Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-10-28


| naturally, their martial bearing evoked the
| most enthusia tic cheer ng and com mplimentS
| Every eye centered upon the Guards as they
| marched by, in double file, with flying color
| and waving DlumeJo Of white and read. FollOw.
| ing the ChtcKasaws came the st. Joseph total
| abstinence society band, of Nashville, playing
| a lively air; and then came the Porter Rifles
| whose step was light and easy, yet giving evil
| dence of determ inatIOn and confidence. The
! manly bearing of the Rifles, each of whom
| wore badge-picture of Governor Porter, ellie
| tied the favorable comment of the lmiring
| spectators. After the companies entered the
inclOsure where they we've to drill, the follow
ing named gentlemen were selected as judges:
Captain BAKER, United states army Colonel
Parsons, late United Stats army; Major K.
H. WildbergeT, OF the Kentucky mi itary in
stitute, and Lieutenant Frazer imOndsOn, b,
OF the Virginia military institute in order
as possible, the judges decided upon ce tain
| maximum, each judge 10 make his estimate
on the evolution IN the school of IL Ipany
ana In the manual OF arms. They i,i. Il s.Iuck
an average between the esJimt..= node.
The average estimate Yves made on tie man
! uaI of arms and the evolutiOns, whence an
average was struck.
THE CHICKASAW GUARDS
were the first ID go through the manual of
arms. They were drawn up in line facing the
grand stand. The exercise Wss graceful, sys-
tematic and far exceeded the expectations of
the friends of the Guards. scarcely mad this
exercise bePun when the interC { among the
spectators became one of great intensity.
Each movement WI eagerly and critically
watched, while every order of Captain Dun
| can only increeS d this feeling. Among the
prettiest and best features of the manual was
the loading and mock firing OF the Guards in
different positions. To tC Z the behavior OF
the men an Intentional Dlunder in order
was maize by the commanding Ctticer, and
this induced slight error in the clio ing OF
this part of the manual. However, the gem
eral as well as the special features OF the
manual were excellent, and creditable to the
Guards as well as gratifying to their numer-
GUS friends who were present TO wilneSS the
competitive drill aud exercise. After the
ChickPSaws had finished the manual, they
stacked arms and we're followed by
THE PORTER RIFLES,
who went through the sams exercise, and in
manner surprisingly easy. The regularity
of their motions, and the apparent ease, to
say nothing OF the thorough familiarity in
the manual of arms, at once established the
fact that the Porter Riff were well up, and
very proficient in this branch of military in
spect3t Ors hR Increased II excitement and
this enthusiasm was shared by the Chicka.
saws well Fl their fri nds. An error on the
part Of thrCa men in the Rifles elected a half
supprC-sC jesT, but we hope this display of
feeling was the result of TEN porary excite
ment and the very natural interest which tne
competition aroused, rather than fIOm any
want Ct proper poItt5ne 5 OWard the visiting
sOldieTy. After short pauG9 the Rifles con-
tinuoi in the manual. They were watched
with minute eagerne ,; and wn1le the specta-
tors naturally want / the ChickasaWs TO win
the prize, this did not prevent the kindest
feeling and mot earaI u lmirattOn for the
Port r Riff :. Their ~ rOt !, while lotico4sIJie,
did not deIract from the general excel
lence of the proficiency thus dispIayed
in the more difficult festur J of the manual.
In the be sinning The Rifle PR -rvC1 the Jn-
hdent air they wore upon eni 1TIng the field OF
contest, and at no time ala they eem worried
or at ell discOncert i, although the eric from
the smaller clC S of boys when a single gun
srappCI were calculat / - discourage the
company. 1t is proper 10 sta q here that ten
of The Port n Riff who engaT~d d in the con-
test yesterday we're comparaf 9ely new men
and tines must b e3cTC 1T the errors made.
a 81 1~all 4 THaF
Dldiarly SIX II and milit ny bearing. How
ever, the geaer9l opinion we that the Chick
araw Guards had be en- the Porter Riffs in
the manuel, giving eVldenO OF more precise
and better execution, their biunoers being
these OF mat 2UtiOn rather than lack OF pro-
hciency. The Porter RiliCs showed mewhat
of a lack of cert cintv and precision in the
hand movements, Four or five of the file
displayed THIS in r. ting the gun on the
ground and alignment of arms. These re-
marks are, however, comparative as 10 Jne
relative proficiency, and not the deficiency,
of the respective cOmpaIieS in the manual.
THE FIRST PAUSE.
At the conclusion of the exercise the Rifles
stacked arms and received three cheers from
the Chickasaws, the spectat rrs JOINING in the
Well-msrited compliment. Amer this the
Rifles r 3t-d on their arms, and ArBOld's bre IS
band played a couple OF ail-. When they
struck up DiIie the CI1Wd gave che er, and
the ent6u@iPsm which pei V9d / everyone
grew all the gre ter. A few minut We then
allowed IN which tOICP P1d GLOW the int r.
estt spectlt Jrs Pa OPP Gr,uuity - inter-
change views upon the msIIt1 OF he r. 'Dect-
i've companies, as evidenced in the exercise OF
the manual. In the me eGntjnoe the vast crowd
pushed its way within the inclC sure and
pressed ciose up - the space occupied by the
Riffs and the Guards. When the crowd we
forced back to the re ling, the field wfS opened
THE RIFLE IN THE FIELD.
