The National tribune., 1904-09-22
THE MANASSAS MkNEUYERS|
The Campaign End. With Grand Re.
view Of l8,00e Men.

The grand review closed the week of army
operations, taking place on Saturday, and
the camps were soon broken up, and Ma
nassas became as calm and peaceful again
as it has been for the past 40 years, with
never hint of war or rcarnage."
The troops which passed in review pre-
sented a splendid appearance, and were
about four hours in passing a given point.
Gen. Chaffee, Chief of Staff, and bril-
liant party Of officers of the United States
Army formed the reviewing party. 1t
may be said that the great war-game was
a pronounced success, and that it will re-
dound in benefit to all concerned.
The marching, bivouacking on the field
at night, the camp arrangements, the daily
duties, were all performed exactly as they
would be in time of war, but, of course.
lacked the stress and strenuousness of
the duties in hand. if the soldier is true
wearer of the uniform. All these maneu-
vers helped to develop men, too. There is
nothing in the world like the comradeship
of the camp to bring out character in its
true colors. There were many of the
youths from homes of luxury who wore
the uniform of the militia, who really ought
to have been at home done up in pink cot
ton batting, and tucked in mammals jewel
case. Interviews with some of these half
baked men have been appearing ever since
the maneuvers began, and they make
mighty interesting reading.
Up in Hartford is a young man who
came with Connecticut regiment He
did guard duty one night, and in an inter-
view said he was placed in swamp!
Now. in the 10000 acres of land pro-
vided for the maneuvers, there was not a
piece of ground that could by any chance
be made into a swamp, to say nothing of
the nOn-eXistence of such bit of land in
Prince William County. AS a matter of
fof fhnrn icr'f h nf Tor MOO rar
than 80 miles to the camping grounds.
Tie went on to say that the marching they
had to do was something fierce. II guess
there was never anything in the war of
the rebellion as bad as we had it," he de-
clared. ''Whv. the eating was something
awful. No pie. no cake. no preserves. no
cream-a fellow couldn't live long OF a
diet like that And then we had to march
10 miles day in the hot sun with all our
accOuterments on. They called it heavy
marching order. and that's what it was
all right. Of course. there was no killing
done. but that sort of life would soon kill
off us young felows-we amt used to it.
several times. That was just dreadful"
The Southern militia raised great kick
abont "associating' with the colored mill
tia from Connecticut. They were the only
ones who seemed to feel that their reputa-
ton and character were in danger from
this source and their unfeeling and boor
ish remarks were sharply censured by their
There was a good deal of entertaining
at Gen. Corbin's headquarters. All the
foreign representatives and attaches who
were in camp were dined every evening
Mrs. Corbin. Mrs. Grant. and number Of
other prominent women We're in camD most
of the week. and helped to add to the beauty
of the evening dinners in a great tent.
net hat re ~ tbo or
life the men have led will be no one can
gainsay. but that the troops have i'm
proved is not Onlv sure. but it is appar-
emf. The course through which every man
was nut will probably have most last
ing effect and the officers who have had
charge Of the work are more than gratifed
at the showing made.
INDIFFERENCE IN THE SUPPLY DEPART
MENTS.
During the first % hours of the maneu-
vers much suffering was occasioned by
what appeared to be the inexperience of
the regimental commissaries and quarter
masters Of militia. In some cases troops
were without food for "a hours. The reg
ular supplies had been issued to them,
but their Commissaries and Quartermasters
were not yet sufficiently familiar with their
duties in the field to get the supplies to the
different commands. In this respect de-
first day, and it continued each day.
TACTICAL LESSONS.
As to the tactical lessons learned the off,
GERS of the militia expect great things.
The work was entirely new to some of the
regiments, and took up in practice what
they have studied in theory only, at least
so army officers say, and therefore will
bring its benefits to the officers of the
line as well as to the staff. The value
of conserving the strength of troops on the
march until the crises of battle are reached
is among the most important things the
troops have learned here. When the va
rous brigades and divisions would bivouac
for the night the soldiers of the regular
establishment would Immediately make mp
their beds and 60 to sleep. Not so with |
the miltiamen. Some of them regarded
mic, and remained up until q late hour
at night enjoying themselves. AS a result,
when they were called on to march out at |
an early hour in the morning they were
tagged out before they had gone a mile or
more, and if not allowed frequent rests
were subjects for treatment at the base
hospitals.
THE WEATHER WAS IDEAL,
there being only two really warm DAYS, |
but the lack of rain made conditions I'M
pleasant for marching and maneuyering.
HTeuL clOuuS OI uuSC nearly MA the march |
ing men at times.
The review Of the troops on Saturday
was a magnificent sight The broad acres
of the Wheeler farm at Wellington were |
thronged with spectators from early in the |
morning. Train loads of people from |
Washington. Richmond and other nearby t
points rolled into the Wellington station
long before the hour set for the movement |
of the troops. A grandstand erected at |
the northern end of the field of review |
was filled to overlooking by 10 o'clock and |
every point of vantage in the vicinity was
occupied by noon. Fence posts. hay acks. |
barns, dwellings, hen houses and pig stys
all held their quota of visitors and thou
sands were satisfied to stand throughout |
the ceremony The crowd was a part |
Of the show and a most interesting part. |
Hundreds Of those who stood about the |
edge of the great plain, the most interested |
spectators by far, weie vsterans of the |
two great fights which. occurred there in
81 and '62, survivors OF, both the OBJ |
posing forces. They watched the men
who passed in review with the keenest |
sort of interest and criticised with the vet |
eran eye the appearance of the men. 1t |
can be said without fear Of contradiction |
that there was no one Of these veterans. |
either OF the North or South who had any
thing hut nroiao for tho 'Eo1J;or, - IL /