Evening star., 1898-05-30
District Volunteers Took Life Very
Easy Yesterday.
SHORT RESPITE FROM HARD WORK
They Are CompImented for Fine
Showing on Parade.
WAT Err SUP PLY IS LOW
Special From Staff Correspondent.


Though 1t is Decoration day, the Dis
trict volunteers have had the hardest days
work that has fallen to them since they ar
rived at Camp Thomas, in fact. since they
left their homes in Washington.
Under an order issued from brigade head.
quarters the amount of drilling is almost
doubled. Reveille is now sounded at $50
am The men mess at am, and guard
mount is held at $50 o'clock. The first call
for drill is sounded at 6:55 am, and the
men drill until $50 am. Then come the
squad drills, the commissioned and nom
commissioned officers schools, then again
at 2:45 pm. the men drill for two hours
This order will be kept up until a very
high state Of efficiency in the 1st Division,
to which the District regiment is attached
has been reached. While the District boys
have become very efficient, they have to
drill as much those regiments that are
not SO well drilled.
in accordance with the army regulations,
all drills were suspended yesterday, and the
men had quiet day of it. Chaplain Dud-
ley held services in front Of .regimental
headquarters yesterday morning. num-
Der of the Roman Catholic members of the
regiment attended mass with the Goth New
York Regiment.
Yesterday was miserably hot There was
not particle of breeze, and most of the
day the boys lounged around but partly
clad Last night Captain Dapray, U. S. A..
who was formerly stationed in Washing
ton, and who is great friend Of the Wash
ington boys, paid Major Urell and Captain
Simonson a visit.
Two of the hardest worked men in camp
q H1tf ba
tain Field the quartermaster. The adju-
tants duties are complicated, but he car
ries them out to the letter. Captain Field
is on the road from reveille to taps, looking
out for the needs of the regiment. 1t is
said that he can secure more from the
corps headquarters than any quartermaster
in the entire park.
1T was one of the finest parades I ever
saw said Gen. Carpenter, commanding
one division, at the conclusion of the dress
parade of the 1st Regiment, d. c. ", Sat
urday afternoon. 1t was the consensus of
opinion of all the officers from the various
regiments stationed around us that a regi-
ment of regulars could have done no bet
ter. The manual was simply perfect and
the rifles of the men moved as one piece
The marching very good. On the
whole, Col. Harries is proud of the show
ing made by the men, many of whom are
recruits. The regiment was reviewed by
General Carpenter.
Trouble About RatfOns.
The matter of rations is one of consider
afle Importance. Yesterday for the first
time fresh beef was issued to the men, but
the supply secured was only enough to give
the men a small quantity each. The sama
complaint is heard on all sides There is
not a single barrel of flour In the commits
sary headquarters, and the men are CON-
PEELED to eat hardtack three times day
There has been considerable kicking by the
company commanders on this score. This
condition is in no way the fault Of Col.
Harries and his officers, but comes from
corps headquarters.
The practical side Of army life in war
time will he taught the men thoroughly.
Dress parades will only be held once a
week Until further orders. Captain W. r.
H. King, who has been sick in the hospital
with bilious attack for two days, re-
turned to his quarters today very much
improved. He will resume his duties today
There are no other cases of sickness.
Water Supply is Low.
The water pipes have not yet been laid
into our camp. and the water Supply is
very low. Hardly enough water can be Sc
cured to drink, and even that is Of a very
poor quality. 1t is very hot again today
but .ne boys dc not seem to mind it. Sew
eral of the CfIlcers will GO to Chattanooga
today to attend the Decoration day gerry
ices. b.