Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-24

oSiocA r1day morning Colonel sumner
gave the order to-mount. and at 7:35
o'clock the troops were on the road, not G
ing visible.
,r A brisk rainfall air, PAIRED the departure
men did not seem to mind It. It Is worthy
OF note that this was the i,rst fall OF rain
encountered by the sdetaehment while on
the march. More or less delay was met at
the outset In passing ,Ahe wagon train,
Colonel Summer ordering that the wagons
that started early % the morning should
take their places In line with the remainder
OF the baggage outfit. a. ON approaching
Belair mass of humanity was scen at the
entrance to the town. The coming OF the
regulars had been hsfaiilsd broadcast, and
everybody within the town limits was on
hand to review the TROOPS.
"A Lively seeae.
Colonel Sumner gave ihs order for the
band to play and the cavalry and artillery
proceeded through Belair In triumphant
procession. Everybody applauded and a
large number OF the younger element fol-
lowed the soldiers "a long distance along the
pike toward Baltimore. The wagon train
passed directly across the town, not par
ticlpatlng In the parade
IN The savalrymen and artilierymen were In
neio oresS. Iney wore campaign hats,
Dlue flannel shirts and dhe regulation
trousers and leggtngs. Attached to the sad
ales OF the horses were saddle bags, sa-
cation was strikingly businesslike in ap-
pearance. AT the head of the column rode
colonel Sumner and his staff, and directly
In their rear was the mounted band. After
passing through Belair the band placed its
instruments In light wagon, provided for
mat purpose. In the rear OF the band were
the TOUR troops Of cavalry in column of
tours. The troops alternated from day to
day In taking the head OF the column, in
order that each should have its share of
the dust that was necessarily more dense
at the rear of the column. In the rear of
each troop rode lieutenant. His duty was
10 see that the men Of the troop did not
lounge In the saddle, for unless an erect
position Is maintained by the rider the
backs OF the horses are easily made sore.
At the rear of the column of cavalry was
an ambulance, accompanied by several
members of the ambulance corps. The
light battery followed.
For two hours the small army wendell
It's course up hill and down dale, most of
the time in steady rainfall. At length the
Dugie sounded and the detachment came to
a matt, which was about ten minutes in
duration. Another blast of the bugle and
the column was again In motion. An hour
later another halt was ordered, ami when
the command to proceed was given, it
stipulated that the men should walk and
lead their mounts. The halts were made,
SO an officer explained, mainly to rest the
horses, almost the entire thought of the
men on such march being the well-being
OF the animals. After walking for mile
or more the saddle was resumed The gait
followed throughout the day was, without
Naria!ion, walk, and. as might be ex-
pected, the discipline was perfect.
Several of the horses lost a shoe and tho
rapldfty with which the animals were shod
was one of the features of the ride Each
troop has, as part OF its enlisted strength,
a blacksmith and farrier The sho,less
horse would be led from the column and
tied to the fence alongside the road. The
tarrier would drop out of the line and with
implements carried in his saddle bag, have
a new shoe on the animal in a very few
minutes. The column would then be over
taken at a trot.
Anxious to Stop.
After the second halt 1t began to look as
though another stop would never be or
dered On, on, on. proceeded the detach-
nent' up hills that might truthfuIly be
termed mountains, through woods and into
Valleys. Noon had come and gone, and an
oIncer remarked to reporter, IF the colo
mel does not stop soon for luncheon 1 will
ran from my horse in a faint | feel as
though l had bottomless pit In NV m
terror go ' AZ
FINALLY about 1 O'Clock, the welcome
SOUND OF the bugle was heard, while the
uetachment was on part Of the road bor-
dering some woodland No time was lost
IN tying horses to the fence, and orderlies
rode up to the officers of each company and
ne noed over baskets of luncheon, brought
n
struments. The enlisted men had tbeir
luncheon in the saddle. bags The officers
spread cloths beneath trees and regaI.S
pasts. - ie
Not more than half an hour was alloxrad
LOT luncheon, and once more came the or
DER to move forward. About an hour
later omlnous sounds were heard from
~ and soon the soldier boys were exposed
to Veritable downpour, that continued for
fully an hour. Overcoats were hastiIv
conned, but the only parties in the column
" NJ escaped drenching to the skin were
the lew officers provided with rubber Gov.
erings. After what seemed an age ..coIum,
right sounded, and the detachment turned
from the pike into a small road lust ne thu
LsHn stopped and the sun shone Half a
mile from the main road another turn was
made, and the cavalry wheeled into Crowd.
ers wood, at the top of a hill about five
miles from Baltimore. 1t was ,Iranchad
ana pedraggled aggregation of regular
troops that dismounted in that .1rancaad
woodland. -i7"
Drying Out.
Thanks to the foresight of tho mar
termaster, a large quantity of cord wood
was on hand, and the first thing In order
was the lighting of Immense fires. During
the long wait for the coming of the wagon
Train everybody tried to get as dry as nos
slble Shorely before o'clock the first
Wagon came into view. The men worked
IKE beavers. Tents and ecuipage were
unloaded, and. like magic, the white can
vas houses rose throughout the wood. At
one end was erected the quarters of Col
sumner and his staff. To the right was
the band. Then was long line of tents
IN front OF the colonel's, for the officers of
the line. At right angles to the officers,
tents were erected the tents of the mon
With the exception of the temporary home
OF the first sergeant, the men Of each troon
were assigned conical wall tents. eight men
to tent. The picket lines were stretched
the horses cared for and fed. and soon
steaming hot coffee was served. In the
meantime the Buzzacott ovens had NOT
been idle. In less than an hour SINNER
had been served, and the camp was as
spick and span in every way as could nos
sibly be desired. Each troop has a head
cook. who receives extra pay, and several
assistants selected from the members of
the troop
A line Of electric cars running compara-
lively near to the camp was to a degree
largely responsible for the generous MIN
Der of visitors who called during the even
Ing. The night passed without incident.
Saturday morning camp was broken as ex-
peditiously as the day before and the
march continued homeward The detach
ment passed through Baltimore, and Sat
urday night camped at Waterloo on the
Patuxent river, about ten miles this side
OF Baltimore. Sunday night canvas was