Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-30
THE CHICKAsAws.
How They Appeared and Were
Received at Louisville.
COurier-Journal, %.

The first company to drill was the
far aud justly famed OhickasawGuards
of Memphis. In their beautiful uni
forms of scarlet and blue they pre-
sented a magnificent appearance, and
as they marched into the field with
step easy, graceful and confident the
prolonged and enthusiastic cheers
with which they were welcomed were
at once a compliment to the company,
and an evidence that they had many
friends among the audience. The
rules of the drill required not less
than twenty. four men in line exclu-
sive Of guides. The Chicks alone
drilled thirty four, but received
ne credit for the extra men,
while their possibilities of errors
were, of course, proportionately In
creased. The company was marched
In column Of fours, formed line fac
ing the judges, and were presented
in absolutely correct military style.
The company was dismissed, and i'm
mediately re formed for an inspection.
The inspection of dress and general
appearance was omitted, probably
on account of the rain. The Sergeants
of the Chickasaws alone OF all the Ser
geants wore revolver pistols. " This
is in accordance with recent orders
from the Office Of the Adjutant General
of the United States Army, and will
certainly be marked in the Chicka-
saws favor. 1t is attention to little
things that makes the soldier, and it
has made the Chickasaws. The guides
we're very thorough. The inspection
of arms was materially different from
that heretofore had in Louisville, as
the Chickasaws's use the new rifle
musket with the safety notch. The in
spectiuu and manurl ofthe firing is con-
Quoted according to the notifications
of Upton's tactics based upon Gen
eral Order No. 49, series of188l, War
Department Adjutant Generals Office,
and the circular letter from the same
Office Of January q, 1882. More
movements are required. than are pre-
scribed in the tactics and the difficult
ties are increased two-iold.
The inspection was evidently ex.
tremely critical, but the reporter per-
ceived no error and observed the
Chicks very closely. The inspection
of arms wasfollowed by the manual by
aud without the numbers. The man
ual Of the the Chicks is simply beyond
criticism. They handle their pieces
with freedom and at the same time
with an accuracy that tells of years
Of patient practice, and evinces thor
ough accuracy of instruction. The
dressings by file were especially good.
In loading the Chickasaws open the
cartridge box. The FIRE kneeling and
the fire lying down were well done,
and teok the crowd, as these move
ments always do. Their wheels were
like the opening and shutting Of a
gate. The obliques in line were
not so well done as the
Chicks have always heretofore shown.
The turning gaired applause, but il
is the very ugliest thing in tactics, and
very uluculb. ub OutCkb lI6Qu6utly
showed bad gaps in their line imme.
diately after forming from the differ.
emit columns. Their oblque in double
time In columns Of fours could moi
we'll be surpassed. Wheeling by four:
in circles in double time was excel.
lent Distances were not always vel
kept in the march in column Of files
Captain Carnes made one error only
that the reporter noticed. He formed
single rank by fours left from line
then tours right, and halted anC
dressed to the left instead Of tn,
right. The Chicks were EVIDENT!
wearied toward the close Of the drill
The weather was intensely warm, ant
the company were in the field on
hour and a quarter. The audienc
were lavish with applause, and CAV
them rousing cheer as they lett tn
grounds.