The Washington times., 1901-10-15
TO WINTER UNDER CANVAS
Tents to House the Fourth Battery
Field Artillery.
White City Near Fort Myer-Left
Washington Barracks to Make
Room for Engineers - Marches
and e.MonLeyv Drills for Recruits.

Washington Barracks to Make
Room for Engineers - Marches
| and "MonLeyv Drills for Recruits.
The Fourth Battery, Field Artillery,
| commanded by Capt. Charles d. Park
| hurst. which is now encamped near Ar
| Iington station, one mile south OF Fort
| Myer. Va. is making preparations for a
| practice march to Harpers Ferry, to be
! made soon, and to last for fifteen days.
! The battery left Washington Barracks
| where 1t had been stationed, on Wednes-
| day, October g. to make room for the
| United States Engineer School, which was
| sent there from WilIets Point, New York
| There was not sufficient room for the
accommodation of the battery at Fort
| BIyer, and the command went into camp
| under canvas about mile from that res
ervation 1t is expected that it will re-
main there in tents during the winter. All
| preparations have been made for a per-
| manent camp, the march to Harper Fer
ry being merely an incident.
Upon reaching the site of the camp the
men were put to work digging trenches
| and erecting tents. Board floors, indicat-
| ing that there IS no i'm mediate intention
! of breaking camp. were put in. and each
| tent was provided with Sibley stove.
Washington has now the spectacle of a
| battery of Uncle Sans artillery in camp
in winter quarters within sight of the
dome of the Capitol, and there is no doubt
that it will excite considerable interest
when the fact becomes generally known.
From now until the date of the departure
| for the Shenandoah there will be drills
and maneuvres of an interesting nature.
Th. strength of the command numLers
approximately eighty men. Of these
thirty-eight are raw recruits, enlisted but
few months ago at Fort Ethan Allen,
and it is to whip" them into shape. and
form first-class battery OF field artillery
| that the practice marches and drills have
been ordered. The War Department has
made an import5 mt change in the manner
OF forming new batteries of artillery. With
the removal of the Fourth Battery from
Washington Barracks. the plan for the
formation of two batteries from the one
was put into execution.
About one-half the strength of the bat
terry was sent to New York. their numer-
ical place being taken by batch OF re-
cruits from Vermont. The Department
has come TO the conclusion that it is
easier to make a first-class body of troops,
of whatever branch of the service. when
q proportion of the men are veterans. Fol-
lowing this plan the old men in the service
will be used as coaches for the newly en-
listed troopers. In this manner two bat
teries will be formed from the old Fourth
Battery as it existed 4 short time ago
in Washington
At 10 o'clock this morning the first prac-
tice of the battery since going into win
ter quarters viii be held. It will be an
interesting one, and is expected to at
tract considerable audience of Wash
ingtonians and visitors to the city. Fol-
lowing this there will be held monkey
drill, a mystery known only to the old
artilierymen. It will be more amusing
than the regulation practice with the
guns. The drill is to familiarize the SOL
der with his horse and the evoIutious
and tricks through which one of them
can go is said to equal the exhibition
which crack troop of cavalry can make.
1t has never been explained to the lay
mind why the drill should be called by
the prefix monkey" unless it Is that the
men try to be as nearly like the ape, SO
far as agility is concerned, as possible
Hurdles have been erected at the camp
and these viii play an important part in
the drill The men ride their horses, ly-
ing upon their backs. standing up, and
/ hanging from their sides in all the i'm
possible positions The star feature of
the drill is that part in which the men,
lying prone upon the horses backs. jump
the animals over the hurdles. Drills will
also be held with the field lieces These
will continue each day until the depart
ure Of the troops for the Blue Ridge
The start for Harper's Ferry will be
made the latter part Of the month, prob
ably about the 10th or 2lst The battery
will march In heavy marching order and
viii take along its wagons and field pieces.
The route will probably be along the
Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike pass
ing through the latter town. The troop
Will probably cross the river at Edward
Ferry and reach Harper's Ferry by that
road.
At the latter place camp will be ostab-
| lished for several days, and the men put
through a thorough course of military
| training, which, il is believed, VIII result
| in whipping the raw recruits into real
| soldiers. Upon the return camp will be
again established near Fort Myer.
| Since going into camp at this place last
| week the health of the battery has been
| The camp Is situated at the top of the
| hill affording excellent drainage. and
| commands the prettiest views to be seen
| about Washington The men are housed
| in thirty tents, each capable Of accom-
| modatiug five soldiers, and quite mill
tary city has been built up in conse-
quence. The troop IS. of course. accom-
! panied by it's guns. horses. and baggage
When asked how they liked living under
| canvas at this time of the year. the men
without exception said that they enjoyed
| it immensely. and preferred IL 10 bar
| racks They were healthy and strong.
| they said, and thought that they would
| be Improved In health.
Last night slept under five blankets"
said one recruit who had probably never
before slept ont of his bed. 1T certainly
( was cold but 1 felt great when l got up
| at rcveille.''
The only difficulty with the situation of
| the camp seems tc lie il the iraccessi-
bility of water. The horses are now led
! each morning nearly mile TO water at
! stream.