Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30

ing been connected with the organisation
on the occasion of it's first visit here in lSS0
still experience difficulty in getting the
lay of the land as 1t was in the old days
before the elaborate improvements were
begun. So many and elaborate are the
changes in the landscape that no two OF
the suardsmen have yet agreed. so far ~
is. known. as to just where the several
organizations were camped that memora-
BILE June eleven years ago when Gen. Ord
way. critically ILL., commanded for the last
time. and at brigade parade. the day prior
to breaking camp, said final farewell to
the command he organized and to the ON
GERS and men he loved SO well.
Across macadam roadway, directly op-
posite the residence of the artillery dis
trict commander. is a beautiful grove OF
trees There Col. Crell, commanding the
3D. Regiment. and his staff have their
quarters tents are those of Col. Ourand,
commanding the LIST Regiment, and his
staff. Each tent is provided with an In
candles cent electric light and similar lights
are suspended from the trees AT night
the spot resembles fairy bower. the
camp being well-nigh ideal. 1t is unusual.
perhaps unprecedented, for officers OF
such rank as regi.n-.,.a, commanders to
be camped SO close toS ether, but the ex-
igencies of the service. he distribution of
the troops and the -xtent Of the ground
combine to make he sstgrment desirao.e
Then the regimental commanders are In
close touch both with the artillery district
commander and with Gen. Harries.
Similar to Paradise.
The commanding general of the militia
and the officers of the general staff are
having an experience they never dreamed
Of and prior to last Sunday had no idea
was possible 1t is accepted because the
members of the headquarters force are
I,ar in, he of nf
ing special duties, and for the reason
that it is generally accepted theory that
a soldier should make himself as comfort
able as possible while In the field. A
certain field marshal IL reported to have
habitually used a portable house, and
general officer of the United States Army
during the late unpleasantness with Spain
Is said. on good authority. to have taken
a somewhat bulky bath tub to the front,
or at least. portion of the way.
At all events the officers Of the general
staff of the District militia are undergo
ing the hardships incidental to Lying in
real house. True. the structure was
erected more than century ago and IL
reported to have sheltered George WASH
ington-the immortal-on many occasions.
but it was only recently vacated by a
constructing quartermaster. after having
been completely modernized. George
Washington would probably not know
the building were he to land at Fort WASH
ceiling. cabinet mantle. open fireplaces
with andirons. tongs and the like cleo
trio lights. porcelain baths and, in one
room. are golf sticks. The dining room,
or mess shed, Is an elevated porch,
screened with wire netting. and COM
handing view of the Potomac riber
and a hird's-eye view of Fort Hunt.
Gen. Sherman is quoted as once having
made remark interpreted as derogatory
of war. The officers of the general stan
uyif
under existing conditions. the strife In
progress here seems to them to be some
thing akin to the popular conception of
paradise.
Searchlights in Use.
For several hours last evening the
guardsmen and passengers on the ex-
cursion boats plying the Potomac wit
messed an electrical display out Of the
ordinary. The big searchlights to be
used during the night exercises next
week ito pick up the enemy" If possible.
were put In use to be tested. Three or
four of the cleaning eyes were operated,
including lights here and at Fort Hunt.
From 8 o'clock until the last river steam
err had passed on the way to Washington
the river in this locality was as bright as
day. The Cushing. the army supply
boat was sent downstream and the big
searchlight at Fort Washington expert
enced no difficulty in keeping the craft
plainly in view until the turn below Mar
shall Hall was made. The militia head
quarters motor boat. which was out, was
found by all the lights.
In his report to the adjutant general ct
his observations during the period of
embarkation of the troops at Washington
last Sunday. the trip down the Potomac
and Decentralization here. Maj. Alfred +.
Robbins, inspector general. D. c. militia.
remarks that 1.-The conduct of the troops
during the entire period was perfect"
All the organizations reported on time at
the wharf at o'clock proceeded on
board the steamer Jane Moseley. The
embarkation was conducted in an orderly
manner and was concluded at 1897 O'Clock.
at which time the steamer pulled out of the
dock The trip down the river. the re-
port says, was uneventful. The boat was
made fast at the Fort Washington wharf
at $50 am. Decentralization was COM
menced at 9:52 o'clock and concluded at
10 o'clock. G.. F. C.