The Washington times., 1901-07-18
GUARDSMEN Off TO CAMP.
Boys In Blue Start for Leesburg
This Morning.
Commissnry and Quartcrmnstcr
Arrangements Perfected-The Trip
BY Train-TnIk on Absence of Can
teen-No Provost Marshal in Town.

teen-No Provost Marshal in Town.
When the thousand or more soldiers of
the District of Columbia National Guard
entrain this morning at Ninth Street and
MARYLAND Avenue ii will be on practically
a war footing. With every facility for a
ten days or longer stay in the field. they
will start for I.eesburE. where the Camp
Ordway of l9ll promises to be the most
successful In the history of the militia.
The phrase everything is in readiness
has been overworked in connection with
the preparations made for the advent of
the Guardsmen at Leesburg. But it
carries with it n great deal of meaning
and great deal of credit for the heads
and subordinate officers of the two most
important departments of the Guard in
time of camp-the commissary and the
quartermasters department Major L. II.
Neumeyer. and Major H. II. Parmenter,
the respective heads of these branches of
the militia. have been the busiest men in
the organization for weeks past. There
win De no drawback to the supply of the
wants of the inner man. There will be
no lack of equipment for the soldiers as
soon as they are in camp.
Major Neumeyer went to Leesburg early
y
later by corps of cooks. who will have
their ranges all ready when the time
comes to serve the first meal to the
hungry boys in blue. Major Parmenter
viii leave with the troops this morning.
The train which will bear the soldiers
to camp will be run in three sections.
They will leave the intersection of the
Southern Railroad tracks and Maryland
Avenue and Ninth Street at sis, SIS, and
S:35 o'clock, respectively. All the COM
mands will be required to be On board at
least five minutes before these hours of
departure. Company commanders have
ordered their commands to report at
quarters this morning at G:30 O'Clock.
This will obviate any possibility of delay.
The first section of the train will be un-
der charge of Quartermaster MuZzy. II
will carry the brigade staff. the First
Regiment, and several of the separate or
ganiZations and corps.
Lieut. f. w Holt will be the quarter
master of the second section. In the first
and second cars will be the sixty-five
members and staff of the provisional bat
talon of High School CADETS The ambu-
lance corps will occupy the third car and
the remaining six cars will be given over
TO the staff and soldiers of the Second
Regiment
The third section of the train will be
that of the First Separate Battalion.
Lieut.. W. B. Evans will act as quarter
master
Something less than two hours, barring
accidents, will be consumed by the trip
to Leesburg. Upon arrival there the brig
sde column will be formed and the march
for Camp Ordway begun. The distance is
just seven-tenths of a mile. and as the
road from Leesburg is good one, the
time of the march will not be great.
Lieut.. r. 3. Hayes, of the Engineer
Corps, who laid out and made a map of
the camp, returned from Leesburg last
night and reported that everything in con-
nection with the grounds was in prime
readiness for the advent of the troops a
stake has been driven at the point where
each tent is to be erected. Early this
morning Lieut.. Charles Mortimer, who is
the head of the cuartermaster' Depart
ment at Camp Ordway, will have the can
vas distributed at or near the points
where the tents are to be erected. There
is no reason why within an hour after the
order Is given to raise canvas the white
tops of the SibIey tents should not be
showing in the Virginia sun and the
guardsnen fitting up their quarters.
No time will be lost in getting down to
the routine of camp life, and brigade
parade viii probably be held this after
noon just as it will every afternoon dur
ing the camp, if the weather proves fair.
And that sunny skies Will prevail during
the sojourn of the Guardsmen on the soil
of the Old Dominion. is a hope that has
found frequent utteranee during the past
week.
Quite naturally among the members of
the Guard who gathered at Centre Mar
ket Armory last night discussion turned
TO the points which are at variance with
conditions in former years. The abol-
ton Of the canteen and the effect of it's
abolition upon discipline is a topic often
considered Hinseing upon tbs is the
decision OF the commanding officer of the
Guard in deciding not to place provost
guard in 1seosburg. The plan to place
the men upon their own responsibility in
the matter OF behavior Is considered by
many a good move. Others say that IL
will be necessary to place a strong pro-
burg. The decision regarding the provost
guard is not an unalterable one. 1t is
more In the nature of an experiment.
If the three saloons of Leesburg. COM
bined with the fun-making spiri. of the
Guardsmen. result in too much disorder,
a provost guard Y III in all probability be
established.
Nearly all the officers who have been
to Leesburg this year have returned with
glowing tales Of the hcspitabie welcome
accorded them by the people of the little
city. II is difficult to find place where
the National Guard would be assured of
more cordial welcome than at Leesburg.
II is said that the people of that town
would like to see a location in that vicffi-
ity established as permanent camping
ground.