The Washington times., 1895-06-16
Guardsmen Becoming ACquaint-
ed With Military Realities.
PROGRESS MADE NOTICEABLE
Dress Parade Passed Off More
Smoothiy-Compan Already Show
the Effects of Discipline and Train
ing-Gen. Ordway May Indulge In
Some Field Maneuvers.


tant general, lie spent several hours riding
around over the country adjacent to the
reservation. He was sizing it up. with
a view to maneuvering the troops.
He found the ground was well adapted
for such movements, and next week the
guard may be discussing strategic points,
thanking, etc. When Gen. Ordway was
asked if there was a possibility OF such
movements being practiced this camp, he
said:
1T all depends on the proficiency of the
troops. If we had camp each year l
could very readily answer the question.
But, you see, this is the first time we
have been in camp in five years and wehave
to begin at the C's The men are
making great progress, and hope We may
get little of ii. The ground is most favor
able, and we may get a little of it next
week"
THE DRESS PARADE.
The first dress parade and the way it
was recei~rd by troops and visitors has
also put the General in great good humor.
You know" he said this ceremony
of saIuting the colors belongs to the Dis
trict of Columbia National Guards. How
did l come TO think of ito Well, cont
just know, / always thought the ceremony
of dress parade ended rather abruptly and
then, too, IL teaches patriotism. 1t Is
a beautiful ceremony and / think the men
enjoy it, 1 was agreeably surprised to
find them lined up in the various camps,
with arms at Il present as the cOlors went
by"
Col Mosher, the Adjutant General, is
enthusiastic, too, over the saluting the
colors He is also pleased with the dress
parade, and last evening inaugurated
some improvements. He is an enthusiast
on clear day, when there is no wind the
commands given by the General on the
parade ground can be heard at the Fort,
one mile way. 1t is said that five years
ago, the sentinel ut the Fort Went through
the manual of arms from the commands
given by the General on the parade ground.
The dress parade last evening was
much better performance than the even
ing before. The commands took their
position ON the parade grounds with more
precision, and the whole movement had
more snap about it. The ceremony was
watched by several hundred people, and
the civilians, not to be out-dOne by the
guardsmeu, saluted the cOlors as they
passed by, taking off their hats.
Gen. Ordway varied his movements by
wheeling to ore side Of tie parade ground
after he lad saluted and watching the
various commands at they passed by.
Then he wheeled in behind the ColoTs and
saw each command drawn up at present
arms as the flags marched by.
ALL WERE RESTED.
Every one got up yesterday morning
rested good IL hts sleep was reiresh-
Setting up exercises give the boys an
appetite, aud breakfast was 10 toy al
fair. Guard mount was very Interesting.
The main guard was Company G, First
Battalion. --s-
Capt Charles H Ourand was officer Of
the day ard citing Lieut.. Claude Haines
officer of the guard In the First Regiment
Capt Peixutto mounted guard, aud did
il in inimitable style. Company ID, Third
Battalion. furnished the guard and Capt
BIaudy was officer of the day and Lieut..
Robinson, Company a, officer of the
guard In the Second Regiment Adjt.
Hodgsou, of the Fourth Battalou, mounted
guard Capt OtieIi, Company c, Fourth
Battalion, was officer of the day; Lieut..
Chisholm, Company 4, Sixth, senior Of
ficer uf the guard, and Lieut. Mellach,
Company A, Fifth junior Officer OF the
guard. First Separate Battalion, Capt.
+ T Webster, officer Of the day and Lieut..
T. w Hail. officer of the guard.
Aiming and sighting drill wes We'll at
tended by the officers. This was due to
tie report of the attendance made by
Ma nr Harries. The first exercise only was
taken up yesterday, and all officers Will
nav Ia 90 through III SbiHt' tiIile OF OtHeI
The other exercises of the aiming and
sighting drill will be taken up Monday. The
Officers are having quite as busy time
of it this camp as any or the men.
All the drills OF the day showed a marked
Improvement over those of Friday. Bat
talions were still drilled in platoon move
ments and each commanding officer eX-
pressed himself as much pleased with the
progress.
THE SIGNAL TOWER.
The Engineers were busy men yesterday
Before reveille sounded Adjutaut Holt and
| Lieut. Chandler were out in the woodscut-
ting timber for the signal tower After
ward wagon was secured aud the timber
hauled in 4 detail of men jumped rightin
and by noon the first section of the tower
! was ready to go up.
| 1t was erected during the afternoon and
! now stands twenty feet high. Another
| twenty f,et viii be added, and perhaps Il
! third section-tan feet high. The men who
were on top of it say it scarcely clears
the trees vet. 1t will be finished in a few
! days and then signaling with the city Will
| be begun The base of the tower is twelve
feet square and most of the timber used is
| chestnut.
Not satisfied with this, Major Thomp-
| son will begin work on the profile of
fort to be built in the rear OF Gen.
/
gun battery, and the guns will sweep the
| river from River View to Fort Foot. 1t
will be built of brushwood, and the trav-
| erse will he Of sufficient thickness to pro-
tect the gunners.
! Major Thompson built q fort like this
at Petersburg during tue war. 1t was
| known AS Fort Bross. The major is get
ting enthused and may bridge a ravine
or two, and if he had any pontcons the
| River View question would soon be set
tied.
He is greatly in earnest over the homing
pigeon question. The pigeons are really
the most picturesque thing in camp Major
Thompson insists that with an outlay of
$40 a month he could have loft of
pigeons :hat would know the country for
500 miles around Washington. These
pigeons are great home lovers.
Dr.. Munson has one that he has been
trying TO lose for: years, but he always
comes back, and some have been known
to return after an absence of two years.
| TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME.
Sunday is the quiet day in camp. This
morning there will be inspection of quar-
ters and no other military duty will be per-
formed until evening, when dress parade
occurs AT O'Clock in the afternoon
| the chaplain of the Second regiment will
hold services from the band platform in
front of headquarters.
All who desire to attend the services are
marched to the appointed place and a
hollow square is formed. The services
will probably be short, since the men will
have to stand all the time. The band will
be i'll attendance and in the evening will
play sacred music.
Prof. Schroeder and his musicians are
| one of the features OF the camp. Last night
he was presented with a rosewood baton by
Sergt Calliday, Company A, engineer
corps, and thenthe band played dthefollowing
selections Belle of New York" Clarke;
Isle of Champag ne, = FuTsts Comic Opera;
bid Me Goodbye Foster; Bohemian