall, which
place was reached al am. Sunday.
The men and horses of the 'ha ttery were
in AL order when camp was reached. The
pair of horses attached TO the ambulance
had to be relieved shortly after leaving
Pisquotaway. Instead of taking them out
altogether line was attached to the rear
of the preceding caisson and assistance
rendered in this manner. The tents being
up very little work was necessary to put
things in shipshape. In remarkably
sfcrt time the horses were ct the picket
line and camp was practically begun. 70
AS 1t rained nearly all Sunday no work
beyond Strengthening up the camp was
done. OF course. the horses have to be at
tended to with great regularity, this being
considered but routine work. Neglect of
horses means crippled and worthless bat
terry. The camp of the battery Is situated
In the northeast portion of the grounds
just on the river shore. The picket line Is
stretched at the foot of the ravine. one end
being at the waters edge. For this reason
hnrSaS he
ground occupied this year is the same as
last year in all respects.
Directly after dinner the regular camp
routine was commenced Reveille was
sounded at $40 am. and the first day at
camp began. Guard mount took place at
Sis am. Capt. Forsberg acting as officer
OF the day; Sergt. Henderson, sergeant of
the guard; Private Chase, acting corporal
Of the guard; Privates Sherwood, Vernon,
Carpenter McKeon and Beaumont. There
are two posts one at the picket line and
one at the park. At $50 am. drill call was
sounded, the drivers cleaned and arranged
harness. and the cannoneers were instruct
ed In standing gun drill, which latter lasted
for one hour and a half, 1t being the first
drill the battery has had in a year where
there was room enough to rnaneuver the
guns ana carriages properly. Capt. Fors-
berg took charge Of the drivers for the
morning work, and Lieut.. Griffiths had
command of the gun detachments Both
the drivers and cannoneers made a very
fair showing In the matter Of drill. At 10
o'clock sharp the ceremony Of raising the
flag was commenced. For the purpose of
getting the nag pole In position Sergt. Be-
ondi and a detail Of men were sent to the
late camp ground of Maj. Suess' command
to get the pole erected there. It was taken
down in a very few minutes thus showing
their aptitude as mechanics. The detail
then brought the pole to camp and ere Ted
1t in very substantial manner. When
everything was in readiness Capt. Fors-
berg took the halyards and proceeded to
raise the brand-new garrison nag furnished
for the occasion. The trumpeter sounded
dered forth a salute as the most beautiful
nag the world ever saw was raised to the
top of the flagstaff and Camp Forsberg was
declared officially opened.
The camp was named after the popular
battery commander at the last monthly
meeting, and at the unanimous request of
the men the captain raised the flag. Dr.
rectly after the flag was raised practice
with the Calling guns was participated in
by large number of the men. Some very
good scores were made About 2Oy rounds
were fired in all. The target bore the ap-
pearance of having encountered a severe
hall storm. The range was COO yards The
targets were Ell ected by Privates Condor
Long and jacobson, and their work was
well done. as they are all experts at this
business No further work was. done until
3::'O p. m, when drill was again ordered
This was a mounted drill. and was a very
creditable showing indeed. 1t was the first
mounted drill since last summer, and, con-
sidering green men and worse horses, It
was a highly creditable affair. The drill
took place alongside the camp Of the tive
troops of regular cavalry camped here and
was viewed by a number of the cavalry
officers and men. With some more. drill
the battery will not be such slouches as
militia mounted troops are supposed to be-
OF course. the battery has to contend with
new and green horses. Every time they go
out, were they able to have the same
horses as their professional competitors.
the comparison of the two would be more
just. At the afternoon drill the drivers
handled their horses with exceptional Skill
while the cannoneers showed their appuca-
ton to drill by making but very few err
rors. At the present rate of Improvement
the battery will. most likely, be in pretty
good shape by the time the flag Is finally
lowered over Camp Forsberg. J. H. G.
AT ROCK ENON.