Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08

tllery that blazes the way for both in
fantry and cavalry"
He carried his enthusiasm over "the
guns" into practice here and never de-
sisted in his efforts until he had induced
the city fathers and the War Department
to give him an outfit for battery. In
those days rapid-fire guns and successful
breech-loaderS were yet in their embry-
onic stage. SO Hahnneman had to con-
tent himself with four old-fashioned muz-
ble-loaders, Of the type now considered
obsolete. The District militia had just
been reorganized after the civil war ex
perience when Battery A made it's ap-
peararce on the stage of action.
After securing the guns the next consid-
GRAFTON was to get together a company Of
gunners of sufficient size to man them.
Mai. Hahnneman was soldierly appear
ing man and thus proved to be an inspi
ration for many young men in this city t,
join his battery. He was as erect as a
Georgia pine. walked with the swinging
stride of the soldier and wore a military
mustache much like that of the present
Emperor of Germany. AT that time, about
1874. the military fever was high in the
District. and not much trouble was expe
rienced in getting recruits for Battery A
y
~
Hahnneman gave a series of artillery
talks" to which he invited eligible young
men. He gave thrilling word-pictures of
noted artillery duels in former wars in
GLIDING the artillery battle at Gettysburg
where hundreds of cannon blazed away
on both sides and made the very ground
quake preceding the famous charge of
Pickett's division of Confederates He
also told of the work of batterymen at
Waterloo and other accomplishments of
the man behind the gun" AS a result
he quickly recruited his battery to the
maximum strength.
Next he assembled his embryo artiller-
lists on Armory lot and the White Lot
and with empty cannon put his men
through the loading and firing drill, with
the ancient ramrod and sponge staff and
bucket of water. and the old-time SNAP
crack" percussion primers. After the
gunners OF Battery A had reached a suf-
fcient degree of perfection in the manip-
ulation of the guns the question of uni
!! forming them arose before Maj. Hahnne-
man as grim phantom The District
government, while encouraging the for
nation of the battery, could not under the
law supply uniforms for .ne men. The
batterymen were therefore advised to-
furnish their own costumes-and costumes
they proved to be in fact. Some of the
lads had their mothers make their uni
forms at home, 1t was said and the
varieties of colors and fits that were pre-
sented on parade bore out the assertion
Others bought uniforms that had been
discarded byI marines stationed at the
navy yard or marine barracks. ANY
thing, so it's blue" was the saying of the
quartermaster sergeant, and the gunners
got uniforms wherever they could. but
all We're required to have broad bald
Of red sewed along the trousers legs,
and the tendency was toward the old ar
tillery helmet, with flying plume of red
horsehair, as the proper headgear
x
Finally the day rolled around when
Battery A was to go upon the streets of
Washington in its first parade before the
admiring multitudes. 1t was then that
! the problem of mounts for the commits
stoned officers and non-coms and other
horses for the guns confronted the ma Jor
and his staff. The matter was finally
solved by patriotic citizens who "chpped
fund. while each member of the battery
| was assessed a certain amount for the
same purpose.
Maj. Hahnneman rode a spirited and
very pretty charger. But as much can
not be said Of the other officers. IKE
| the uniforms of the men. their steeds
| presented an infinite variety of color.
| age, freshness and various degrees of
| activity. 1t was said that some Of them
| were even engaged in the homely task
| when not on parade with Battery A. An
| other officer had secured as his mount
an animal that had seen long and arduous
service as a car horse with the wash
| ington and Georgetown Street Railway
| Company. and whenever the signal to
| stop-"one bell''-was sounded ON a
street car along the line of para0" the
officer and his horse came to a sudden
standstiIf and thus remained until the
conductor sounded the signal to go ahead.
| *
| But Battery A made a record for eff
cheney and soldierly appearance in one OF
the inaugural parades. New blood had
been infused into the organization and
new uniforms procured and the battery
drilled like regulars" as Maj. Hahnne-
/ man proudly declared After that display