Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-06
Disbandment of the Engineer Bat
TALON.

talon.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
I wish to correct some evident confusion
about the "wiping out Of existence of the
Engineer Battalion. d. c. N. G. The civil
organization Of the Engineer Corps" D.
c., Is still in existence just as much as
that Of the National Rifles, ETC.: whether
it will be continued OR wind up it's civil
affairs and dispose of it's property remains
to be seen Its members have, SO far, taken
part in military service as the Engineer
Corps, D. c. N. g." or as an acting en-
glneer battalion it's officers having been
appointed, with the exception of it's COM
manding officer. who held the commission
Of first lieutenant, Engineer Corps, D. c.
militia: and an appointment as acting
major" D. c. N. G. During the last few
years it's members have performed mill
tary service in the D. C. N. G. as the I'D
Separate Battalion" known tine En-
gineer Battalion: q. o. No. 8. Hdqrs. u.
&. NJ, April 20, 1897, part viz 1t was thus
organized by Gen. Ordway, las a battalion
of four companies Of infantry" SO that its
officers could receive commissions corre-
spending to actual position in regard to
duty and rank Its duties were distinctly
specified in the order referred to- and as
are performed by engineer troops. 1t had,
as such, battalion organization, wore the
regulation engineer uniform. as they al
ways have, and one of the last, If not the
last, official acts of the late Gen. Ordway
was to approve my requisition for a regu-
ldIlOu engineer nag, luSCTlD6O, u. u. En-
gineers." This was received, and it was
sad coincidence that the first and perhaps
the only time it appeared in a parade was
at the military funeral of Gen. Ordway,
and draped with the insignia of mourning
Now, under the late ''wiping out of ex-
istence' order. portion of its members
as battalion staff. also as three COM
proposed 9th Battalion Of the I'd Regime Mt,
D. c. NJ. and out of the wreckage, ac-
cording to law. an Engineer Corps" and
'Signal Corps" each consisting of first
lieutenant and maximum of thirty-three
total. each. are to be organized. The en-
gineer Battalion at the time of issuing this
order numbered 100. total, and was being
I cannot believe that the late General
Ordway, who had strained the law and
everything else to organize and train en-
Engineer Battalion, contemplated for one
moment that in the face of possible active
service he would transform It into in
fantry. But I am confident that the mem
bers of the Engineer Corps. d. c., will In
evitably be called upon to perform mill
tary engineering duty. no matter where
they are or what uniform they may wear
in active service. and they will be a credit
| be called upon to perform. will add that
engineer troops are expected and are pre-
pared to act as infantry in case CT an
emergency.
In January last rendered my resfgna-
ton to the commanding general of the D.
G. M. as militia officer oftentimes is
forced to do. to find out whore he stands
had to do this for good reasons Gen.
Harries. on receiving IT, and shortly after,
ward, stated to me that he chad no use
for It." which was all I wanted to know,
to have been correct. / confidently expect
ed to take the Engineer Battalion into
active service az such. I was on the active
service list of the corps, and II any one viii
| take the trouble he will find In The Even
| Ing Star Of Saturday. April 2, an advertise
ment of mine for recruits for the Engineer
Battalion, D. C. N. @.
I have had the great honor to command
the engineer troops. D. C. N. G.. since their
organization in 1890 to the present time,
| and their record Is well known. can. at
least, but feel the satisfaction that have
| been able to aid In making available a
| good number Of officers and men, who
lsnow something of military engineering in
| April 3, 1893. GILBERT THOMPSON.