Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22

| on its way to the city. A tougher cam
paigner than Capt Forsberg could not
easily be found; his campaign hat having
the appearance of healthy old age, while
| the red bandanna handkerchief that sur
rounded his neck and caught the freely
flowing perspiration looked as though it
had not been washed for at least thirty
days. And the best of the joke was that
the captain was proud Of 1t.
Everybody else in the battery had
ancient hats and stained handkerchiefs and
| DIRTY boots ard blue shirts in which the
| dust Of ages seemed to be accumulated.
| But the horses were in magnificent condi-
| ticn, and the gatlings were ready for busi-
ness at any moment; not scrap Of the
harness was in need Of repair; not a buckle
was missing; nothing was out of place.
Altogether it was the most soldierly ag-
gregation in camp not excepting the gen.
eral staff, which brushes its clothes sew
eral times day and sees to it religiously
that its boots are blackened before dress
| parade. Members Of the generals staff
| have been known to shave twice a week
| and yet fail to equal the campaigning ap-
| pearance acquired SO easily by the light
battery. Unless something breaks down,
| and maybe in spite Of such an interrupt
| ton to smooth travel, Captain Forsberg' $
| vicinity of the White Lot before $3.50 this
afternoon.
The Camp Work.
| 1t is, perhaps, a little too early to figure
Upon the good that has been accomplished
in a military sense but it is possible at
this time to make public few interesting
comparisons.
| The attendanc, has been quite as large
| as was expected by those who had any
| right to make estimates. A long stretch
| Of financial depression rendered it impossi-
| BILE for very many men to do the duty they
would have been pleased to do had bust
| ness conditions been more propitious, but
the morning reports showed day after day
that mere monetary considerations were
by no means supreme. Many personal sac
| rtfceS Were made in order that the vari-
| Gus commands of which the brigade is
| composed might make a satisfactory show
iEg. Discipline has been excellent through
the entire period of the encampment, in
spite of the fact that a very large percent
age-probably more than 80 per cent-of
| those present for duty were wholly green
| in all that relates to military life under
! canvas. Unaccustomed to the paying of
| such courtesies as has been common at
| Fort Washington during the past ten days,
| the members of the command nevertheless
| adapted themselves cheerfully and with adj
| mirable success to conditions with which
| they had no previous acquaintance.
Discussion among the officers last even
| ing and this morning reveals unanimity
| Of opinion as to the actual necessity for
| an annual encampment. A foundation has,
| during the past ten days, been laid broad
| and deep for course of instruction that,
steadily continued for two or three years,
would place the District National Guard
away on the right of the line. TO have a
| camp this year and then to be without
camp for two or three. or as has been the
| case, for five years Is most unbusineSs-
| Ike proceeding, for the average change in
| the membership of the guard approXimates
| 80 per cent annually, thus rendering 1t
| practically impossible without an annual
| ercampment to instruct the brigade as it
| should be instructed The progress made
| since last Thursday week has really been
| marvellous. A considerable percentage af
| ~. 1po1 fl-k h0r
semblance to practical experience, while
| the amount Of ignorance as to guard duty
| was appalling. All that, however, has been
changed. and, although the number of
| thoroughly efficient men is still very small,
| it is certain that 90 per cent of the COM
| mand have received more benefit from
| their ten days experience ON the drill field
| than could be acquired in the armory in
| intention of Gen. Ordway to carry into the
| armory the discipline of the camp, and to
| this important matter close attention will
| be paid.
| 1t is also General Ordway's intention,
| which is said to be fixed. to take such
| proceedings within the next few days as
| will result in the mastering out of the
service of company c of the second bat
TALON, more popularity known as the Ma
tioral Fencibles Other companies have
also been marked for like fate, it is said.
At the officers meeting at brigade head
quarters last night General Ordway noti-
fed those present to commence Immediate
ly the pursuit of officers and men who were
absent from camp without leave. So far
as possible battalion courts will attend to
this, and that there will be no laxity in the
| matter is evident from the generals state
ment that he has list made up of the
names Of every absentee. A sweeping or
der dvorcing those absent without leave
without investigation might possibly work
injustice in a few cases, so the general
has provided that a court shall investigate
before any action is taken. Within ninety
-hn ,ohf fn
what they are talking about, the District
National Guard will be numerically weak
err, perhaps. to the extent of three or four
hundred men.
Shortly after breakfast this morning the
first separate battalion, headed by Maj. F.
c. Revells, marched up the headquarters
street and halted at the generals tent
There to the general and his staff, the
major expressed himself eloquently and
vigorously, and with unnlistakable graft
tude and pride. He thanked the general
and his staff for all that had been done for
the comfort and instruction of the colored
soldiers, and in reply was the recipient Of
some of the incest, things that have been
said of any of the commanders in camp.
After giving three cheers for the general
and three more for the staff, the battalion
returned to It's camp.
George r. Brown and Andrew Johnson
the Headquarters chef and assistant-nar-
rowly escaped being subjects for expert
ment by members OF the medical depart
ment this morning, their condition being
brought about by overexertion in their en-
deavors to give the headquarters mess
more nice things to eat than the staff could
possibly consume. Lunch was served at
II oclock-as all other meals have been
under the personal supervision of Staff
Sergt Eugene Corvaizer, than whom no
man in camp has been more willing or eff
ficient. large number of visitors have
been entertained at headquarters, and that
they have enjoyed themselves is due largely
to the efforts of the sergeant and his capa-
lie cocks.
District Commissioners Truesdell and
Powell came down from Washington yes
terday in the police boat, Joe Blackburn.
They witnessed the dress parade and ex-
pressed themselves as being delighted with
the ceremony. OF their own motion, they
declared themselves heartily in favor Of
increased appropriations for the District
National Guard, and pledged themselves to
work SO that the efficiency of the brigade