Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-26
BACK FROM THE WAR
Return of the National Guard
of the District.
GENERAL PARADE OMITTED
Trip From Boston Made Enjoyable
by Pleasant Weather.
TROOPS PRAISED BY HARRIES
Men Paid off-Lessons of Maneu-
vers Discussed-Health Of the
Command Excellent.
GENERAL PARADE OMITTED
TROOPS PRAISED BY HARRIES

Bringing the National Guard Of the Dis
trict of Columbia from Boston, the army
transports Mcclellan and Sumner arrived
at the lighthouse service and Washington
barracks docks shortly after noon today.
The Mcclellan ran into the mud off
Arsenal point and was delayed for about
half an hour. If there hadn't been bottom
there of nice greasy mud both the sea
wall and the ship would have suffered, for
the bow Of the vessel was only about ten
feet from the wall when the pull of her
propellers. grinding at full speed astern,
yanked her off into deep water again.
Then, as she lay crosswise in the channel,
1t was necessary to hail tugboat to pull
and push her around until she was head
ed up stream again.
AS the troops marched off the boats
They We're welcomed by large crowd
of relatives and friends who had been
notified that the boats were to arrive
about noon.
Realizing that the men were anxious TO
get home after an absence of more than
two weeks, Gen. Harries decided not to
have parade in Washington, and each
regiment and separate organization
marched to its armory being greeted
with cheers on the way. Details from
each organization. except the 1st Battery,
Field Artillery, were left at the docks to
| unload the transports.
All members of the battery had to re-
main at the McClellans dock 10 unload
the field guns and harness. Late this
afternoon the artillerymen were still en-
gagged In this work
After returning to their armories the
infantry troops, Signal Corps and Ambu-
lance Corps turned in their camp equip
ment to the respective quartermaster
sergeants, and early this afternoon Dis
trict guardsmen, tanned by the sun and
bearing other evidences Of a strenuous
| campaign. were seen hurrying home to
all parts of the city.
Delightful Trip Home.
All Of the troops were enthusiastic over
the field exercises in southeastern Massa-
chusetts, their visit to Boston, and the
| trip home. Hardly man was seasick
| on either transport. The weather was
! delightful and the water was as smooth
as pond. With the exception of a few
settlng-up exercises and police and guard
| duty, which was performed by the 1st
| Separate Battalion, the men were excused
| from all military duty on the transports
| The boats were so crowded that many Of
(, the men were forced to sleep in cots or
hammocks on the decks, but as the
1 weather was good the men on the decks
| had the best hunks. The bands on each
| ship gave two concerts day, and the
1 AAi1SiS "e-o iuutH appreciated ny IIc IHct,
who usually joined in the chorus when
ever piece that they knew was played.
| Singing. playing cards and other games,
and reading books magazines which
were brought on board in large quantities
at Boston formed the principal amuse-
ments of the men. Messages were sent
back and forth between the transports by
wireless and by visual signals When
about 100 miles from the bay the trans
| ports stopped and Maj Taylor accom-
panied by Lieut.. Heron. aid-de-camp to
the general, and Sergt. L. r. Clarke,
were taken in a small boat from the Nc
| Clellan to the Sumner to pay off the 1st
and I'd Infantry regiments.
About the Mems Pay.
| Maj. Taylor took about $4,000 in cash
with him. The money was dashed Sc
curely to buoy and as there was so
much silver that it would not float, it
was attached to line. long enough to
reach to the bottom, according to sound
ings that had been taken just before the