The Washington times., 1901-07-21
CHARGED ON MCFARLAND
T &c Commissioner in the Thick of
Fray at Camp Ordwav.
Skirmishers Capture .he Guns
Which Welcomed Him on His Ar
rival at the Camp of the District
National Guard-soIdier Degraded

CAMP ORDWAY. LEESBURG. Va.
July 20-It is doubtful if Commissioner
Macfarland was ever in a more warlike
place than this afternoon. when 500 SOL
diers charged up the slope of the knoll
on which brigade headquarters is located
and practically captured the battery
which had ired in his honor a seventeen
gun salute. The mimic engagement was
entirely impromptu, but for all that it
was realistic.
For their extended order drill this af-
ternoon the squads were provided with
five rounds of blank cartridges They
were in the midst of a skirmish drill or
all parts of the camp ground when the
first gun of the salute to Commissioner
Nacfarland doomed out. Lieutenant Over
ton, of the Artillery Corps, tactical in
structor of the Guardsmen. was directing
the drill. In a moment the order was
given to take the battery at the garrison
flagstaff. In another moment nearly
every squad was headed toward head
quarters and the guns. The rifles ratified
necessarily.
Commissioner Macfarland and the party
which accompanied him from Washing
ton stood at the tent of the commanding
general Without a sign of trepidation,
advance of the troops Squads would
rush forward a rod or so and then drop
quickly in the grass or in any slight de-
preston that afforded the slightest shell
ter from the imaginary fire being poured
upon them by the guns above. The order
TO fire would be given or the men would
1Ire at VIII. Finally there was 4 rush and
the guns We're supposedly captured The
Commissioner and party were not how
ever, made prisoners of war. Mr. Mac
fariand was highly gratilied by the ap-
pearance of the troops in action, and later
on parade.
The occasion was the official visit of the
Commissioner to the camp of the Ma
tional Guard. The party arrived in Lees
burg at 2:45 o'clock Capt. c. Fred Cook
of the general staff, accompanied Com
missioner Macfarland and was the official
representative Of the Natiorai Guard The
party consisted of Comm,s sioner and
Mrs. Macfarland, ]. T. Petty Auditor of
the District; Francis Nye, Secretary 10
Commissioner Ross: Robert Small, ]. c.
Ransom. Major Charles D. Hine. Lieut..
George Shaw. Miss Catherine Hine, and
Miss Huntington
Upon arriving at Leesburg the partv
was met by the brigade staff and escorted
in carriages to headquarters number
of officers called and paid their respects to
the Commissioner. When the call for
dress parade was sounded the party pro-
ceeded to the parade ground and watched
the imposing ceremony. After sound Off
the entire brigade passed In review be-
fore Commissioner Macfarland. First
came the brigade staff. which at once
wheeled and dismounted at the rear of
the point where the Commissioner was
standing. The appearance of the troops
was splendid. The alignment of the com
panies was IN some cases well nigh per
feet
Officers call was next sounded. The
commissioned officers of the Guard pro-
ceeded to headquarters, where Mr. Mac
farland held an informal reception. The
party took supper at the brigade staff
mess. The brigade staff then formed the
escort back to Leesburg, where at
O'Clock the visitors departed for Washing
ton.
The first soldier drummed out Of Dis
trict National Guard camp was expelled
in that humiliating manner just after
dress parade tonight. Robert McKenny,
@ member Of Company c, First Separate
Battalion, was degraded in that manner
because ne is alleged to have insulted a
colored woman of Leesburg on Thursday
The exp llsion was witnessed by nearly all
thu Gua.dsmen in camp. Clad in cheap
suit al overalls and a white hat and es-
corted by the drum corps playing
the "Rogue's March" the prisoner was
marched TO the Leesburg pike and there
turned out amids; the jibes ane jeers of
q thousand soldiers.
TO Major Brooks should be given the
credit for taking an initiative In a matter
OF extreme importance. No complaint was
made of Mckenny's conduct to the COM
mandIng officer or anyone else I'm camp.
The matter was common gossip in Lees
burg. however, and a false impression
that rowdyism was an inherent character
istic OF the Guardsf1en prevailed. The
matter came to the ears Of Nsjor Brooks