Evening star., 1895-06-13
FIXING THE CAMP.
Quick Work of the Boys at the
Camp.

stan Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CAMP WASHINGTON, June 13, 1895.
For the first time since the encampment
OF 1880 the District National Guard made
its appearance today at Fort Washington.
Departing from the wharf two minutes
before schedule time, which was 40 O'clock
the George Leary was tied UP at Fort
Washington an hour later. delayed some
what by the precedence of the River Queen
and Manchester.
Without commotion and in regular Sc
quence the boys in blue tranlped ashore
and marched up the hillside to the places
. where tent floors and little heaps of can
vas awaited their coming. The work of
tent pitching was much more rapid than
even the most optimistic of the guardsmen
had believed it would be, and there was
everywhere evidence that considerable time
had been spent by many of the officers and
men, who up to this time have been with
out real camp experience. in studying the
regulations which make plain the best
methods of doing the work.
As soon as the tents were up-and they
did so up like magic-the first sergeants
paraded their companies to the straw pile,
each man carrying bed sack, empty when
he started out and full of straw when he
returned. When the beds were all in place
there was general application to the minor
details which contribute so much to the
comfort of the soldier in the field and long
before mess call sounded for dinner the
entlrC camp ndQ the appearance OF an en-
campfreft that had been in existence for
week or two. The program of afternoon
duty is not heavy. The guards, exterior
and interior, will be mounted at o'clock,
and from that hour until 1.-The general is
sounded, on the 22d instant, the camp will
be protected by a living fence.
Planning for Records.
This camp of 1898 has started out in
manner that differs very materially from
the opening of the two previous gatherings
OF the brigade at this point. There is busi-
ness in the air. OF course, there is an
abundance of good nature evident. and the
possibilities for timely mirth are just as
plentiful as they ever We're, but there is
everywhere unders tanding that the dis
cipline is to be at least 100 per cent better
than it was even in 1890. and 1890 was
big improvement over 1859 in that very
essential respect
Gen. Ordway has, both in orders and In
conversation, expressed himself freely and
forcib!y, and his propositions have been
met in a spirit of whole-souled consent.
which promises to be fruitful of the best
results. Already is there rivalry between
the various commands to which of
them shall achieve the best reputation.
Dress parade will be at 6 o'clock, at
which hour the camp expects to see a con-
siderable percentage of Washington's popu-
lation here as spectators. The voyage
from the city was almost without incident.
No man seems to have dropped even hat
overheard. nor was there at any time any
thing but the very best behavior. just as
the boat started from the city Capt. Mil
Ter of company d, first battalion, was
ordered to put guard on the bar.
There was no authority for insisting that
that institution be shut up, but Gen. ord
way drove the traditional coach and four
all through he saloon privileges of the
boat by posting sentries that no Ma
tioLal Guardsman could get any of the
liquor, which every experienced officer de-
clared was wisdom Itself. q H. IL