Evening star., 1898-05-23
General Graham Takes Formal Charge
of His Post.
Ills STAFF PARTIALLY COMPLETE
No Change Of Location of Camp
Contemplated.
T H E L A TIE ARRIV VALS

formally assumed charge of the Second
Corps, United States Volunteers. He issued
his first 2enuiue order announcing that he
had arrived and would direct the affairs OF
the camp.
The corps staff so far appointed consists
of Maj. E. F. Ladd of the 9tn Cavalry
auortermaster; Capt. John Little, depot
commssary, and Maj. NJ. C. Martin. depot
quartermaster. Gen. Graham's personal
staff consists of First Lieut. w. w. Gal
braith of the 5th Artillery and Second
Lieut.. c. P. Summerall, also of the 5th Ar
tiilery. Both are entered as aids-de-camp.
1t is announced here that Maj. H. o. S.
HeiStand of the adjutant generals depart
mant was today ordered to report to Maj.
Gen. Graham for duty on his staff, and
Lieut.. L. B. Devore, 23d Infantry, who has
been acting as military secretary to the
Secretary of War has also been ordered to
report to Gen. Graham for similar duty.
Both of these officers have been stationed
at the War Department for several months
and are well known to the residents of the
District as capable and experienced SOL
diers.
The corps commander set cut at once to
investigate the condition of the several
regimental camps. to determine whether or
select the proper site for corps hcadquar-
ters. He found all the regiments comfort
ably located on ground as dry as could be
expected at this time of the year, and, ex-
Cept in some rare instances, fully equipped
for duty.
The water supply he regards as fully ade-
quate if properly handled. His own head
quarters he means to establish in a clump
of ,in.a l.nn oh mil frnv
Woodburn Manor.
Both troops of New York cavalry that are
expected to arrive this afternoon are to be-
come his personal guard, and will be camp
ed in the immediate vicinity of the corps
headquarters.
Depredations Reported.
Reports of depreda tions on the property
of the farms adjoining Woodburn Manor
having been brought to his attention, Gen.
Graham at once announced his intention of
establishing courts-martial. 1t is his pur-
pose, he said. to see that neither the straw
berries nor the chickens of the farmers Of
Fairfax county suffer at the hands of his
soldiers.
A report has circulated through the medi-
of Washington paper, and other pub
ications, to the effect that Col. d. Jack
Foster of the 9th Illinois had entered for
NAL complaint at the War Department
against his quarters at Camp Alger One
of Gen. Graham's first callers was Col. Fos-
ter himself, who asked the privilege of en-
phatically denying the whole story. 1t was
true, he said, that one of his men had died
of typhoid fever and that his hospi-
tai had been without cots until today,
But the soldier who died was seriously ill
before he reached Washington, and the
condition of the hospital could not have
seriously affected his case. Even If his
quarters had not been satisfactory, con-
tinued the colonel of the 9th Illinois, he
would not have undertaken to remedy them
by complaining to the War Department.
HOOsiers Expected.
Major f. S. Strong, who is acting adju-
tant today, received word that the 159th
regiment of Indiana Volunteers had started
yesterday at o'clock in the afternoon for
Camp Alger. This command is not expect
ed to arrive until tomorrow afternoon or
evening.
Despite the wet weather of the past two
or three days there were very few patients
under treatment at the hospitals this morn
ing.
Sunday in Camp.
Sunday was something of a gala day at
Camp Alger until it rained in the after
noon. Drills was practically suspended.
The camp was well filled with visitors and
the Gay was further marked by three meals
of more than Usual pretensions. Re
ligious services were held in most of the
regiments before dinner. Afterward the
enlisted men played base ball and the COM
mlssioned officers entertained the visitors.
The Sth Ohio, under command of Col. &.
V. Hard, gave an exhibition dress parade
in the afternoon, concluding just before the
fist drops of the shower. Most OF the
Pennsylvania troops also drilled with their
bands, but made no attempt at formal
dress parade.
Washingtonians do not seem to have lost
interest in Camp Ager, despite the de-
parture of the District of Columbia troops.
Ali afternoon they poured through the
gates. looking for relatives among the visit
ing commands, or studying modern camp
life at close range. Senator and Mrs. Ma
son, Mr.. and Mrs. White, Mrs. Mason's
parents; Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, Mrs. Electa
4. Smith, Representatives Galusha A.
Grow, Grosvenor, Mcdonnell and Brown
well, Judge Thompson. Capt. A. A. Bart
lett Capt l. A Morrison and Mr.. NJ. w.
Brown were among those who made the
re undS.
Mrs. Smith was at one time the postmis
tress at Sterling, ILL.,, and came to the
camp to treat the company from that city,
Company E of the 9Th Illinois, to a home
luncheon. The hostess was assisted by
Mrs. Laura Holderby and Mrs. NJ Perry.
These three ladies and Capt Laurie, First
Lieut.. G. b. Dillon and Second Lieut..
Frank Wahl of Company were in their
clement and handed about the sandwiches
and doughnuts with great glee.
After the dress parade in the evening"
the men gathered about the quarters of
tEeir reyimental bands and sang to their
hearts content, while We Are Fighting
for Cuba and similar songs filling the
pl plogram.
Bay States Quota Arrives.
Nearly a thousand men from the bay
state marched into camp yesterday, escort
ed by the band of the 9th. They were the
9th Massachusetts, 943 strong, under conf
mand of Col Charles F. Woodward. They
set up their tents ON the ground formerly
occupied by the District of Columbia regi-
ment, and within an hour or SO were in
stalled comfortably in their new quarters.
Before leaving home Col. Woodward's
men were escorted to the arsenal and fitted
out to the last detail They are the only
men in camp who wear the brown canvas
suits that figure prominently in the Illus
trated papers. Besides these new uniforms
they have the most improved Springfield
rifles and bayonets Their band this morn
hI- r,Iaxr