The Portland daily press., 1881-12-14
MAINE MILITIA.
Report of It's Condition.

| ford, "a Y .. Art1llery Will prove interesting
BRUNSWICK. Me, Nov. LIST, 1881
"LIEUT. COLONEL d. orc. O'DoNoGHUE.
Asst. Adjt. General Maine Militia.
'sCoLoNEL:-In complianceEwith verbal in
structions from the Major General Command
| ing, have the honor to report the result OF m!
| inspection of the First and Second Regiment
of Infantry and the Light Battery, of the Maine
| State Militia, encamped at Camp Plaisted, An
| gusta, Maine, September 18th to 10th, 1881 in
| elusive.
"My inspection was made on the 14th, the
troops being psraded for the purpose. The
Light Battery was first inspected, and wa
found to be as follows:
"Material. The Battery is composed of foul
- FOUNDER brass guns (Napoleon) with theil
limbers and caissons together with a small
caliber Gatlng gun. The carriages of the
four guns although in apparently good order,
were evidently very old and probably unsound
and would not be likely to withstand much
hard service. The horses used were such as
could be hired for the occasion.
1.-THE implements and equipments could not
be fully inspected as to presence or condition,
as the pouches, which should have contained
portion of them, were not worn by the can
noneers. A part of the enlisted meniof the
battery were armed with a very heavy and
cumbersome sabre of an obsolete pattern, which
could be advantageously discarded for the cor
porals and privates, the piston belt being re-
tanned, and the chiefs of section armed with
far as could be seen, was in servlceable condi-
ton and had been we'll cared for. 81.
"Personnel. The Battery, taken as single
organization, was insufficiently manned. and In
consequence the cannoneers had more than
their proper duties TO perform, which of course
detracted from the symmetry of the drills. Tho
physique of the men was very fine, and their
evident enthusiasm and attention to orders de-
serves the highest praise.
sThe clothing was uniform and good, and
had been we'll cared for.
''DrW. l carefully observed the drill OF the.
battery, both standing gun and mounted, on.
several occasions. In the former there seemed
to be great difference in the amount of in.
struction received by the cannoneeIs, some
performing the manual of the piece we'll, 9TH
ers very poorly
s'The difficulty of executing the eyolutions
of a mounted battery with green horses is well
known, but in no particular OF the encamp-
ment was Improvements marked as in this,
and with longer encampment, and the horses
and drivers remaining practically the same
from year to year, great degree OF perfection
could be easily attained.
''The Infantry Regiments when inspected
were in light marching order, /. g., in full dress
uniform, without haversacbs, canteens, etc.
The general appearance of both regiments was
very good.
The arms, except those of one attached
company, were the present U. S., cal. As, SER
vice rifles; the arms of the excected company
being the old pattern Cadet rifle, cal. 40.
detailed inspection showed that the arms and
equipments were in good serviceable condition,
except in few instances where the chambers
of the pieces had been allowed to become rus
ty, and the mechanism of the locks broken.
These defects should have been corrected by
the company commanders.
1.-THE clothing was found to be uniform and
in very good condition.
"In executing the inspection arms much
was observed in several of the 4
of both regiments where the other
parts of the manual were excellently well rem
dered. / would note here, that do not know
of any authority prescribing the movement of
inspection sword by commissioned officers in
front of their companies when approached by
the inspector, such at least is not the custom in
the United States regular service. Again, the
salnte with the hand rendered by the company
at the command attention from its command
Or, as the General and staff approached the
head of the company streets for the purpose OF
quarters, was not given simultane-
ously in the great majority of the companies.
II observed carefully the company and bat
TALON drills on parades of both regiments on
several occasions, and while minor errors were
observable both on the part of Off
GERS and men, yet as whole the exercises were
certainly of very satisfactory character, es-
pecially towards the end of the encampment.
"In this connection / may state that the
principal errors and mistakes seemed TO arise
rom lack of distinctness of some of the COM
Dany commanders in giving their commands,
n their failing to observe a sufficient interval
If time between tie preparatory commands
md the commands of execution, and in few
IN giving commands which too re-
;entlve memory had evidently stored up from
systems of tactics no longer in use.
The camps, both of Infantry and Artillery,
eemed to be healthy, and the tents were well
pitched and not overcrowed.
"The camp guard duty seemed to be well and
1t once into the spirit of their duties, and car
wing out their orders infinitely.
The police of most of the company streets
vas good, few were excellent, while one or
NO were indifferent.
saf fssS SS&9a ags nss were
aver, seemed to have been but lily provided
or, namely, the bedding for the men. III
several of the companies no bedsael=s -saa.,a To
nave been provided and the straw which was
furnished was simply dumped on the tent
floors and so used thus, to say nothing OF the
personal discomfort of the occupants, spelling
Ill appearance of neatness in the interior OF
The tents.
EITHER the stateor the individual soldiers
should furnish the common white bedsack,
army pattern, which is inexpensive and easily
transported
"In.order that the few days of an enGamp-
ment may be profitable to the state, the soldier
must be able to pass his nights in comfort.
"The honors rendered by the troops were in
the main well and cheerfully given, but the
lounging, and even sitting attitudes in which
individual soldiers, when not under arms, and
sometimes when engaged in occupations
where salute should not be given, were fire.
quently observed to salute officers showed a
lack of instruction on these points of military
etiquette.
fully offer the following suggestions in addi-
tion to those already made:
First, with regard to the length of time the
troops we're encamped.
-Four days, as at present allowed, seems to
me to be too little when it is remembered that
the first and last days are of little use for the
purpose of methodical instruction.
81 believe that an encampment OF six days
would afford more instruction to the troops
than two encampments OF four days each, one
year apart.
Next in importance in facilitating rapid in
struction is the permanency OF the camp. Ii
the same grounds could be used from year to
year, both officers and men would be enabled
to arrange themselves for the work in hand
with the greatest possible celebrity, and much
valuable time would be saved.
Lastly, in regard to the formal inspection.
Its importance is so great that much more time
should be allotted to it than was given this
year, in order that it might be more exact and
searching. / would also urge the prOpriety OF
the troops being fully equipped for field service
on this occasion, i. O., with haversacks, KNAPP
sacks, canteens, overcoats and blankets, or as
much thereof as is furnished by the State.
Otherwise it is impossible for the inspector to
report intelligently upon their readiness for
immediate service; and furthermore. an en-
campment of this kind is believed to be the
proper place to teach the soldier what he needs
for his own comfort, and the proper use and
care of such equipage.
Respectfully submitted,
M. CRAWFORD,
1st lit ID U. S. Arty, Acting Inspector"
STATE NEWS.