Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-16
Personnel of the National Fencibles'
Drill Team.
LITTLE ROCK AND HONOR THE GOAL
They Are Models as Soldiers and as
Gentlemen.
THEIR MILITARY RECORDS

pion drill company Of the United States Is
the main reason that the National Fenci-
bles. who in the past have reflected honor
on Washington and the District Of Column
bia National Guard. as well as themselves
are going to Little Rock. Ark. Winning
first prize in the big Interstate drill means
the possession Of 81. 500 and the Galveston
semi-centennial championship cup. but those
are secondary considerations. Since 1892
the capital Of the United States has been
the home Of the champion company, that
fact being due entirely to the unaided ef-
forts OF the well-known and energetic
young men composing the Fencibles. and
they fully intend at the coming competi-
ton to repeat the success attained at Oma-
ha In 1892.
Drilling in a closed hall three hours every
night. with the exception Of Sundays, after
attending to regular business pursuits dur
ing the day. may appear like fun. but it
most certainly Is not. The very hardest
kind of work Is being accomplished by
Capt. Domer and his men. and even should
they fail to come out at the head OF the list
in the Arkansas drill, nothing but praise
can be uttered for the members of the
team. who have discarded all pleasures to
retain the title of champions.
The drill team Is one of the very best in
every respect that could be secured. The
members are models as soldiers and as gen.
tlemen. and will most certainly reflect cred
1t on the District National Guard, whether
on the drill field or in ball room.
Capt. Chas. 8. Domer.
Capt. Charles Sumner Domer. 1.-The best
captain In the United States" SO three
boards of judges, composed Of officers of the
United States army. have declared him to
be, was born In Selinsgrove. Pa, and is the
second son Of Rev. Samuel S. Domer, pas
tor Of st. Paul's Lutheran Church, this city.
Capt. Domer began his military career in
February, 1881. by organizing the National
Rifles Cadets. which body attained an en-
viable reputation as a youthful military or
ganization. He resigned the captaincy Of
the cadets 1885 and entered the National
Rifles, with whom he participated in the
May drill in this city in 1887, and also rep
resented the company in the individual
drill.
First Lieut.. Lee MOsher.
First Lieut. Lee Mosher, Capt Domer's
right-hand man, is generally acceded to be
one of the most popular members Of the
Fencibles. His friends declare that he was
born Just before the famous battle of
Brentwood road. a friendly strife between
the first and second regiments of the Dis
trict Guard, which took place on the out
skirts of the city year or more ago, but the
lieutenant claims Prince Georges county,
Maryland, as his birthplace, and a larger
figure than one to denote his age. Lieut..
Mosher started military life with Capt. Do
mer in the National Rifles Cadets in 1881,
serving In all grades. from private to second
lieutenant. Later he entered the National
Rifles, was a corporal and member Of the
drill team, and severed his connection with
the older body to accept his present office,
to which he was unanimously elected at the
organization Of the Fencibles. AS an active
worker for the good of the command and as
an officer Lieut.. Mosher has no competitors.
ko fret lanfan-
ants of the guard. Lieut. Mosher also or
ganiZed and was first captain OF the St.
Johns College Cadets in this city in 1SS2-S3.
Second Lieut.. w. w. Mortimer.
Second Lieut.. William Wright Mortimer
Is Washingtonian by birth and an expert
craftsman holding position in the United
States patent office. In 1885 Lieut.. Morti-
mer became a soldier, Joining one of the
leading military organizations Of Wash
ington, but resigned to enter the Fencibles
in August, 1887 as a private. He was sue
cessively elected corporal and sergeant and
In 1889 reached the rank of second lieuten-
ant, and at present Is the third senior sec
ond lieutenant In Gen. Ordway's command
BILLY" Mortimer holds unusually warm
spot in the hearts of the boys. With Lieut..
Mosher and Lieut. Mortimer working like
clock work in command Of the platoons. the
Fercibles possess a team that cannot be
surpassed.
First sergt. Rice.
First Sergt. Robert Creighton Rice first
saw the light Of day in this city. and is
old enough to know better" according to
Capt. Domer. He also was a member of the
Rifles Cadets, and participated in the or
ganization Of the Fencibles, at which time
he was elected sergeant Sergt. Rice has
had an experience Of several years in
forming the company" and probably of all
the number of on-commissloned officers Of
the same rank who will be encamped at
Little Rock not one can be found who Is
able to surpass him in that line. BY pro-
fession Mr.. Rice is an artistic photographer,
but he Indignantly denies the assertion of
a number of comrades that carrying plates
is his specially.
Sergt. SessfOrd.
Second Sergeant Charles Edwin Sessford.
affectionately styled Daisy" by the boys,
Is a soldier clear through and it is said
there are none better than he in the uni
verse As right guide Of the company,
Sergt. Sessford holds a most responsible DO
sition, but never has he been known to ex-
coed by a fraction the direct, short back
or side steps as prescribed in tactics, and
when timed it is found that he maintai
perfect regularity Of step. All in all. he is
a wonder Sergt. Sessford entered upon his
successful military career as q member of
the National Rifles Cadets in 1881, and Is a
charter member of the Fencibles. having
served as private. corporal and sergeant.
He captured the individual drill prize
against all corners at Kansas City in 1890
no hold the title hest drilled man Of the