Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-25


RESOLUTIONS:
Benr resolved. That the honorary members of the
company fully indorse the action of the Porter
Rifles in entering the competitive drills at Louis
vile and indianapolis, and will render all the aid
further
champion of the citizen soldiery of the United
States, and we are assured that the citizens Of
feeling just pride in the he's company will extend
march to victory in the coming contests.
Be IL further Tes0lued That this company is an
ornament to our city and the pride Of our State
bers, together with the entire community. feel
just pride in your proves, and past success and
honors worn. That you have by your manly, SOL
dierly bearing and gentlerpanly department, won
the esteem and deserved the encouragement of
hearty support and best wishes, believing that
your efforts in the future. as in the past, will be
Be II further resolved, That a committee of three
consisting % 6a j. ;atnd W; Barker e. W. Falb and
tons to the company, at their armory, on Monday
night the 22d of May, 1882.
Now let US see if the Porter Rifles are the
recognized champions of the citizen soldiery
of the United States, even though they be
made so by resolutions. Who have recog-
nized them as such except themselves?
THE RECORD
will tell. In 1875 they drilled and defeated
small company at Gallatin, Tenn. In May
of that year they gained victory over the
Chickasaw Guards at Nashville. In Octo-
Der of the same year the Chickasaw Guards
defeated them in Memphis. In 1877 they
won the first prize at st. Louis, having no
competitors and therefore walk-over. In
1873 they took part in the drill tournament
at st. Louis and came out seventh, while the
Chickasaws were close second, being only
three-eIghths of point behind Company c,
of Chicago, who took first prize. In 1879
they were defeated in Nashville by the
Rock City Guards. In 1880, in a drill
tournament at Nashville, in which four
third, with the Chickasaw Guards first,
and Company X, of st. Louis, second. In
1879 or 1880 they drilled and defeated some
little company at Evansville. In 1881 they
won the first prize in the Nashville drill
over the Crescent Rifles of New Orleans, by
2-100 of point, which company had been
defeated but a few days before that in New
Orleans by the Chicks by great number of
points. In June of the same year they took
the first prize at the Louisville drill over the
McKeon Cadets, Company c, of Chicago,
and the Louisville Cadets.
GO SLOW, NASHVILLE.
Is there anything in this record that will
give them a recognized superiority over the
Chicks? The two companies have drilled
together four times, and, except the FIRST, the
Porters have been defeated through and
through by the Chicks.
At the meeting which passed the resolu-
tions, a Mr.. J. w. Barker, who was the bril-
liant and fanciful presenter, and probably
designer OF that fine word mosaic published
above made a speech full of aurora boredlis
rhetoric, in which he proclaimed the Porter
Rifles the best drilled company and the
in the United States, and said
they had never been defeated. Now, the |
Rock City Guards vanquished them in 1879,
and the Chicks defeated them in 1880, and |
on both occasions their present captain COM
manded them, and the APPEAL is informed,
but does not state it as a fact, that they had |
the same lieutenants. Mr.. Barker's speech |
had the brilliancy of torchlight procession,
but it will not do much toward winning the |
drills at Louisville and Indianapolis. OF |
course, the Porter Rifles form good COM
pany, and they will give the Chicks good |
drill, and the APPEAL would overlook any
amount of local enthusiasm that did not |
play such tricks upon the facts. Such cheap |
glory as the resolutions offer ought to be |
despised by manly military organization. |
THE COMING DRILL.
Another matter for bit of gossip. The |
drills have nearly always been conducted on |
a basis of thirty-two men in rank hitherto, |
and the Chicks were surprised to learn that |
Louisville proposed to make it twenty -four,
and as soon as they found this out through |
the APPEAL they telegraphed the managers |
that they would not drill less than thirty |
two, or full company, according to custom.
Now, mark you what follows. As soon as
the Porter Rifles were informed by a tele-
gram from Captain N. B. Grant, of Louis
Vile, that the Chicks insisted on thirty-two |
men, they declared that they would drill |
only twenty-four, because they say they have
been drilling twenty-four men for several |
weeks and could not add the eight men with
out detriment TO themselves. Why have |
they been drilling twenty-four men,
and why did they take that number /
for a basis when the fact was only
published about week ago? They drilled |
thirty-two in rank at Louisville in 1881.
The Chicks say they want fair field, no ia
vors, full companies, and lively fight. In
asmuch as the Porters claim to be the
champions in the United States, it seems an
almost unpardonable confession of weakness
for them to assert that they have only twenty
four men on whom they can rely.
The Chicks expect to win. The APPEAL
gives this information to the Perters without
extra charge, and they can make the most of
It. If the Porters do not enter the drill with
a full company, they virtually acknowledge
heir inability to put up as many we'll drilled
men as the Chicks. Will they do it, or will
hey ficker2