Daily Republican., 1879-05-27
! AMONG TINE MILITIA.
A Visit to Ga ampany AS Drill Room
An Explanation of the Silent
Drill-The COmpany's Effective.

Dffll-The COmDany's EnectlVe'
ness.
Dropping quite suddenly into the
Armory of the American Rifles last
evening we were gratified with the op-
portunity Of witnessing for the first
time truly marvellous rendition Of
the silent drill by that Company. As
we entered the members were at com.
pany front. The shimmering Of the
long lines of rifles, the natty uniforms,
the general appearance and above all
that military bearing which comes only
from years of service under most
careful commander, created an impres
sion of being the real thing. The line
was dressed by the orderly and the
command being assumed by the Cap
tain the company were put through
preparatory commands to loosen the
muscles.
While standing in position We could
not but notice the perfect alignment Of
tn company. Every eye was direct to
the front and there was an entire alb
sence of that moving of jaws and heads,
that restive "gaping' around to which
many companies Of our service have un-
fortunately become addicted. Fright
by fours!'' Column left!" "fours left 70
were given in quick succession and as
quickly executed and the line was at
company front again. "Odd numbers
two PAGES to the 'front.'" was the next,
and with sargeants in position the lines
were ready for the silent drill. To
those net acquainted with drill room
parlance, for perfect understanding it
would be better to say that as the com
pany now stood they were in the form
of triangle with the Captain cover
ing the right.
The silent drill is drill in which the
manual of arms is executed without a
command, and the only time by which
the company is governed is the, not by
any means unmusical, cadence coming
from the machine-like movements OF the
men. This drill was put into execution
and performed by the State Fencibles OF
Philadelphia, and was the principle evil
dence given by them in competition
with other companies, of the Fencibles'
superiority, which gave to them the
championship of the country and OF
the world.
The American Rifles being Delaware 8
representative in the centennial legion
during the centennial year first began
; to practice this drill, and have contin.
ued it until they have at last reach ed
state that cannot be surpassed by the
Fencibles themselves. The company
} stands at"carry arms" At the command
commence drilling" the members as
one man come to "present," and then
, continue on down through such difficult
movements as Support, "'right should
er," cleft shoulder" reverse" $50
: cure" and others equally as difficult,
t without making break, or losing time
t The sight is something worth seeing
The 'lightning drip is something
5 similar to the silent drill, only taste
g and with quicker time. In the forme
!. the nintieth part of a minute separate
the execution of one movement frol
It another. The tap drill is executed a
the tap of the drum, and without com
mand. The evolutions of the compan.
4 we're also perfect.
The efficiency which the company ha
! reached is due to the superior merit
4 Captain Samuel M. Wood ,and his Lieu
4 tenants as commanding officers, and t.
the pride taken by each member in tn
= appearance and standing of the organ
: 3 ization, not only as far as his persona
:, accountability is concerned, but ii
~ everything that pertains TO its genera
4 welfare.
~ The company is one of which Viii
a mington has every right to be proud
- Those of our citizens who wish to wit
- 10 ness the silent, tap and lightning drill
- and also to be otherwise entertained
- should attend the entertainment to b
- given by the company on Friday even
"a ing next.
=, WILMINGTON AT THE FENCIBLEs' SIXTY
- SIXTH.
Yesterday delegations from the Amer
ican Rifles and Company c., left thi
city, (the former organization bein
% connected with the Centennial Legion
le an organization composed of one com
j. pany from. each of the thirteen origina
II States) as invited guests of the Stat
: Fencibles upon the occasion OF thei
,, sixty-sixth anniversary and reception
n The reception was held in the promi
l. nent exhibition building and was a SUE
e cess.
6 The following companies of the Legio
IS were present and represented: Masss
Is chusetts, Boston Light Infantry; Cor
e necticut, New Haven Grays; New York
h Old Guard of New York City; New Jel
9 sey, Phil. Kearney Guards; Delaware
l. American Rifles; Virginia. Norfoll
Light Artillery; South Carolina, Wash
ington Light Infantry; Georgia, Clinc1
Rifles. The were also other companie
1t not members, represented among ther
/ being tie DUPONT Guards Of this city
r There were great many distinguish
It ed visitors present, among whom wer
6 Brigadier. General Sloat, General Rober
b Pattison, the Earl of Caltheness and Lor
:, Berriedale, Governor Henry M. Hoy
10 and staff, ex Governor John +. Har'
ranft, Briga lier-General Huidekopel
y Major James Forney, Colonel Field an
: Captain Forsyth, of the United State
a Marine Corps. The exercises were cor
u fined to military exercises. In tn
9 evening the great building was bri
1t liantly Illuminated with electricity an
gas. A collation. was spread for 80
guests. This was followed by gran
ball.
The Largest.
!, The "Herald" stated few days ag
. that the largest salmon caught in tn
Delaware river, weighed 70 pounds
i This is in correct for Mr.. Geo. W. Powell