Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-14

deem it my duty, however. to say that or
the men composing this brigade only sew,
eHty-five, or possibly one hundred, nad
ever before assisted at a military camp,
and that there had been no encampment
for the brigade since 1880, thanks to fall-
ure in the necessary appropriations by
Congress. AS consequence efforts at
field instruction were forced to commence
at the very beginning. Fortunately, how
ever most of the men had had the prep
araton of armory instruction, ana TINS
rendered the task lighter; so that whatever
may be the circumstances adverse TO
greater success which attended these men,
1 am happy to be in position to testlty
to their earnestness and honesty OF en-
deavor in the right direction.
After careful ref1ec ton, l may also say
that the brigade of District of Columbia
National Guard is the germ of magnif-
cent citizen soldery, which challenges the
highest respect and esteem. Building, as
it did, some six years ago, upon the nu-
cleus of one battalion-the Washington
Light Infantry Corps of Washington, now
the first battalon-the brigade has, not
withstandinG many distractions, discour-
agements and burden of personal ex-
pense, taken foremost place in the ranks
of the National Guard, and now forms a
body of troops, military being, to be con-
fidently relied upon in troublous times as
an adjunct to the regular army.
A Model of Military Legislation.
1.-THE law Of its organization is one of its
grandest features to a military mind, Is
model of modern military legislation. Here
is found, expressed in few words, the
necessary provision for the three battalion
regiments of Infantry, the administrative
services, and a few corps of special arms
and troops, these last existing more par
ticularly for the purposes of instruction.
The composition of this law Is not the
work of a novice: it shows the hand OF
one who has served and also is essen
TALLY patriotic citizen and master in
soldier craft.
In our infancy as a nation it was de-
clared that the devising and estabnshlng
of well-regulated militia would be gen.
uine source of legislative honor and a per
feet title to public gratitude If this be
sound in principle, then it follows as
public duty to maintain and encourage
such militia from the public treasury
There, is room left to mention the ser
vice rer%lered during this encampment by
the supply and medical departments of the
brigade already alluded to. The important
functions of these departments in our
armies, based, as they are. upon the Sc
rious needs of mankind, demand the care
full exercise of business sense in the f1rst
and professional judgment in the second.
Both call for activityi energy and consum-
mate tact; for men must be fed, sheltered
and clothed transported and nursed in
sickness and suffering. Indeed, 1t would
not be very difficult to point out historical
examples where the grandeSt military con-
ceptions have been lhampered and even
frustrated by incapaeity in these depart
ments, but l may not discuss such matters
here. For the purpose in hand. it suftices,
and it is a duty, to say that no military
contingent has ever been better or more
Loyalty and modeStly served by its admin
strative and MEDICAL staff than this bri-
gade, and no more painstaking care has
ever been shown of public money and prop
erty. or in the health service of a camp.
Il seriously and most respectfully COM
mend this body of citizen soldiery to the
careful attention of the proper authori-
ties
John Mcdonnell, a Dartmouth College
| medical student, for alleged completely with
G. p. Clifford in the grave robbery case at
Norwich, VT. has been held in $1,000 for
his appearance before the grand jury at
Mondstncl N II ext wear