The Porter Rifles I'D off gracefully, their
movements being quite precise and regular,
while their step was free and soldierIv in es se.
When they ii wheeled into line b. fouTs,
they were greet, with cheers and cla piping Oh
hands by the audience. This compliment was
repeated quite number of times.
Their evolutions in the field were lmirable,
and evidently the result of contiuuet prac-
tice and good discipline Another move
gracefully executed, and which received
cheers, WIS right about by fours. after having
gone right oblique by tours. This wes fol.
lowed Dy movement even more brlIIl2nJ,
and again the cl3pp ne OF hands att st the
admiration on the part OF the sps ct2tors. At
lest the double quick" maneuVers OF the
Rifles ELECTED veTy general applause, for in
this they were enthrSis tically ca 3red, and
rightly merIte1 This gene. GUS mantle station
quick" movements the Riffs wheel INTO
line and re ted on their arDls 10" a
few minutes. The company 'front.'" was
undOub bt edly the be t movement executed by
the Riff A few minut } time for rest was
enliyened by the ST. Joleph's band playing
the MuLigG7l Guards. Al or, the Rlh re
sumed their dOuble-quick movements, and
then other evolut Ons. After dr,u of one
hour the Riff stacked arms and ret red, be-
ing greeted with general applause, Ihe 81.
Joseph band playeu piece, and then the
GUARDS TOOK UP ARMS.
AS they moved out upon the field yell OF en-
cOursgement arose from the crowd. The
Guards went in with quicker sep than the
Rifles, and glided over the ground smoothly
| and regularly. AS they first VIII 9ied 1n'o line
| and NOV, / toward the east, even their shad-
oWs tramblod with remarkable regularity.
| They were quick in movement and prompt
in changing rom one to another mantuVer.
| There wss 0lidity in their line throughout
1 1urH H1g,V, nd nom nor
moved with the un, Oncerned precision OF
Weil-drilled men upon dreSs-parade.
| In fact they ''stUck toget ther' like so many
| men on platform, regulated by machinery
| and moved on pivot. No wonder, then, that
| jealous friends and admlring spectators alike
| gave vent to their feelings while watching the
| well executed maneuveTs, IOT the scene was
! one of charming beauty, the bayonets and ac-
| eoutremenJs glistening so brightly meath the
| slauting sunbeams. II was now evident that
| the Chtckesaw Guards were superior to the
| Riff, in come reSpt cts. For instance, while
| not having the slow, measured step OF the RI
| fss, indicative OF Old soldiers, they were more
| compact and almost perfect Ia the alignment
| They executed every movement well and
| promptly, and even the most difficult and in
| tricats evOlutious were easily gone through
| They shift and core their arms graceful y
( and ea,ily, and by the time the hour had eX-
| pired the almost unanimous verdict was 10
| favor of the ChickaSaWs. Dotn IN the manual
| and the field movements. 1t was now about
| dark, when the company came 10 halt and
| the contest was declared at an end.
| ANEOU NCEMENl OE Ifh OtblSlONs
| The companies then assembled in front OF
| the Judges stand, 10 hear the decision. There
| was & &c - deal of excitement, and at last
| Colonel Pai sons stated nov the judges nad do
| terlnIned which of the companies was entitled
| to the prize. as alTea iy given above. He
| stated that the maximum allowed for the
J manual of arms wsI 40; the Chickasaw Guards
I were accredited with 3S, and The Porter Rifles
! with 80 S-l0. The maximum allowed ia tbs
| school Of each company field servlce) wal
| 40: the ChieRsSaW Guards were accredited
| with 81 10, and the Porter RiIies with 90 l-l0
| The total maximum would be so, of which tht
| Chickasaw Guards gained T3 4-l0, ard the POr
| Ter Rifles 70 4-l0; making a difference OF 2-l
! MARKS in iaVCr Of the Chickesaw Guards.
THE EXCITEMENT
/ nat followed this announcement was OF the
| most enthusiastic character, the crowd
| which nsd closed around the stand Yell (
| and hurrahing for the ChicEasaws. FINAL.
| quiet YVES restored, and, Colonel Parsons ttep
! ping forward, presented large conical bou
| duet TO the Porter Rifles,
T6IS FLORAL OFFERING
was the gift OF Mrs. Judge j. 7. Latham IN be
half OF the ladies OF Memphis. Colonel Par
sons having summoned Captain DonelsOl
upon the staud, said:
| CAPTAIN DONELSOE AND GENTLEMEN o.
THE PORTER RIELEs The idol of a tai
woman is a perfected soldier, and perfeete'