The Washington herald., 1909-08-27

Fifteen hundred weary and mostly foot
sore soldier boys are in Washington
They arrived yesterday afternoon on the
United States army transports Mcclellan
and Sumner from the Massachusetts ma
neuvers.
After the militiamen' had disembarked
and marched to the armories they were
ds6anded. Their anxiety to get home as
soon as possible impelled Brig. Gen. Har-
ries. commanding, TO dispense with a pa
rade in brigade formation.
While the Mcclellan was coming up
the Potomac yesterday morning Gen.
Harries issued general order. express
ing his appreciation Of the good work
done by the District Guard. II read as
follows
Officers and Men Thanked.
AT the conclusion Of the most exact
ing. interesting and profitable field ma
neuvers ever experienced by this brigade,
the commanding general thanks the
officers and men who BY their faithful
activities have placed upon record the
courage discipline. and self-supporting
ability Of the National Guard OF the
District OF Columbia.
Increased efficiency has marked every
day Of the period. and there is now a
solid foundation upon which to build an
organization that should be OF the hest
More gratifying than the growth of sol
dierly skill is the good conuuct record Of
the bridoge: there was no depreciation
or intoxcation in the field and while
there were more than 800 men on pass
IN Boston FOR three days, there was not
one case Of misbehavior and not a single
complaint Of any kind whatsoever. OF
all that has been accomplished. the Ma
tional Guard may well he pleased.
'The command of such a brigade Is a
great homer"
Gen. Harries also expressed himself as
greatly pleased with the showing Of the
FIRST Separate Battalion on the first day
of the fighting the First Separate formed
the advance guard and captured many
o. the Blues That night they were on
outpost duty. and the following morning.
without breakfast. they were again put
IN the advance guard, capturing even
more Of the Blues than the day before.
Mai. Gen. Wood. chief umpire. compli-
mented Mai Brooks. commanding. on
the showing Of his men.
Leaving Boston Monday night shortly
after 8 o'clock. the men OF the First and
Second Regiments on the Sumner. and Of
the First Separate battalion, The First
Battery field artillery. the Hospital Corps
and the Signal Corps. with Brig. Gen.
Harrios commanding and his stan, on
the Mcclellan. have had an opportunity
of resting up and recovering from their
wounds incurred during the extensive
maneuvers incident to the war game.
Voyage Was Pleasant.
The entire voyage from Boston to
Washington was a pleasant one after the
hard campaigning they had undergone
during the last two weeks. While the
outward voyage was one of discomfort
owing to seasickness. the .homeward
Journey was ideal. the Atlantic behaving
at her best.
Incidents were few. but sufficed TO keep
tho time from hanging heavily. AS the
Mcclellan left Boston. Private Ferguson,
Of the First Battery. sought TO help the
celebration by firing a blank IN his re-
Nolver. lie was placed under arrest, but
hs he was a new man and unfamiliar
with some Of the stringent regulations
he was soon released.
The second day on the Mcclellan proved
more eventful Those responding tc
early morning mess call we're rewarded
by the unusual sight Of a school OF small
whales. or black fish" as the sailor mer
call them. Their average length was
about thirty feet They accompanied the
vessel for some distance spoutlng watei
In the air and enjoying their morning
frolic
Later IN The day. when about l55 miles
from the Virginia Capes, the transport.
stopped and Maj Boyd Taylor, the pay
master, accompanied by Lieut.. Heron
aid de camp to the general. and Sergt
Clarke, the paymasters clerk. were
transferred from the Mcclellan TO thC
Sumner 90 pay the men Of the First anc
Second Regiments. after having paid the
men on the Mcclellan.
Maj Taylor took approximately SIS. .O0i
with him in the small boat. which was
watched by anxious eyes on TIE Sumner
When the vessels got inside the Vir-
gnia capes. the transports were again
halted and the paymaster and his assist.
ants were taken back to the Mcclellan
by boat from the Sumner
Concert Proves Feature.
The day wound up with concert or
board the Mcclellan. The talent was
purely local" but a professional touch
was given it with a printed programme
which was distributed 20 all It was as
follows, the actors acquitting them
selves nobly:
Selection, Annie Laurie" First Separate Bat
TALON Glee Club solo. The Holy City" r. J.
Wocdman recitation The Face on the Bar Room
Floor ". T. Thom. Signal Corps: dance "Ho,
Down buck dance. Herbert Carroll: selection. by
Hospital Corps Sextctte: selection The Washing
ION Post March. sung by First Infantry Rand
recitation The Medicine Man" d. J. Hickey
Hospital Cops solo. Sing Ne 10 Sleep HEINZ
w. Jaeger. Hospital Corps, buck dance Messrs
Jones and Loo, First separate Battalion; solo and
chorus. Sweet Sixteen" Mr. ROwley and Sex
tcttc Hospital Corrs. solo. Casper Orange, First
Battery. Field ARTILLERY: leeerdemain. John Wade