Evening star., 1897-06-11


founded. There was a consultation Of regi-
including also Capts. Chase and Heyl, to-
gether with one or two Jnembers Of the
generals STAFF, at Gen. 'aOrdway's head
quarters last night. when the program for
the entire encampment was outlined by
the general This morning the program
commenced to be more than one Of mere
instruction The plan Is ito take up the
work where 1t was left of at the last en-
campment, which means that the morning
drills for the first two or three days will
consolidated into battalion of four COM
panies. The afternoon drills will be for
companies. and the companies will not be
skeletons. If necessary the entire repre-
sentation OF the battalion in camp Will be
consolidated to represent one full-strength
company. -
OF course, there will be alienation Of
both in the battalions and
given an opportunity to acquire experience
under conditions such as are not common
except in camp like this. When the bat
talon drills stage is passed there Will De
regimental drills, and it may be that the
LIST and I'd Regiments will be consolidated
into one regiment for the time being, the
being drilled alternately by
Coils. Clay and Alexander. 1t behooves the
green soldier to get a move on himself, 1or
provision has been made for supplementary
drills. The object of these drills is to bring
the recruits up to the level Of the more
experienced men. The thoroughly compe-
tent man will cut no figure at all In these
supplementary drills; the only victims Will
be tho men who have either been tnatten-
tive, or who have not as yet acquired q
sufficient amount of practical experience to
pass in an examination as to their knowi-
edge of the details of the school OF the SOL
will be a trihe of growing at the extra
work, but the man who groWls Will nave
no good excuse to offer. He comes TO
camp to learn, and it is the purpose Oh
those who are here to teach him to see tnat
he has ample opportunity OF learning 10
the extent of his capacity before he re-
turns to the city.
The Engineer Battalion.
The engineer battalion will put in a
&C nsiderable portion of it's time today on
Instruction in the school of the soldier and
of the company. SO that by next week 1t
will be ready to devote a day to battalion
work. Then will ensue engineer work
A, which is composed of sharp
shooters, will do lengthy term OF extend
ed order drill; Com anies 3 and & are golns
to construct things, while Company Is
gcing into the signal business.
The officers of the brigade are not to be
neglected. 1t was rather conspicuous at
dress parade last night that many or the
even some of the old timers, are
deficient in the manual of the sword some
of the officers handled the deadly weapon
with which a carels SIS government has arm
ed them in a manner SO reckless that IL
created in the minds of bystanders the
pardonable impression that they contem-
plated self-destruction. Luckily, however.
possibility of such a happening, the decree
has gone forth that the officers of the brl-
gade shall assemble-this afternoon for the
first time-to be instructed by Capt. Con-
tIn mol
the sword. 1t is therefore quite a proba-
bility that at today's dress parade there
will be more unanimity in the positions or
the officers and their weapons at parade
rest. When everybody seems to be sufil-
ciently proficient to pass muster, the offi-
GERS contingent will be turned over TO the
tender mercies of the inspector general of
rife practice, Maj. Geo II. Harries. who
will drill the good, bad and Indifferent ofh-
GERS alike in aiming, sighting and position
movements. This latter instruction will be
carried by the officers to their respective
Art of war.
The logical outcome of the course of in
struction laid down will make its appear
ance next Thursday or Friday, probably
Friday, when the brigade will be subdi-
vided into attacking and defensive forces
When an unexpected order was issued
Wednesday to take hayersacks and can
yL
the guard worried themselves as to the
whyfofe. Now the reason appears. Friday
II all goes well, the force which
will be designated as Athed attacking force
will tramp out into Maryland and await
orders to attack. The remainder of the
brigade will stay on the reservation and
the boys will do the best they can to defend
The land side Of Fort Washington from
the assaults of the haversaeked and can
teened invaders. There will be a chief
yySf ata NJ assistants.
when the smoke Of the last blank cartridge
has vanished in the atmosphere there will
be an official declaration as to who got
licked, and why. This variety of field ma
neuvers will give the respective command
ers opportunity to show their skill In the
handling of troops under what may fairly
be Judged as the next best thing to service
conditions.
An Illusion Dispelled.
Those guardsmen who somehow or an
others have become embued with the Idea
that Gen. Ordway was a sick man were
astonished last night when
hey saw the general ride out at the head
If his staff and take command of the bri-
gade at dress parade. They were still more
astonished when they heard him give the
in the samS ringing tones and
the admiration of the brigade and all by
standers in the past. The commands were
distinctly heard at headquarters, nearly a
half mile distant. The general really felt
much better when the parade was over
than he did when he left his tent to pro-
,eed to the ceremony. All he needs now
Is a little rest and few pounds of flesh
to be just as good as new. Yesterday even
ing, while the general was showing a group
of officers how much Of spare room there
was in the clothing which not SO long ago
fitted him quite snugly, one of the bystand-
.rs, who has known the general for many
many years remarked, soto voce: 1T doesn't
make any difference how much his body
has shrunken his heart Is just as big as 1t
ever was" And SO says everybody.
Message to Home Folks.
The folks at home have little need to
worry in regard to the soldier boys. SO
FAR as the department of the interior is
concerned. Without exaggeration it may
De stated that the mess arrangements are
10 a large degree more perfect than ever
before. and everybody seems to be more
than satisfied. A chronic kicker, at supper
last evening, after scanning everything in
sight and finding no excuse for a growl,