The Washington times., 1901-07-28
THE SOLDIER BOYS RETURN
Guardsmen Reviewed Oh the White
Lot by Colonel Sanger.
Bronzed Faces and Dusty Uniforms
Tell the story of Hard Work
AfieId-CIosing Scenes at Camp
Orsiwny-Tbe Paying of the Troops


With the tan of virginias sun on their
| features and in their stride the nonchal-
ant swing born of tiresome drills afieid,
the brigade of District National Guards
men came home from Camp ordway yes
terday afternoon. Marching up Pennsyl-
vania Avenue. they We're followed by an
admiring and increasing crowd to the
White Lot.
There the troops passed in review before
! Colonel Sanger, Assistant Secretary of
| War who had come down to see what
was intended to be dress parade. Upon
| learning that the Assistant Secretary was
| present the order was changed and re-
view was the result, rather to the disap-
pointment of good many people
Efficiency has long been part of the
reputation Of the District of Columbia
National Guard, but at no time is 1t more
evident than when the troops return from
active service at the annual encampments.
/ CARRIED in campaign uniform, with the
grey campaign and leggins charac-
teristic of the American volunteer soldier.
and swung over the shoulder the roll OF
blanket and poncho, the soldiers looked
ready and willing to take the field for
actual warfare. But though there was re-
|
standpoints, the best camp of the Guard s
history, there was. too. general feeling
of satisfaction at once more being home.
| After parade on the White Lot the
commands were dismissed at their re-
spective quarters Then there was gen.
eral scurry for home and clean clothes
| in place of the dusty garments that have
seen rough service at Camp Ordway.
| The troop train which bore the soldiers
| from Lee esburg to Washington was run in
| three sections, the first of which pulled up
| to the familiar entraining spot of ten days
| ago at Ninth Street and Maryland Ave
| nue.. Many friends of the Guardsmen were
there awaiting the arrival of the boys.
| AS the sections pulled in there was al
most repetition of the scenes that ac-
companied the departure of the brigade
| for camp. Greetings, and hearty ones,
| too, replaced the farewells of that occa-
| sion. By no means the least enthusias-
| tic welcome was extended the First Sepa-
| rate Battalion when they disembarked
fron their section OF .ae train-the last.
As soon as all the sections had been
1 vacated by the troops the line of march
was formed, and the column, at the head
of which rode the general staff, proceed
ed toward Pennsylvania Avenue. The
Brigade Band, with its usual inspiriting
music. followed the staff, and the strains
of the march causnt the ears of hundreds
who at once OWNED that the citizen SOL
diers had returned and were headed for
the White Lot .rhe Marine Band con-
| cert at the White House grounds had at
tracted the usual large number of people,
| and the music there was just beginning
when the troops arrived at the ellipse and
1and 20 f=
much smoother than, the irregular parade
ground at Camp Ordway.
The military scene proved stronger
| than the musical attraction. and the hum
dreds in the White House grounds turned
their attention to the eyolutions of the
troops to the south. The dress parade
was just the same as 1t has been for ten
| days past at Camp Ordway In fact, 1t
seemed so natural that many of the
Guardsmen half waited for the sound of
the evening gun and the slow falling of
the colors. which during the encampment
proved one of the prettiest features of a
day of camp life.
Neither the general staff nor the regi-
mental officers were permitted to ride
their horses on the White Lot and had
to proceed afoot. When the Guardsmen
passed in review Colonel Sanger stood
just in advance of the staff. As each COM
mand in company front swung past arms
were brought to port with the snap
acquired by recent experience.
Then. as the soldiers marched off the
field, they were given hearty applause
Upon arrival at the armories the COM
panies were dismissed as quickly as pos
sitie. and the boys hurried at once to
their homes.
The last day in camp, although not par
ticularly eventful, was marked by num-
Der of distinguishing features outside of
the fact that 1t was the final hour of
active service this year. Seven thousand
dollars was paid to the troops for military
services rendered the United States dur
ing the period ending June 80. And TO
many OF the boys the rrivate's pay was a
gift in good time. The men In the ranks
received full pay of $50. And then the
scale rose upward to SO, the pay of
colonel. Those in Government employ
did not get cent. Captain Parker, the
acting paymaster. accomplished the pay
merit in just one hour and forty minutes.
which is regarded as rapid work.
No sooner had the men received their
money than all manner of games of
chance sprang up in the company streets.
The tents were aireaoy vacated, and
without any particular restraint, al
though on the approach of officers the
money in sight was generally slid quietly
under a convenient blanket. The play
did not last long. however. and 1t is doubt
full if anyone lost or gained much.
There were no drills yesterday. Guard
mount was the only routine event. After
breakfast. the menu Of which was up to
the high standard Inaintnfned by Major
E. II. Neumeyer, the commissary gen
eral, there was nothing for the Guards
a bot tfs2tf MT fa-
gether and prepare for departure All
the camp baggage was placed in the
cor paly streets in front of the tents.
Their the big commisSary- wagons came
along and carted away the big piles of
camp goods and chests of camp tools.
Battalion cJartermasters were held to
strict accounting for the articles they
had drawn, and by noon nearly every
thing issued ten days ago, when camp
was established. had been checked off as
returned.
AT noon the last meal in camp, consist
ing of sandwiches and coffee, was served
on ti.i!es. the usual tents over which had
been removed. According to the plan out
lined it was intended to strike camp at
l O'Clock when the general was to be
sounded and all the tents pulled down
simultaneously, followed by the hauling
down of the flag. A line rain began to
sall however, and orders were sent out
not to strike the tents. The colors were
brough: down amid the strains of the
Star spasglea Banner When the troops
were reiay to proceed to Leesburs TO
entrain the sun came out once more and
then the general was sounded and the
tents went down in approved fashion.
The First Regiment was the FIRST TO
leave camp Headed by the band and
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ross,
the troops moved to Leesburg, and to-
gether with the brigade staff. which led
the column. embarked on the first section
for Washington. The Signal and Engi-
neer Corps also were on this section.
After the First Regiment came the Sec
ond, headed by Col. NJ Emmet Urell, the