Evening star., 1899-06-13
Soldier Boys at Leesburg Are Tired
of Wet Weather.
RATHER QUIET DAY IN CANT
Presentation Of Prizes VIII Take
Place on Thursday.
GEN. MILES EXPECTED OUT
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

dinary interest to the members of the Dis
trict National Guard. The sun is tusselfng
to break through the clouds, while the lat
ter are resisting the attack as determinedly
as did the 1st Regiment yesterday to repel
the advance of the I'd Regiment The out
come Of the affair means much as regards
the comfort and spirit of the soldiers.
Everybody Is roofing for the sun, and late
this afternoon the indications all pointed
to success for the orb.
With fair weather the enthusiasm Of all
will be removed. 1t is hoped that the
clouds will absent themselves throughout
the remainder of the encampment.
Matters are rather quiet In camp today.
With half the command away on prac-
tioe march the activity is materially less
ened. Guard mounting was held at the
usual hour, after which company drills
were in order. In the afternoon the drills
were repeated. No dress parade will be
held this afternoon. At retreat the band
and corps of field music will assemble at
the Flagstaff and render THE Star Spangled
Banner as the colors are lowered, in the
usual manner. All who are off duty will
visit Leesburg this evening to attend the
band concert TO be given In honor Of the
citizens of the town.
Presentation of Prizes.
An incident of Thursday will be the pre-
sentation of rifle practice decorations and
prizes to those entitled to such. The pre-
sentation will probably be made by Major
Gen. Miles, and is to occur in connection
with the ceremony Of dress parade. The
honored riflemen will leave the brigade and
will march to the front and center, where
the buttons. crosses and prizes are to be
bestowed on them.
The health of the command continues
surprisingly good. There are only four
patients in the hospital today. and they
are suffering with ailments that are slight
The general sanitary condition of the
camp this afternoon Is pronounced by Ma
jor Henderson, surgeon general, to be prac-
tically perfect. Several games OF base bail
are in progress this afternoon, q match be-
tween teams representing the band and the
corps Of field music is being played at one
end of the camp. while at the other two
mines made up of members of the 1st RegI-
ment are engaged. Base balls. bats. gloves.
masks and chest projectors are supplied
by boys at the Young Meas Christian As
sociation'S tent
Arrival of Col. Urell.
Col. Urell of the I'd Regiment arrived at
cemp yesterday. He assumed command Of
his regiment, relieving Lieut.. Col. O'Brien.
Col. Urell made his first official appearance
at Camp Ordway at the head of the I'd Regi-
n.ent at dress parade, held at o'clock in
the afternoon.
The ceremony was witnessed by quite
throng of spectators, and, on the whole. was
an improvement over that Of Sunday. The
interesting ceremony of trooping the colors
followed. All the colors in line, escorted by
the color guards, were marched to the front
and center and as the brigade marched
past each organization saluted
Shortly after the conclusion OF dress pa
rade the National Guard Brigade Band gave
fits usual concert. Thes concerts are one OF
the features of the encampment and are
thoroughly enjoyed by the soldiers anu ci-
villains alike.
The concert by the band in honor Of the
citizens of Leesburg will be. given on the
lawn fronting the court house, In the CEN
ter of the town, at 7:30 o'clock this evening.
AS a further act of courtesy General Har-
rles. with his staff, will ride to town to be
present during the concert. The ofhcers
will also pay their respects to the mayor
Through the untiring efforts of Lieut..
MattingIy and his efficient corps of signal
men. Camp Ordway is now in comm unica,
ton with Leesburg by both telegraph ana
telephone. The Signal Corps, while working
unostentatiously has accomplished most
creditable results. The organization Is one
Of the most valuable of the brigade
Good Work of Engineer Corps.
The work of the Engineer Corps. under
Lieutenant Hayes is also exciting favor
able comment. Every day of late parties
have been sent out on reconnaissance duty.
Maps of the surrounding country have
been prepared and other valuable data Sc
cured.
The drill in extended order yesterday
afternoon by a provisional battalion, under
command of Lieutenant Colonel O'Brien,
was success from both military and spec
tacular standpoints. The battalion maneu-
vered in the field where the battle exer-
cises were held yesterday morning 1t Will
be repeated Thursday for the benefit OF
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn. General
Miles, the District Commissioners and other
official visitors.
Lieutenant Bell of the Sd United States
Cavalry and Major Tierney and Cap
tain Riggs Of the general staff were
out nearly all of last night instruct
ing sentinels. Under the tuition of Lieuten-
ant Bell a most gratifying improvement in
guard work has already become noticeable.
Within a day or two, judging from progress
already made. this phase Of the encamp-
ment will be beyond criticism.
The Misses Titus. who reside short dis
tance south of Camp Ordway, with the as
sistance of a number of young ladies from
Washington who are visiting them gave
reception and dance last evening in honor
of the officers of the brigade. An orchestra,
composed of members of the brigade band,
furnished music. General Harries and sew
eral members of his staff paid short visit,
while number of officers of the guard
spent the evening at the hospitable resi-
dence
Rain fell all day yesterday at camp, but
not of such a character as to interrupt reg
ular work. Dress parade was conducted
while light drizzle was In evidence. The
downfall paused, however. in order to al
low the band concert to proceed In the
open air.
Gen. Harries to Capt. Dapray.
General Harries has Just addressed a
communication to Captain J. A. Dapray,
23d United States Infantry, who is about
to start for the Philippines to join his regi-
ment, having been relieved from duty with
the District of Columbia militia as adju-
tant general The following is an extract
from the letter:
1T Is with great regret that I find we
must sever the official relations which have
bound US so closely together. Your desire
to join your regiment is entirely proper, but
the regfmental gain Is our loss When you
were first assigned to duty with my brigade
you found affairs very much upset The
war had worked unnecessary disorganiza-
ton of the National Guard generally and
had not spared the troops Of the District
of Columbia. When the conditions were
most unsatisfactory and discouraginx. and
when a relapse of Cuban fever had me
prostrate, You took hold OF strange and per-
picking problems and worked them fflde-
pendently and with unquestionable success
The whole brigade had practically to be re-
organized and re-equipped and a large nro