The Washington herald., 1907-07-24
MILITIA VICTORIOUS
ROutS Unseen Foe in Battle
After Breakfast.
WAR WHOOPs Do THE DAMAGE
Tive Towns Saved from Capture
Only by Soldiers Lack of Ammuni-
tiOn-CoIOred Troops Profit by
Lecture on the Use of sights-FOr-
eign Element Departs.
Ia a $40 Corresnondent.l

lBy staff Correspondent
Camp Ordway. Bolivar Heights, w. Va.
July Black Ct ammunition is all that
saved Bolivar and Harpers Ferry from
capture at the hands of the militiamen to-
day. The soldiers were In full battle ar
ray, and had cartridges been issued by
Maj Parmenter, chief of ordnance, the
two towns could not have withstood the
attack
/ Immediately after the morning mess the
soldiers marched out Of camp with their
guns. and were prepared for conflict Col
Brett marched the warriors into corn
1 field about two miles west of the camp
Of the Thirteenth Cavalry, and for three
| hours they waged war on the unseen foe.
The entire First Regiment was deployed
as sklrmishers. and the battallons fought
! their way through the woods, over open
fields, into wales. and up hills The
| charges were fast and furious and the
| soldiers yelled like a band of insane IN
dams. If the invisible enemy was not an
initiated by the mythical bullets. the war
whoops probably frightened them 10
death, for there was no retaliation for
the guardsmen's terrific fire.
Like the Work, Too.
Hot and dusty. the soldiers returned 70
camp Immediately before noon mess. This
has been the hardest day for the guards
men, but they enjoyed the field maneuv-
eTs, and are enthusiastic over the re-
naming work. Col Brett says the militia
men are rounding into form in fine style,
and should prove good soldiers If they
are ever called to the field.
The First Separate Battalion remained
in camp this morning Extended-order
work in battalion formation took up the
entire drill time. Maj. Brooks and Capts.
kerth and COwan. instructors detailed 10
camp by the regular army, gave the col
orded men considerable practice In firing
At will and by volley. When this branch
was taken UP it was soon discovered that
the COlOred soldiers are more proficient
in marching and drilling than in field
fighting. When the command Fire at
will at. l,000 yards range" was given.
the militiamen threw their pieces TO their
Shoulders and began firing. Capt. Kerth
Jared them with a few fOrceful remarks.
You can't fire at 1900 yards without
looking at your sights he shouted.
| Seems 10 me you might have had curl
osity enough II look at those sights and
see what they were for"
Each soldier was then shown how 10
adjust his sight and fire, and they had
the work down pretty fine before the in
structors left them.
Holiday In Afternoon.
There was no duty TO be performed this
afternoon except policing the camp
grounds. Two companies went on guard.
as usual, the brigade band furnishing
music for one. and the corps Of field
musicians, Under Principal Musician Rab-
bitt, for the other. Most of the after
noon was spent by the militiamen playing
games. singing, swimming. or writing let
tiers.
The Y. VI. c. A. tent. conducted by
Secretary Arthur Smith. of the Army and
Navy branch with Assistant Physical In
structoT WEIGH, Of Washington. helping
him. was crowded throughout the day,
Souvenir postal cards containing views
OF the camp and soldier life, were sold
by the thousand There was a record run
on ice cream and pop. and a dozen water
melons vanished as soon as their green
Jackets were slit by Secretary Smith.
The tents of the Second Regiment, which
were not dropped by that organization
On Saturday, because they were too
damp 20 he packed. were to-day let down
and bundled up for shipment TO Wash
ingtOn. where they Will be packed away
In the armOry for use next year Mai
Neumeyer purposes handling the tentaee
very carefully because II is the best the
army has every issued. and will be lorg-
lived If properly protected. Mai Neu-
meyer has been quartermaster general
for years, and knows about all the tricks
there are 20 be learned about the trade.
Horses Go on Tramp.
Neither battery drilled this afternoon.
but the horses were taken on a long exer-
else march. The men seemed to eniov
their rides over the rough country in sec
Ond best uniforms. and without saddles.
Ale the artillerymen are being taught
many useful things about caring for the
artillery horses. In the regular army the
horse comes first and the man afterward
The art!llerymen Of the District have not
been looking at it that way. but they are
tumbling TO the idea now It was origf-
many hifatltNu bA bNAl. I1dTIlcS LUUL the
District battery should make a return
overland march to Washington. starting
Thursday. but this order has been re-
vOked. and the battery will be shipped |
from Halltown to Washington Sunday
morning.
officers on the general stafT said to-
night that il was extremely doubtful that
Gov. D wson, of West Virginia, would |
visit camp tomorrow, or an. other day
during the encampment. Gov. Dawson |
has been invited to camp twice. but
found his duties in Charleston too i'm |
portant to leave the capital. The District |
Commissioners are about the only VS. /
itors of political prominence who will |
visit the camp site during the soldiers |
stay. They will receive the governors /
salute of seventeen guns upon their ar
rival at the camp ground.
lose the War Correspondent.
Count Raspopoff. of the Russian en-
bassy; Lieut.. Kenworthy, and War Cor
respondent Archibald. of England. re- /
turned to Washington this afternoon. /
after a thorough inspection of the camp. /
Count RaspOpoff and the scribe will prob /
ably return tomorrow afternoon and /
spend several days more in camp.
Arrangements are being made to pay /
the soldiers for their services in camp. |
Paymaster Andrew Parker VIII either /
hand over the cash in camp or on the