The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-03
Virginians Cover Many
Weary Miles at Get
tysburg.
WILL REST TODAY
IN GREAT CAMP
Old Dominion Troops Compare
Well With Those From Mary
land and the Regular Army.
All Manoeuvres Leading
Up to Sham Battle Next
Friday.
by ALExANDER FORWARD.


Camp OF Instruction. Gettysburg
Pa, July 2.-Unusnal activity was To
be noted among the Virginia officers in
camp tonight. Suppressed excitement
was in the air. Inquiry showed that
the reason was the presence In the
encampment of Assistant Secretary of
War Robert Shaw Oliver, whom the
officers were invited to meet at the d.
vision headquarters OF General w. w.
Witherspoon.
The only comb in camp was passed
from tent to tent. while more than one
officer was seen washing his face and
drying 1t with his army cap. Thus
dressed UP. the Virginia commanders
attended the levee given to the dis
tinguished visitor.
After an uneventfuI but extremely
strenuous day. the Virginia troops are
resting tonight with the blissful con-
seriousness that they will have nothing
10 do tomorrow but sleep and eat.
There Is no sickness of consequence,
but there are 1000 red bodies and a
few which are sore enough to justify
light duty.
A Night in Camp.
The stiffness of the country posses
ses the big camp tonight. The huge
searchlight silently illuminates the
grounds from time to time, exhibiting
nothing but thousands of tents and an
occasional pair OF protruding feet
This is not quite all. either. for on
the hilltop Southland" may be seen.
the ghost OF Chinese mandarin in
lowered dressing gown. This Is Cen
eral Vaughan nanoeuvring TO and
from the shower bath. This shower Is
one of the comforts OF camp. Another
is the unheard of sheets and pillow.
which Major L L. Price was daring
enough 70 bring TO camp. With glee
at the treat ahead of him, the Rich
| mond officer last night prepared his
couch. and, diyesting himself of sun
dry outer garments. reclined for a few
minutes rest on the ground. Re-
Veille awoke him this morning in this
position. with the bed unused.
To-day was given over to advance
rear and flank guards and patrols
All the commands marched independ-
entity to points several miles distant,
the regular army officers there giving
instructions as to attack and defense
Demonstrations of these possibilities
were gone over In the afternoon, many
miles being covered by each man. All
this leads up to the sham battle OF
next Friday. the big event of the en-
campment When this ends the men
will be through with their exercises.
but will not leave until Saturday, when
they will be paid off.
No ball cartridges are allowed In
camp or on practice marches. and con-
sequently nobody has been shot No
joke Will be perpetrated here about
any one being half-shot. AS a mat
ter of fact. all the officers comment on
tho sobriety and good behavior of the
troops, contrasting 1t with camps OF
former years. Very little trouble is
being given those in charge.
To the onlooker there seems to be
no material difference between the
marching of the virginians and that
of the regular troops. Certainly the
visitor from the Old Dominion has no
reason to be ashamed of the showing
made. Orders are executed with alac-
rity and efficiency to the pleasure of
the army instructors.
The excellent regimental bands add
much to the pleasure of camp life.
They play at the departure Of the
troops for marchhes and meet them on
their return.
When the Virginia field artillery
went out this afternoon its appear
ance compared Very fayorably with
that of the Third United States Ar
tillery. Long rides with the field
pieces were executed.
Arrive From Fort Riley.
Lieutenants Henry w. Wood and
George H. Myers. Of the Richmond
Howitzers. arrived at noon to-day
from Fort Riley. where they spent
the entire month of June at the camp
of instruction for artillery officers.
With them came Lieutenants George S.
Sargent and Otto Scharch, of the Nor
folk Light Artillery Blues, and Lieu
tenant j. L. Thomas. of Grimes's Bat
terry, Portsmouth. The other Virginia
artillery officers returned to their
home stations after ten days at Fort
Riley.
Lieutenant j. w. Thompson, of
Portsmouth, is officer of the day for
the Virginia field artillery. With the
battalion is the ever active chaplain,
whom all the boys swear by as a sky,
sentry. All the Howitzers' officers are
present.
Paymaster-General G H, Consolvo
went to his home at Norfolk to-day.
He will return Wednesday. bringing
much coin of the realm wherewith
to reimburse the Virginia troops.
Orders We're issued this eveningfron
Virginia brigade headquarters eXcus-
Ing Captain Stacy, of Company B, First
Regiment, Richmond, from duty until
Monday. Captain Stacy will spend to-
morrow in Philadelphia on business.
For Dress Parade.
General Witherspoon to-day ordered
that one Virginia. regiment go on dress
parade at 5 o'clock each afternoon
The others will do guard mount in
the meantime The regiments will
parade In turn.
Captain j. H. Stone. Of Company #.
Richmond. acted to-day as First Regi-
ment officer of the lay, and Lieutenant
George p, Fretwell. of Company Il.
Continued on Second Page)
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