The evening times., 1899-06-12
A damp TIME FOR
THE DISTRICT GUARD
Camp Ordway Still Under Mud
and Water.
General Miles and Others Expected
at Leesburg Today.
Poor Prospcct for the Dress Parade
The Practice Marches-Popu-
Iarity of the Militia.

Camp Ordway, Leesburg, Va. Monday,
June I2-This is another bad day for the
District Guard. Camp Ordway is still un-
der water and Loudoun county mud dis
courages visitors and soldiers alike. There
seems to be No. hope that the sun will
make the dressfp parade this evening a sue
cess.
Except on Thursday, 1t has rained every
day since the guard has been in camp and
the men are tired and disgusted. The camp
was astir this morning at $50 O'Clock and
when mess call was sounded at O'Clock
every man had been ready and waiting for
fully twenty minutes. The first drill COM
menced promptly at . O'Clock and lasted
for two hours. The brigade put up the
best showing yet made because camp life
has settled down to an everyday, working
basis and the men are getting accustom-
ed to the difference between existence in
a tent and the considerably easier career
at home.
From II until II o'clock, when mess call
sounded, the soldier boys entertained their
friends from Washington. Leesburg people
take quite an interest in the Washington
boys and the mysteries Of camp life are
sources Of wonder and admiration for the
fair daughters OF Virginia. Brass buttons
and cross bars are disappearing rapidly.
Practice drill for the dress parade this
afternoon were in order yesterday. A spe-
cial train is expected later this afternoon
with General Miles, the District Commits
sioners and delegation from the Board
OF Trade. There are also rumors that
President Mckinley will be present. The
dress parade, which will commence at 5
o'clock promises to be one Of the events OF
the trip. Monday is a great day in Camp
Ordway.
The First, Second and Fourth Battalions
returned to camp last night after the prac-
tice marches begun on Saturday. The
boys marched out of camp in a partially
drenched condition and wishing themselves
home. The storm lasted the first day
and temporary camps were pitched during
a thunder storm. There was considerable
difficulty in crossing the swollen mountain
streams and the men styled the march
one Of the most disagreeable experiments
they had known. Indications are that the
bad weather is not over and that the re-
manning four days of the camp will be
spent on the ground. In spite of the cold
rains. there is no serious sickness in camp
and the men who took cold in the prac-
tice marches of Saturday are all right
again.
While there are few chronic grumbers
who complain of the rations issued, the
majority are satisfied with the mess. The
commissary department is doing its best,
and leaves no room for complaint.
Some of the citizens of Lsesburg are not
on good terms with the co.ored regiment.
They have taken possession of the town,
and individuals have been ordered out of
the best hotels. Saturday night a num-
Der oyerstayed their passes, and the pro-
vost guard was Obliged to put many Of
them in the guard tent. The trouble oc-
CURED at 3 O'Clock Sunday morning, but
everything was quiet today.
The programme for tomorrow shows
nothing interesting. Wednesday morning
the First, Second, and Fourth Battalions
will have another practice march. They
will probably go into camp over night at
Edwards Ferry, four miles from Leesburg
and at Waterford, which is three miles
farther. The marches selected are not
long and the brigade is being rapidly
brought into excellent shape.