The Washington times., 1901-07-19
GUARDSMEN IN THE FIELD.
Camp Ordway Formally Opened at
Leesburg Yesterday.
District Soldier Boys pitch Into the
Routine with EnthUsinsm-F'irs irst
Dress Parade on Time-FutiIe At
tempt Made to Fire the Sunset Gun

CAMP ORDWAY, LEESBURG, Va,
July 1S.-When the strains of The Star
Spangled Banner. foated across the acres
where thousand District Guardsmen
were busily engaged in raising canvas,
every man paused from his toll and stood
at attention while the flag was swung to
the breeze on the garrison staff. Camp
Ordway was formally established, and
Georges Farm became a Government
reservation After that it was but an
hour when the tops of scores of Sib-
| ley tents shone in the sun.
The first day of the annual encampment
| of the District National Guard was an
auspicious beginning for what promises
to be the most successful encampinent in
the history of the organization. With all
| the labor attendant upon the establish
ment of camp. brigade parade was held
! at BIB O'Clock. There were not few
I slight casualties during the day. such
, as a bruised finger now and then, or
perhaps a hatchet slipping and cutting
| hand.
The troops are in splendid condition and
| enthusiastic in their work. There are
| over LOO soldiers in camp. The three
sections of the train which bore the
| militiamen from the District of Columbia
to the soil of the Old Dominion left the
| intersection of the Southern Railroad
tracks with Maryland Avenue and Ninth
| Street, Washington. shortly after sched-
ule time. The trip was made without ac-
cident or incident. The first section ar
rived in Leesburg a little less than two
hours after the start had been made
from Washington. general spirit of
elation at going into the long anticipated
camp was evident
G,.r+ 81. .I,n IL, tI,sa
brigade staff and First Regiment staff.
In the forward cars were the members
of the First Regiment, Colonel May COM
manding. All the officers were gratified
at the large attendance and the spirit
with which the men were entering upon
their active duty.
When the first section pulled into the
little station at Leesurg the platform was
covered with townspeople, who smilingly
and cheeringly welcomed the Guardsmen
to the little city. The horses of the gem
eral staff were on hand. The officers
mounted and cantered up the main street
of the village and then out the road which
leads to Camp ordway, where the tents
of the quartermaster, the commissary.
and the signal corps showed white against
the green fields. In regimental formation
the gallant members of the First with
their big. bulky shoulder rolls. looked as
If they were all ready for actual warfare.
A few minutes later the second section
of the train pulled in with the Second
Regiment, Col NJ Emmet Urell. COM
manding. On board were also the bat
talon of High School cadets under Major
Joseph Murphy, and the ambulance corps.
The regiment formed beside the tracks
and marched to camp over the route
IL, - s.g.l
mind little discomforts was evident from
the manner in which they strode through
creek which crossed one of the streets
and where the water ran ankle deep. The
arrival of the First Separate Battalion,
two hundred strong. under Major Arthur
Brooks. was witnessed by a large proper
ton of the colored population of Lees
burg.
Major II. II. Parmenter, quartermaster
general had general supervision of the
transportation, and went to Camp Ord
way as soon as the last section had dis
charged its warlike passengers.
Lieut. Charles Mortimer, assistant to
| the quartermaster general, has been here
for the past week. Everything in connec-
ton with this department was, TO use Il
nautical expression. in shipshape condi-
| ton. The tenting was all distributed at
the various points Where the DdttailDQS
had been assigned The battalion quar-
termasters at once issued the canvas TO
company commanders, who superintended
the erection OF the tents.
1t was shortly after Y o'clock when the
welcome call for midday mess was sound
ed The cooks. who came to Leesburg last
night. had their ranges in shape for action
and the result was bountiful lunch of
ham sandwiches and coffee. Many were
the compliments showered upon the COM
missary general. Major e. II. Neumeyer.
and his assistants. In the meantime the
commiSsary department tents down near
the Leesburg pike We're the busiest place
in Loudoun County Piled high with bar
re!s and boxes, II was evident that the
soldiers would not want for anything to
eat during their sojourn here.
Captain Robbins, the acting adjutant
general. was busy getting out number
of camp orders. The signal corps. under
command of Lieut.. William Niemeyer.
had telephone system in fun operation
late In the afternoon. Incidentally in this
connection considerable difficulty is being
experienced in getting connection with
telegraph and telephone lines to Wash
ington direct The facilities for rapidly
communicating with the National Capital
are miserable. In fact, it often takes less
time TO go to Washington 10y rail than to
transmit a message by wire
Tonight there is no provost guard in
Leesburg. The application made to the
adjutant general to place provost guard
in the city was made by the town ser
geant of Leesburg. who acted without au-
thority in the matter from Mayor Wright.
who expressed a high opinion of the
Guardsmen and disclaimed any fear that
their conduct in Leesburg would prove too
riotous for the control Of the local au-
thorities Few of the Guard officers think
there will be any necessity for a provost
guard at any time during the encamp-
ment.
The aspect of the local option law here
at the present time is decidedly wet.
There are three saloons running full blast
and all anticipate large trade during
the stay OF the Guardsmen. The absence
Of the can:ecn, through the provisions of
the Army Reorganization Act, is keenly
Major Arthur Brooks win today act as
, field officer of the day. The following
routine of duty viii be observed each day
during the encampment:
Reveille, $50 a m; mess call tbreak-
fast) 4. m; sick call. $50 4. m; fatigue,
I a. m: guard mounting. First Regiment.
7.l5 n. M; guard mounting, Second Regf-
ment. 7:t5 a. m; guard mounting. First
Separate Battalion. S:I5 a m; drill call.
Q a. m; recall. II a M; mess call tdin-
ner) I2:lj p. m; drill call. 2:30 p. m; re-
call. p. m. fatigue CALL Ais p. m; bri-
gade parade. 5:l5 p. M; retreat Of there
be no brigade parade), $50 p. m; mess
call (supper), p. m; tattoo, 9:i5 p. m;
taps, 10.l5 2. M
ReVeiIlc roll call will be followed by set
ting-up exercises for ten minutes in each
company, under the instruction OF its
commissioned officers.
Five camp orders were issued at head
quarters today by Capt. 4. p. Robbins
acting adjutant general. According to the
provision of order No 2. n battalion sur
geon VIII be assigned each day to duty
as medical officer of the day. He will
make two tours of duty through the camp
one al S:2G o clock a. m. and the other at
y clock p. IN. He will excuse all sick
soldiers for one day only. If they are un-
Iii 1.asRr tE..xr will l.f. aatf