The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-31

THE MILITIA CHAMPIONSHIP.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Competitive Drill Between the Montgomery |
Guard, Of Boston, Ind New York mineie
Conpany-The Prize Awarded 70 the new
York Miltsiamen-A Scene Of Disorder
Yesterday afternoon the Montgomery Guard, oom-
pany i, Ninth regiment Massachusetts Vo'unseeE
Militia under command of Captain B. F. Fnan, ana
Company E. Twelfth regiment National Guard state
of New York, commanded by Captain McAnee, con-
tested in a competitive drill at Tompkins square,
the prize and emblem Of the championship being
silken national nag OF the value Of $780, The hour
announced for the Inauguration OF the contest was
three O'Clock and long prior to the time designated
an immense crowd had assembled on and around
the parade ground General Orders No. 40, head
quarters Twelfth regiment" announced that that
organization was to form line In Washington square
at a quarter past two O'Clock, to escort Company
to the drill ground but the Twelfth regiment certainly
did not appear in Washington square yesterday after
noon and managed by this, the first omission Of the
day, to naugurate series OF outrages and blunders
which they continued to late hour Of the day, and
which not only dsgraced the regiment ITSELF but the
metropolis generally, In the eyes Of the Bostenian
visitors.
At ten minutes before four O'Clock the Twelfth ar
rived at Tompkins square, preceded by their band,
were accompanied by Gilmore's superb Boston band.
Up to this time the police force, under Captain
Mount OF the Seventeenth precinct had, by vigorous
measures, succeeded In keeping the whole central
area othe parade ground toeraby clear OF the crowd
and In e1ecting this throtled Unfortunately every
one, regardless as to whether they were persons
whose business required their attendance at the drill
or whether they were roughs, in the handling Of
whom they perfect themselves In manner that Is
irresistible to q respectable man. Phe admission
to the grounds was Ostensiby secured by
ticket, but the police, who had been hitherto
vigilant in excluding members OF the
press and others who are accorded necessary
courtesies ct every public gathering In ten minutes
after the arrival OF the troops had admitted every
who could wedge his way in, with or without
tickets but especially the latter class who were IN
Club" BY halfpast four O'Clock at least ten thou
sand persons were inside the ratings OF the grounds
while the adjacent streets were SO blocked up that
travel was completely stopped. and the roofs and
windows Of all the neighboring houses were Occu-
GEAR q space for the competing companies to ma
neuvre In, but did not succeed, owing to the fact
that there was not q shadow OF concert OF action
among them. small area was at last secured and
the services OF some OF the escort companies Of the
Twelfth regiment called into requsition to keep the
In the toss for the order Of commencing drill Cap
tain McAfree lost, and consequently was called upon
O'Clock. The judges by an article Of agreement,
were to be two IN number, one selected by each OF
the OF shs rival on Lieu
tain, was chosen as the Judge for Company f. and
Captain Moore as the judge OF the evolutions Of
the guard. The judges selected as the referee
to decide points disputed by the former Major Eagan
one Of the instructors at West Point. These gentlemen
necessarily occupied positions within the open space
and in about i've minutes a select coterie of
friends" OF the officers, numbering about one hun
9reT nad ~, taHen places IN tae dr area directly In
Immense crowd on all sides from witnessing the evo
utions Loud cries OF Sit down in front, "Git out
OF the way, there, by the throng utterly disre
garded, and the impatient populace, who were as
anxious and as much entitled to see the display
the friends" waxed irritable and pressed forward
The crush became fearful and dangerous, and the
reporters who were In front of the crowd exhibited
their credentials to police and military guards, re-
questing to be admitted to 1.-THE circle Of friends"
The only Ineligible response was the brandishing Of
clubs by the police and the tanning of rifle stocks
by the Twelfth regiment men, accompanied by
threats and abusive language. Appeals were made
to the Adutant to the Colonel and other officers,
formation obtained that there were strict orders
to admit mo one,' though the 'riends maintained
their choice places, and 1t became impossible to
certain who was In charge OF the parade ground.
The evolutions to be performed were:-
Ffrst-Au movements prescribed in the first,
second and third lessons Of the school Of the com.
pany.
second-,AIl maneuvres prescribed in the fourth,
fifth and sixth lessons OF the school OF the company
Thud-Any movement that the commandment OF the
opposing company may request.
Company + had executed the entire first division
OF this programme before anything like order was Sc
cured and less than five hundred persons the twen
ty-nve thirty thousand present had witnessed the
man9uvres. Still the immense crowd surged against
the guards and eIthor dropped" through or were
admitted on the "friendy'' lay until or two thou
sand persons were in the area and the company pro-
ceeded with Its drill In the marchngs" clearing the
way for themselves as they moved. The police
left the outside throng and '.attempted,' to
drive out the interlopers, when grand rush
followed, and the outsiders filled up the whole square.
1t now become difficult to maneuvre the command,
and a scene OF confusion and ruffiansm followed
that was too complicated and on too grand q scale
to admit OF description. The private soldiers OF the
Twelfth, who were acting a. guards, dened and dis,
obeyed their non.commissoned officers, some VI
whom had been detailed for special purposes, and
used the most profane and insulting language, push
ing, jamming and swinging their weapons in q most
menacing and dangerous manner mt quiet citizens
who were, unfortunately for themselves pressed for
ward by the masses behind. This was done with
superb ignorance OF military deXterity many per-
sons were seriously scratched and lacerated. At
times 1t appeared that the citizens matter purely
OF personal defence and safety would attack the
sodiery, In which event o serious collision would
have been inevitable.
Ultimately and after the lapse of nearly an hour
and half small hollow square, about one acre In
guards, and the remaining maneuvres were per-
formed with some degree OF order. The competing
companies drilled alternately In the various exer-
cises, and Throughout 1t was evident that Company
was much inferior To the Guard In very impor-
tant branch OF discipne-the manual OF arms. The
movement, this being particularly noticeable In the
loadings aud hrings, by numbers and lat WILL" They
were also very irregular In Judging time as similar
evolutions We're In the Of their repetition per-
formed some times more or less rapidly than they
had been previously done. In their marchings and
wheeings, at quick and double-quick time. Company
unquestionably exceled the Guard, though this
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