Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-06-30
WHEREIN THE PORTERS
FAILED.
Yet Drill Well When the Chick
asaws and Crescents are
Away.



The Portor Rifles of Nashville.
the Pride of the Rock
City," came next to the Crescents.
This company has many friends in
Louisville, and was sustained aud
Soothed" by large and enthusiastic
delegation from their homes. The
Porters are uniformed in blue, with
buff facingp, and looked, as they no
doubt felt. like they were going to be
in at the death if there was anything
in first class drilling. Their appear
ance on the battle-ground met with
cordial and expectant welcome. They
were presented to the Judges in cor
rect style, and the company was then
dismissed.
The company was formed for IL
spection as promptly and in the same
manner as the others. The Porters
did not seem to have their accoutre-
ments harnessed with uniformity.
Between two men standing next each
other there was a great difference in
the hight of the cartridge boxes,
totally disproportionato to the hight of
the men. In the left hand salute the
arm was not horizontal. In resuming
the carry, when the manual was being
executed by the members. several men
did not wait for the second number.
The Porters' manual is good. In the
dressing backward and forward, the
files established as basis took only
two steps, instead Of advancing three
or more yards" Their dressing by
file is altogether too stiff. The Por-
ters do not open the cartridge box
in loading. From the position
of aim the company was com
mapded to recover arms, but sew
eral files fred. The Captain com
manded fire lying down, with the
company at a carry" The POrters
beat the Crescents in the fire lying
down. The oblique in line was good.
The wheels were not so good as those
Of the Chlckasaws or Orescents. The
turns were we'll made, and of course
applauded. The people always like Ia
see EN- run" In breaking fours tC
rear, one Of the men who should have
remained in line started with the four:
who broke to the rear, but afterward
regained his proper place. Both the
Crescents and Chickasaws surpassed
the Porters in the wheel Of fours il
circle in double time. In iorminl
line on the left from column of fours
the rear Sergeant, who was the FRS
Sergeant, did not take his position OF
the right Of the rear four, as it wheeled
opposite its place in line. One Of tn,
rear tours was split up in one Of tn,
movements.
la forming columns of platoon
from line,when the march was to b.
continued, the Lieutenants faced thei
platoon during the wheel. In break
ing into columns of platoons from tn
right, the rear platoon obliqued at on
time at least three yards to the RICH
Of the first platoon. In formin
double rank distance the Porters wer
Q not so good as the Crescentsor Chick
+ Iasaws in forming line on the left fror
J, column Of platoons. The Porter
D drill was not so good as that Of Ia.
e year, when they took first place. bu
d they showed themselves well, and al
completely worthy of the reputatio
d they have made. All their errors al
is not attempted TO be noted here. The
(. wheels were certainly no better tina
Q those Of any company that drilled ,bu
9 the Porters will never be selected /
d the man who is hunting for a CON
J. pany that can't drill.