The times., 1897-06-20
THE CAMP OF INSTRUCTION
The National Guard Troops Re-
turned Yesterday.
FIELD MANEUVERS ANALYZED
same One in Authority With the
Defense BIHudered Firing Line
Await Orders to Fire-Tne MOST
Successful Encampment in the
History of the Militia.

The most successful and satisfactory
ra,,n ,,e instruction ever held by the DIS
trct National Guard was brought to
cbse yesterday
The brigade trumpeters were assembled
In front of headquarters, and at O'Clock
a. m. they sounded the general As the
final note reverberated over the reser S1-
ton the headquarters flag was slowly low
cred. the tents were struck, the white city
melted away like snow beneath a uld-
summers sun, and Camp Washington was
no more.
The tents were neatly folded aud left on
the fIoerane to be stored away unui next
needed company baggage W as plIe'l at li'e
end of what Tad at one time been company
streets, and knapSacks. canteens anu haFer-
socks were slung preparatory TO moving
for home The assembly sounded at e-4o,
and COM aanics, battalions and regiments
were Quickly formed and marched 10 the
wharf. " here ihe brigade embarked on the
Rtver Queen and headed for honle WASH
ington YVES reached at % o clock, and tire
band played Home 4 gain The troops
were quickly dise.nbarked, and marched d
rode to thri: respective aFDories. accord
ing to the discretion OF the conuandsnE
officers
ouarternia asters. sergeants and details of
men had been left at Fort Washington Ia
superintend the loading OF Ia sgs,cc, ia
they arrived at the wharf III charge OF
this property on a later boat. at : o1'1'ek
That the encampment Was a thorough
success this Year was due in great
measure TO the interest and attention given
their duties by the Officers of the regular
service, who were detailed by the ',ecre-
tary CT War To atteEd the encan,pInent.
These Officers were. i'll addition To Col
Mosher, Capt. Herbert ] Slocum, Seventh
United states Cavalry who looked after
the instruction of sentinels in their duties
Capt. Charles Il Heyl, Twenty-third United
States Infantry, who mounted guard, and
saw that such ceremonies were properly
executed, and Capt. Constantine Chase.
Fourth United states Artillery, who was
instructor of drills generally.
In addition 10 the BENEFITS derived from
good and proper instruction, the men
seemed this yeal to take an unusual in
terest in matters pertaining TO the camp
aud the regulations governing same were
almost universally complied with. The
nights were quiet and orderly, the guard
tents were rarely occupied by prisoners,
and but little grumhiBg was heard, even
on the hottest days, as consequence of
the frequent hours CT drill. The camp was
truly one OF instruction, and much was
learned by everyone present. All officers
IN authotity expressed qualification at the
progress made, and the universal opinion
was that the camp was the most suc-
cessful In the history OF the guard.
The field day maneuvers demonstrated
one thing beyond "a doubt, viz, that the
most thorough fire discipline was main-
tained. The troops started for the scene
OF action, between IL and 11:30 o'clock,
were properly disposed, and the signal to
begin operations was given at / o'clock.
The recall signal was given about two hours
later, and the firing line of the defensive
party returned to the parade ground, hay
ing fired as few as three TO five shells
Some one In command of the defense had
hlundered After exchanging few de
sultory shots with the attacking party, the