New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-06
THE MILITARY DRILI-EXPLAYAToRY.

The recent drill between the Montgomery
Light Guard Of Boston and the Webster Light Guard OF
NewYork has caused considerable excitement among the
military men OF this city and the vicinity, especially
because there has been an apparent effort on the part OF
the fends VI the Boston company 10 persuade the public
that they have been unfairly dealt with. This view Of
the case is not warranted by the circumstances which
led to the drill, anything which occurred
when il actually place. In the early part Of last
June Capt. b. f. Finan, behalf Of Company Of the
9th Massachusetts " NJ, challenged any Company out.
side Of that State 20 drill with his command for flag,
which should be emblenatical Of the championship OF
the United States This challenge was accepted by Capt
Robert McAfee behalf of Company l., 18th Regiment
~ g.. {. y. V. who also appointed August g. aud Boston
Common as the time and place where the drill should
take place AT the request OF the Commandaut OF the
Boston Company. however, II subsequently agreed
that drill should come off In Tompklnssq and on the
sOth Of July Capt Finan named Capt Hobart Moore OF
his Judge aud Capt McAfce upon the request
Of his Company and contrary 10 his own wishes, named
his brother Lieut-Co McAfce, as judge. Upon consul
taon with military gentlemen, 1t was determined TO OBJ
tain the services Of West Point officer rs referee, and
Major John Eagan OF the army aud an assistant
instructor of infantry tactics at the Military Academy,
finally settled upon to fill this position Tile drll
took place on last Thursday at Tomphus Square, as
agreed upon aud In the presence of an immense crowd
of spectators a majority of whom were friends OF the
Boston company at least men Of Tie same nationally
As such was anticipated no adequate ar
raugements were made for It's management, aud II was
with difficulty that sufficient space was kept clear for
the contestants drill ill., The Montgomery Guard had,
II anything, more room than the New YORK Company,
for the captain OF the former early III The am,
required that larger space should be cleared Tor n
before he would continue. II not necessary Ia dwell
the dongs OF the crowd further than 10 state That they
cheered loudly everything the Montgomery Guard did,
and exhibited no great enthusiasm over the perform
ances of their opponents Seine few reDds OF the 18th
icered AT some Of the movements OF the Boston Company
but this demonstration promptly checked, ana was
not repeated far as can learn Upon the COnGlu-
sion OF the dri the decision deyoVed upon MAJOR Eagh
who decided that Company Of the 18th Regiment Was
entitled TO the champion hag account Oi the excellence
OF its drill aud its strict conformity with the Tactics
The Mont gOmery Guard are shoWiy-dtllled body OF
men, but they have sriyen To make inG appearance
rather adhere closely the consequently
the son of ia accordance with the judy
ment Of large majority OF the competent military
critics who witnessed the drill Capt Fnan was III this
city for hours after the conclusion Of the drh. and al
though he frequently aud publicly acknowledged that he
was fairly beaten IL will now he seen nom his reply 10
letter Of the referee and his challenge TO Company T..
| 18th Regiment that he considers he was not fairly
treated. InaSmuch as Major Eagan had never seen
either company dri before last Thursday and Is,
over from his position eminenty fitted To decide upon
the correctness OF the drill Of either company or reg
ment, Capt Fnan hardly persuade the unpreJadced
that lie knOws about these matters than AL ocer