Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-10-18

~ 49,
The Globe-Democrat of the 3rd
nst., has this to say of the Chicka-
Jaw Guards in the competitive drill
At that place:
The competitive drills for all
branches of the service closed yes
terday with company drills of the
far-famed Chickasaw Guards, of
Memphis, and company B, First
regiment Illinois National Guard.
AS was expected the attendance was
better than upon any preceding
military day, but still it was far
below what was of right expected.
The first company in the arena was
= the Chickasaw Guards, whoappeared
Vat three O'Clock in the evening.
The arena was at that hour about a
third full, and the yellow fever
refugees got most hearty greeting
at the hands of a northern audience,
sprinkled wen with Memphians.
The ChickaSawS in their drill far
surpassed their record Of last year.
They went through their programme
Just as if they had drilled it, and
nothing else, for a month. No
company errors were observed, and
barely one or two individual errors.
They finished their set programme
5n less time than any other COM
pany, and hence had more time for
extra movements. The most MOTTO
I, able of their seXtras" was g Skin
mish drill, which truth compels one
TO admit was better than that shown
by company Il last week. Tt was
better adapted to- the eiTcumscribed
space and circular form of the am
phitheatre. The Memphis boys
were applauded literally through
out their drill, although every move
they made apparently drove nail
int0the St. Louis companies chances
of first place. There were several
hundred Memphis people in the
audience, and they did not forget
to aid their favorite5 by apprOba-
ton. The exhibition given by the
ChickasaWs was the finest ever wit
, messed in St. Louis, with, perhaps,
the single exception Of the Ellsworth
. ZOuaves before the war. Succeeding
the Chickasaws came company u,
of the First regiment Of Illinois Ma
tional Guard, of Chicago. Company
B was here last year and took fifth
place. 1t ranks in Chicago equal
to company G, that bore off first
prize last year. Company B made
a capital drill yesterday, and had
they followed any other company
but the ChickaSaWs, would have
been deluged with applause. They
made errors that could be detected
by novices, but stillacquitted them
selves honorably, and will compete
with anybody for third place.
AWARDING THE PRIZES.
What has been known as the
military week of the st. Louis ex-
position and fair eliminated this
afternoon in a grand sham-battle
on a broad field west of the fair
grounds. About twelve hundred
men, composed of the Missouri Ma
tiOnal Guards, st. Louis Police Re
serve, Chickasaw Guards, of Mem
phis; Belleville Guards, of Belle
Vile. H., and st. Charles Guards, of
st. Charles, Mo. The plan of battle
was the attack by pursuing army
upon the rear of a retreating army,
in which infantry, artillery and
cavalry were used, and, it is said,
was well planned and executed.
General Sherman, who arrived here
yesterday to spend a few days with
his daughter and son-in-law, Lieut..
Fitch, was present. After the fight
all the troops were formed into a
hollow square, and the awards an
nounced for the various competitive
drills which took place during the
week. In the company contests.
the Chickasaw Guards took the first
prize, fifteen hundred dollars; COM
pany X, First regiment Missouri
National Guard, st. Louis, the sec
ond prize, one thousand dollars, and
a company of the East St. Louis
Police Reserve, the third prize, five
hundred dollars. CompanyB, First
regiment Illinois National Guards,
Chicago, stood fifth; the Rockford
Rifles, of Illinois, eighth; Harris
Guards, Dayton, ninth and last in
the score. The prize of one thou
sand dollars for the best battalion
went to the First battalion Police
Reserve, st. Louis. The first prize
of three hundred dollars fOrthe best
section of artillery was captured by
Battery A, Missouri National Guard,
and the second of two hundred dol
lars by Battery A, Kentucky State
Guard, of Louisville. The cavalry
prizes were taken by the st. Louis
Light Guard. As the awards were
announced, the blue, red and yellow
ribbons, denOting the prizes taken,
were tied on the arms Of the COM
handing officers of the victorious
companies, battalions, batteries,
etc, by Gen. Sherman in generals
uniform, which was regarded as a
most distinguished honor by the
Victors of the various contests. AT
the close of this part of the pro-
gramme Gen. Sherman made a
brief speech to the troops, in which
he congratulated the winners of the
prizes, and advised all present to be
good soldiers. He said that they
must be good men, gentlemen, men
of high and fine feeling and aspira-
tiOns, chivalrous bearing and love
of country. The country's integ-
rity and honor are in the hands of
the young soldiers of to-day, and he
hoped they would ever be worthy
to defend and preserve them. Three
hearty cheers were then given to
the general, and the ceremony
closed,