The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-03
MILITARY NOTES.

MILL AIRY NO les.
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Great preparations are being made for the recep-
ton OF the Seventh regiment which will take place
at the Academy Of Music on the 10th inst. The
Academy will be beautifully decorated on the
sion and everything that will In any way tend to
nance the atractiveness Of the festvlty will be done
by the committee who have all the arrangements in
charge. The reception will consist OF promenade
concert from eight to ten P. Nj aud then the ball
will begin and last till halfpast one A. M.
The mistake made by the Thirty seventh regiment
at the review the Goth ult., in starting on the
double quick' JUST as the right company had
passed the reviewing stand cannot, 1t appears, be
laid to the colonel. His orders were that the head
OF the command should reach Thirteenth street be-
fore starting In double time, when the raising OF his
SWORD would be taken by the drum corps as signal
to beat the double time.
The various companies Of the Seventh regiment
have passed resolution, tirA put forth by L com
pany, requesting Colonel Clark not to allow bis
name to be used az q candidate for the vacant
brigadiershp In the Third brigade. The Colonel,
thus assured Of his popularity In his own regiment
will doubtless accede TO the request made, although
the Third brigade as body will be the loser thereby.
well drilled soldier can, without extraordinary
exertion, execute the motion In the manual Of
would he think OF being compelled to make only
fOrty-i motions In forty secondsp Wouldn't he
have ample opportunity TO take nap between
umesf
At an election held by company A, Seventh reg-
ment. on Monday evening" corporal Frank Kelly
was elected NTH Ser geant anu prvates French and
Bennett, cOrporas. Too little attention Is paid TO
the proper selection OF noncommissioned officers by
the majority OF the companies OF the various reg-
ments but this company Is evidently one Of the eX-
ceptlons TO the general rule.
The twenty second has now regular examining
board which sits weekly TO examine candidates Tor
the vacancies tnat occur by reas0n-of the resigna
ton or discharge OF non-cOmmssioned officers. 1t
is found to work admirably. Would IL not be well
for every other regiment which has board OF the
kind to nave one organized without delayY
The State Examining Board SO far has had very
easy time OF It, comparatively few officers having
been ordered before 1t. At first blush TINS fact would
seem TO be complimentary to the efficiency OF the
majority Of our militia officers, but it is not. The
reason that greater number oil officers nave not
appeared before the Board is that commandments OF
certain regiments do not do their duty. There are
at least three regiments IN The First division IN
which there are not twenty-five officers who could
pass satisfactory examination before the Board.
The remedy for this derectIon on the part OF the
regimental commandments Is plain one. Let the
Legislature authorize the appointment Of Board
which shall have the power iiser to summon every
ofrlcer, high or low In rank 1t may see it, Then
there Will be rafting among the dry bones indeed
II the Board does Its duty.
Rifle practice by the militia will doubtless be In
as part OF It's drll. The twenty second are far
ahead Of The other regiments IN TINS respect, ana
now the Seventh is talking ABOUT turning their un-
derground drill room into q rife pit. The very best
thing that the National Guard could do would be to
get the city or state to set aside or purchase
for them in the suburbs certain lots OF ground
to be used by them exclusively Tor rife prac-
tice. instead Of marching ABOUT the streets
=. national days. they could follow the example Of
the English volunteers, and have regular field days
when lively competition between the regl-
m aN:!, for prizes , for the best marksmen
would do the militia far more service than
all the marching through the streets from now till
doomsday. And tine people who generally line the
sidewalks to witness parade would doubtless enjoy
such exhibitions as sham battles and rifle practice
with far more zest than an ordinary division tramp
Speaking OF rifle practice what does the State gov
eminent intend to DO with the muskets now used by
the city regimentsr They were all condemned by
government commission long ago; and would In all
probability, on being fired OF, be as kely TO Kill the n
divduals who dared to pull the triggers the objects
the members OF the militia on this account, and the
men contend that the arms could not be used with
effect In riot! and that 1t is but just that the same
KIND OF brecch- loading muskets now used 10y the
regular army should be furnished them.
II Is stated, on the very best authority. that Gov
ernor Hoffman, IN pursuance OF the views he eX-
pressed on the subject tue banquet Of the Second
division some time ago, VIII, In his MESSAGE to the
Legislature, recommend the passage OF bill setting
aside portion OF Inc Park as parade ground Tor
the First division.
There are curious people who would like to know
city wearing overcoats prescribed as part OF the
winter uniform OF the regular army and the militia.
There IS law on this subject which the "curous
people" would ike to see enforced For instance, q
section Of the military code the wearing Of unl
forms by members OF the National Guard " hen not
on duty, and by n0n-auth0riZed persons, reads as
Observation-Disclosures shall wear any such (Narlona
Guard) uniform shall be deemed guilty Of y INSIDE
meanor, and shall be punished BY imprisonment in
the county jail for not less than one nor than
two months, or by fine OF not more than 500 nor
less than fifty dollars.u
There are many aspiranls for the vacancy that
win occur by reason Of the resignation or dispace
ment OF General Smaller Major General OF the First
division. IL Is said tnat, in accordance with tine
"designs OF the democracy" which contemplate
clean sweep OF everything and everybody repubii.
can In the State, that the Governor will remove
shaer In February, when the Legislature will at
the coming manf
Should there not be some rule established for nom
commissioned stalls In reviews In the last review
the non commissioned Of several regiments saluted
and others did not. Carey says they should not
salute but Upton says nothing definite. Which Is
whichf