Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-21

most excellent. We have had no sickness
or any kind, and all our sanitary arrange
ments are very carefully looked after The
tents are kept in the neatest possible con-
dluon, as L found out myself this morning
upon personal inspection. With INV stair I
made a survey of the entire camp and ex-
ahmed every tent, the mess tents and the
kitcnens, and saw that everything was
cream, neat end in good order. The food
issued us is entirely satisfactory and al
ways well cooked. 1 believe 1 have five Of
the best cooks in the entire camp
am proud, too, of the splendid order
ana decorum observed in my battalion
camp. There has not been a case of drunk.
enness since the encampment began, and
during that time also only a single one of
my men has been arrested by the sentries
He had been out on a pass and was few
minutes late in returning, and was held up
Tor few moments because his permit had
expired"
While 1t is true that the coIored compa-
MES are not the equals in drill of the So
called crack companies-and the same
statement can be made without fear of
successiul contradiction as to other COM
mands In the guard-they realize that they
40 not know 1t all, and are ready and anx-
ious Tor instruction. There is a remarka-
pie esprit de corps existing throughout the
entlre command, pride of organiza ton
that Is responsible in large degree for tina
efficiency attained in drill and the knowl-
edge OF the duties of actual camp life that
mas been gained. This interest in things
mintary and the evident desire on the part
or each individual in the battalion to learn
10 do the right thing at the right time have
frequently been remarked upon In head
quarters by those officers detailed as in
structors In guard duty and the various
requirements Of field service; 1t is noticed
and commented on also by others in Camp
washington Take 1t all in all, the first
separate battalion is making and maintain
ing for itself record which the other
commands may find 1t difficult to equal,
The Hospital Corps.
TOO much praise cannot be given the
hospital corps, which looks carefully and
efficiently after the health of the troopc
and the sanitary condition of the camp,
The service is thoroughly equipped for
any demand made upon it, being provided
with hospital tents staff of capable sur
geons and an ambulance corps fully pre-
pared for actual field service There are
stretchers, bandages, nnament and an am.
bulance, the horses to which are kept al
ways harnessed really to respond instantly
to an emergency call. So far the health Of
the camp has been remarkably good. SO
that though four hospital tents were pro.
vided for the proper care of the sick or
fer such purposes, the others having been
converted into quarters for TIE surgeons
and for the reception Of guests. Rarely
have there been more than two cases In
the post hospital at the same time, and
the patients have almost invariably been
discharged to their quarters after a few
hours treatment. If beauty of situation
were euro for all Ills there woUi scarce
ly be need for a hospital at all in this
camp, so admirably is its position chosen,
and of all the pretty sites in the reserva-
ton the post hospital has the gem Lo-
Gated on the brow Of bluff close TO
the water, there stretches away on either
hand a magnificent view of the surround
Ing country and the Potomac. winding
gracefully among the thickly wooded bills
of Fort Foote. past Mount Vernon and to-
ward the picturesque region In the vicinity
of Indian Head. The monument is plainly
visible on the northern horizon. Inside the
breeze-fanned tents are the softest of beds.
with mosquito netting stretched on frames
to protect patients from the annoyance Of
flies and insects. Post Surgeons Pyle and
Mckim divide between them the duty of
looking after the sick, and a corps of
trained hospital stewards ably assist them.
Surgeon General Henderson is also on hand
with his sound judgment and counsel.
The regimental and battalion surgeons
also do valuable duty in attending to the
minor disabilities which can be looked
after in quarters and need no hospital
treatment