The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-21
ApJUrANT GENERALS REPORT.
Condition of Portland Companies.

We have received the annual report Oh Au-
| jutant General Beal, NJ. V. M. for the past
year. He reports the militia of the State ~
| good condition.
Gen. Beal says: On the 10Th day OF May
| 1882, Congress passed the following act to en-
courage Heavy Artillery practice in the
| militia
SECT. q That the Secretary of War Is here
| by authorized at his discretion, to issue upon
| the requis:tion of the Governor OF State Dor
dering on the Sea or Gulf coast, and having
permanent camp grounds for the encampment
| Of the militia not less than six days annually,
| TWO heavy guns and four mortars Win car
riages and platforms, II such can be spared, Tor
| the purpose of proper instruction and practice
| OF the militia in heavy artillery drill, and ior
this purpose suitable battery be constructed (;
and for said construction and the transporta.
| ton OF said cannon, and so forth, the sum OF
$4,000 is hereby appropriated for each State
that may apply.
The above act Is OF great importance TO our
State with the extensive borders and large
sea coast; nothing would be of more Inn
portance than to have portion of orr militia
instructed in heavy artillery drill. The COM
panies now formed at Eastport and Calais
could be organized and used as force for the
above purpose, and be Of great value in case OF
need.
The General thinks the war records should
be carefully preserved in fra proof vaults and
q directory OF surviving officers of the Maine
volunteer regiments provided.
Inspector General Lynch speaks as follows
OF the Portland companies:
PORTLAND LIGHT INFANTRY.
am pleased to state that the inspection
ceremonies of this company were equal TO
those of last year, and that neither in dis
clpline nor In military courtesy, did notice
anything that would warrant censure The
men are well instructed ia the new method OF
tossing the piece to~rhv position of inspection,
and IN observing the details cosnecicd tfS6fe-
with. One OF the most noticeable features OF
this company Is steadiness. Each man attends
20 his own duties unmiadful Of his neigbbor.
The drill was great improvement on the
previous one. This was due In some measure
70 the small number OF men present, although
individual mistakes were less noticeable. Care
was taken not TO commit the errors pointed out
In my last report.
The uniforms are neatly kept, and the rifles
well taken care of, with the exception, per-
haps, of few. The books show evidence Of
good clerkship, the orders are properly en-
dorsed and filed, and the armory Is neat and
well adapted for the security OF property and
the transaction OF company business.
Time occupied in inspection and drill, one
hour ana thirty minutes,
PORTLAND MECHANIC BLUES.
The officers OF this company are among the
ablest of the militia. One could not fall to
notice the improvement is discipline Of the
men, both in and out OF ranks. Last year
had occasion 20 speak of the laxity OF discipline,
but now am glad 10 say that the military
courtesy shown TO all officers at this years in
spection OBSERVERS praise. The men were
more careful Of their conduct. and more cor
rect in salutes. The inspection ceremonies
we're very well done. The men were steady,
and the sizing and set-up good. The improve
ment in drill was noticeable, aud more atten-
tion given to details. This company is CON-
posed OF strong material, capable OF doing
service, and well suited to field life. / do not
say the drill was perfect, but compared with
that OF last year, and taking into consideration
the large number present, am forced 70 be-
lieye this company is aiming for high ssand-
ing. The books are very we'll kept, the cloth
ing Is neat and well fitting, and the rides
models of cleanliness. Tie armory Is always
properly taken care OF.
Time occupied in inspection and drill, two
hours.
PORTLAND MONTGOMERY GUARDS.
II Is universally conceded that this company
Is the best In the militia. Hence no special
mention from me IL necessary 70 place its
standind properly before the public. The Sc
cret ns its success Is military pride, aud
strong determination TO be first or nothing. III
the other companies were guided by an equal
~ worthy motive the disparity IN general mill
tary know ledge would not be so apparent. In
this command may be seen closer study and
application OF the tactics than can be found in
any other volunteer organization of the State.
The drill 10 excellent, the discipline good. The
men show true respect TO their officers whether
performing military duty or engaged la civil
business. The inspection ceremonies were
very we'll performed. the clothing Is neat Ia
appearance and the books are correctly kept.
This company has well located armoFy, fitted
up with taste, and adorned with the portraits
OF many distinguished soidiers@ A few OF the
guns need the services Of gunsmlth. Some
were unclean and showed neglect on the part
Of the srmoreF, one OF whose duties is TO Keep
the rifles In proper condition.
Time occupied in inspection and drill, two
hours and i've minutes.
SECOND PLATOON FIRST MAISE BATTERY.
AS I entered the srmory OF this platoon
was struck with the total absence Of military
courtesy. The officers and men were seated,
and remained 50, mot one rising. In my last
report l underworld 20 bring this breach Of
discipline, which was rather general, TO the
notice Of the troops, and / am glad 70 say that
10 no other organization was It's continuance
observed. Hitherto IL was charitable To pre-
sumo that the matter was due 10 carelessness,
but the same cause cannot be assigned now.
The men would obey the commands, bat aside
from that there was no discipline. There we're
drill was below the average. The inspection
ceremonies were poor. / did not see single
piece brought properly 20 the position. The
men did DOT show so much familiarity and &C
tivIty with the guns as formerly. The officers
are capable OF giving instruction, but the con-
clusion one would draw from the proceedings
Is that no efforts were made during the year TO
do so. The guns we're very unclean. The
uniforms we're well preserved and fit neatly,
aud the books are kept In good style.
Time neeuniad in tuenaclinu 1rfif 0na hour
and fifty minutes
Inspector OF Rife Practice Harrington re-
ports as follows:
Company A, Portland-This company has
not maintained the standing acquired by them
last year. 1t Is claimed that the location OF
the range, and that many OF the men are
working out OF the city and cannot, therefore,
attend 20 the duties Of practice, Is the reason
why so little has been done. Ii Is true that
the range Is inconvenientIy situated, and no
doubt the labors Of the men interfere with
their practice. But cannot think this is a
sufficient reason why fhfrty-oke men should
not practice at ALL II must be evident II this
Is the case, that more care should be taken In
recruiting men into the company. A man
who cannot give a reasonable amount of at
tention to the duties required OF him Is not a
1T man for the place. What has been done is
largely owing 10 the energy OF Lieut.. Norton,
In endeavoring TO interest the company in this
part OF their duty.
Company, b. Portland. The record Of this
company shows for itself. With forty-six men
on the rolls. forty-three have qualified as
marksmen, and every man has done some
practice during the season. Great credit Is
due the company for the interest manifested,
and especially TO Capt. Q. w. Davis, who has
devoted much time and attention TO the prac-
tice. Being first-clsss marksman himself,
he has been able to bring his command up to
the stop round" OF success.
Company Il, Portlsnd.--It has been crafty
ing TO observe the interest taken by this COM
pany In rifle practice this season. Heretofore
they almost entirely neglected IL, being con-
tent with their superior excellence In drill.
But through tho influence OF their officers
lively interest has been manifested, and excel
lent progress has been made. Lieut.. Lappin
deserves great credit for tho effort he has
made to stimulate the men to practice Tho
company are TO have range in their armory
for winter use.
Second Platoon, First Maine Battery, Port