Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-16
ORGANIZED MILITIA
COL. BRETT'S REPORT ON DIS
TRICT EQUIPMENT.
Result of Inspection Made by Capt
Stevens-National Guard Progress
sive and Earnest.


of the organized militia OF the District of
Columbia is contained in the annual report
of Acting Adjutant General Hall, United
States army in the form of report made
by Lieut. Col. Lloyd NJ Brett, adjutant gen.
eral District of Columbia Militia. The
strength of the District National Guard
August 81 last is stated follows: Com
missoned officers, 143: enlisted men, 40,
a total of 1922.
In response to your letter of August Z.
1903, says Col. Brett. requesting a report
of the operations of the organized militia of
the District of Columbia. under the act of
Congress, approved January 81 1903, have
the honor to state that Capt G. w. Stew
ems, Artillery Corps, United States army,
was designated by the commanding general
Department of the East. to make an inspec-
ton of the National Guard of the District
of Columbia under sections 10. II and IS Of
said act and general orders, No. 40, head
quarters of the army. adJutant general S
office April l. 1903. The result of the in
Specton is contained in Capt. Stevens re-
port on file in the adiutant generals office.
1.-The use to which the District has en-
ployed its allotment of United States ap-
preparations during the year, Under sec
ton 1861. Revised Statutes, as amended the
following amounts were allotted: Septem-
Der /. 1902, So. 400. 60; July ], 1903, $132SO;
July 1, 1903. $3.50; September 3, 1903, s12,-
OC0; total, $40,216.4O
Expended for: Ordnance and ordnance
stores, $6.313.11; auartermaster supplies,
So 449.1S; signal property, $3I .JS.
Payment of troops during ten days en-
campment at Leesburg, Va, s9,944.oO which
does not include payment of ambulance
CORPS This organization has not yet been
paid. as it has been necessary to OBTAIN de-
cisions from the controller of the treasury
on certain points which decisions nave not
been rendered.
Eor tr,nsnortation of trooDs by rail to
and from the encampment at LeesburS. Va,
$955.J0. This amount has not yet been paio
the railroad company. ana,
Allotment under act of March =. 1913,
army appropriation bill. June TO- 1903, S1o,-
81 81 Expended for-Ordnance and ord
nance stores. s., 9296S; quartcrmaster sup
plies 81. 536i2; signal property, S2o4oo; To-
tai, $40. 720.D.
The Annual Encampment.
"Of the annual encampment of the Dis
trict troons. or their participation in ma
neuvers with troops of the regular army,
the brigade consisting of the general STAN,
general non-c commissioned staff, LIST Battery
Field Artillery, Signal Corps, Ambulance
Corps. band, Corps of Field Music. LIST Regi-
ment I'd Regiment and 1st Separate Battal-
ion, was in camp for ten days, from July y
to August l. inclusive, at Leesburg. va
Troops E and H, I'd United States Cavalry.
one assistant surgeon and detachment OF
commanding, encamped with the brigade
during the camp period and engaged with
it in series of instructive maneuvers.
July %, the first day of the encampment,
was devoted to pitching tents and putting
the camp in proper order and working con-
dition. which was done by the command.
The remainder of the week was devoted to
battalion and regimental drills, in close and
extended order. July q was devoted to
practice marches by the brigade divided into
two columns. The special features OF the
march were the duties of the advance and
rear guards, the disposition of the divisions
and the handling of the same when in con-
tact with the enemy. which was illustrated
by attacks of troops of cavalry on both the
advance guard during the outward march
and the rear guard during the return march.
Distance marched eighteen miles for each
column. and much more for the thanking
groups of the advance and rear guards.
July %, the 1st- and I'd Regiments pro-
tected the camp by an outpost consisting of
cossack posts, supports and reserves, ex
tending well to the front and overlapping
the TANKS. The problem given was for the
1st Separate Battalion and the two troops
of cavalry 10 penetrate the outpost for the
purpose of observation and development of
the strength of occupying force.
July 70 was devoted to the same work,
except the line of observation was occupied
by a chain of sentinels instead of cossack
pests.
July 80 and 81 were fully taken I'D by
one problen-the attack by the entire bril-
gade an outlined position, which was
expecting reinforcementS and supplies from
two directions, the maneuvers by the bril-
gade to commence at about six miles from
the position. The first day was occupied
in cutting off and capturing the supplies
and driving back the expected reinforce
ments. The entire command was supplied
with wagon train transporting the neces-
Sary ratiOns and shelter tents camped for
the night about four miles from the Do
sition. Enlisted men did the cooking
The movements against
menced at 4 am, the 31st, and resulted in
the capture of the position
All the maneuvers were instructive and
the different units We're progressively better
hardled by the officers in command. The
work of the men was intelligent and I'M
firing.
Progressive and Earnest.
The National Guard OF the District of
Columbia is progressive and earnest in it's
efforts for Improvement.
1t is hoped that it may encamp in future
years with larger force of regular troops
or in a combined camp of the National
Guard of some other states and regular
trcops, In order that it may participate in
military exercises of q more extensive
scope than been possible hitherto
organizations are required to drill one
night in each week when not engaged in
field service.
ANY service the troops of the District,
or any part of them, have performed dur
ing the year in the suppression of riots, or
other unlawful disturbances or for the
preservation of the peace
There has been no occasion for such serv-
ice within the District during the past year
1t IS the opinion of the commanding gem
eral of the District of Columbia militia
that the act of Congress approved January
II, 1863 has not been sufficiently tested by
his command TO enable him and his officers
TO mtellgently and satisfactorily make
recommendations looking TO the modifica-
ton or amendment of any section or sec
tons of the act.
All are deeply interested, and the OPERA
tons OF the new law are given the closest
attention.