The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-08-27
THE MAINE MILITIA.
A Critical Review of Last Weeks Muster
What Might Have Been Done Better.

edition OF that paper contains a critical review
by him OF some features Of the muster, which
will be read with interest After giving some
account ofsthe organization of the Maine
Militia, and the recent changes in the scheme,
lie says:
The officers of the brigade organization very
wisely selected Colonel Brown of the First
Regiment as brigade commander. He is an
officer Of ability, tactical knowledge, and with
sufficient ideas of discipline to correct certain
laxities in that direction this year by both ot-
GERS and men. He had but short time TO
Call around him a staff, but even in his haste
made several happy selections. the most ser
viceable being OF course Major Henry nd.
Sprague, who, by his many years OF expert
ence, cannot but make an efficient assistant
adlutantgeneral. The remainder of his staff
are Intelligent, painstakiDg officers, who need
the rough edge OF experience 70 dull their
enthusiasm and rose-colored views OF military
life, and give them the "open-sesame" to the
practical work Of the soldier. The selection of
Colonel Brown for Brigadier-General opened
the position of Colonel of the First Regiment
to some one, and that some one in this instance
proved to be the right man in the right place.
Ex-Inspector General Lynch of Governor
Plaisted's staff, formerly Captain Of the Mont
gomery Guards at Portland, was chosen to
command the First Regiment, and no better
selection could have been made. He is of an
active, nervous temperament, good tacticisn,
an excellent drill master, and with self-pride
1 oHoAkA 10 cause utm 10 put MS regiment
where he left his old company--at the head.
He retains the former Adjutant, who has snap
enough in him to suit the energetic COM
mander of the regiment. Colonel Lynch has
more than satisfied the expectations of his
friends since the camp opened; he has infused
new life into his command, built up the
manual and given vigor to the whole reg ment;
and from q close observation of the work Of
two days, it can be fairly stated that for
promptness, improvement in drill, as well as
a ia 0nI 10 ffraf in
number, but first in the general knowledge OF
the duties of tbs soldier.
The Second Regiment came into camp under
command Of its former adibtant, aud he, Ia
turn, was succeeded by former regimental
drum major; Colonel Mitchell was faithful to
duty and worked hard, was evidently we'll sup
ported by his officers, and can have no need to
feel discouraged by the good work OF his COM
mand. The battery came into camp under q
new commander. They are good organiza-
ton, bat close observer cannot fail TO see
that they are not in as good condition as they
were last year, in many of the minor details
that go to make up the general whole they
need watching, and il the officers are careful
and painstakng, they will easily put the bat
terry in better shape.
The brigade encampment was held at Au-
gusta as in former years. The ground is not
suitable IN its present shape for a brigade camp
the a. tiliery having to park off the color line,
the ground is uneven, no water supply; and
there seems to be great difficulties in the way
OF proper remedy for these evils, unless the
State should lease or buy such portion Of the
ground as they do not now own. This will
hardy % done, as the field is too near the city
10 makeits purchase advisable. The condi-
tlon aud personnel of the militia are excellent
the men being mostly young hardy fellows,
ready under the proper instruction TO develop
into the best of soldiers. The lack set up,
knowledge Of guard duty and proper ideas
OF military courtesy, not simply
in the matter of salutes, but in paying the
fA he l..f h. .ft4A
with it. All this can be done BY the company
commanders. but it must be intelligent instruc.
tion and not parrot-like repetition of the tao
tics. Give man reason why, in executing
tile manual, he should grasp the piece By the
small OF the stock" and he will never forget
it. The work Of the week, on the whole, was
excellent; most of the errors noticed could all
be rectifed in armory instruction, of which the
need is seen among both officers and men. The
discipline OF the men was good, excepting the
fact that many were seen about the streets OF
Augusta in the evening but it can be truthfully
SAID that not one was seen intoxicated, and no
boisteroqs or disorderly conduct was observed
among the soldiers. But the practice is a bad
one, and should not be encouraged, and espec-
tally BY the habit Of line and field officers ab-
senting themselves from camp, day or evening.
The policing OF the camp was faulty, especially
around the sinks and Rear the guard quarters.
Some allowance shonlt be made for the pres-
ence OF huge cask of water near the guard
tent that helped make things untidy, and also
for the debris that necessarily collects around
the open, air hres used to supplement the work of
the Kitchen. The battery quarters were the
neatest on the field, except around the stables,
and the lack OF systematic accommodation for
the horses accounted for the condition around
the rear OF the quarters. Guard duty was fairly
performed most OF the mistakes being made
from lack of proper instruction, but all the
guards showed a desire to do their duty. In
drill there was great improvement seen even
from one day to another. The review by the
CNnUarpnr rod ha eff a0f 20 hrsO h..
but it failed to have like effect upon the Off
GERS of companies. Only two officers looked
toward the reviewing officer when they sa-
luted. All saluted too far away; several re-
officer; the men marched with heads down and
rear ranks not closed to the proper distance,
but with good alignments and distances; the
battery made good passage and looked finely,
men steady on caisson and horses, alignmentg
good, distances little too close. The calls
were all promptly sounded from headquarters,
and properly taken up along the line, but were
not properly obeyed in some instances; the
commands did not form promptly and delayed
the commencement OF drill or ceremony. On
the other hand, some of the formations were
prompt, but were marred by the ill-advsed
adoption of double-time, which in every case
was either trot or run, and not double time,
and often necessitated the men of
some companies who attempted to
mark time in double time to
dance up and down like jumping jacks For
nations for drill or ceremony at double time,
while they may be allowed, are of no benefit,
give no instruction, and on hot day are dan,
gerouS to the men. The cadence of the Maine
soldiers at their quickstep is now too slow, be-
ing only 100 steps to the minute, and it would
be better to educate the men to step off at ITO
to the minute, with full twenty -eight-inch
step, rather than attempt the double time as
above stated. The band that served the bri-
gade needs to be put under the lead of some
one competent to instruct them in their duty
q HoNrNnv. v.falu and IL
adds much to the completeness OF a review or
parade, and in three days the magnitude of the
bearskin hat and the gyrations aud posturings
OF drum major should not be made subordi-
nate to knowledge of duties. The above rehec-
tions have no bearing upon the excellent music
always furnished by Chandler's Band. The
observations, as written upon the tour OF duty,
must not close without proper reference to
one splendid feature Of the militiamen OF the
Pine Tree State; that is, their zeal and prof.
cheney in rifle shooting. Under the inteli-
gent supervision and earnest work Of Col. Far
rington they have made great improvement
over last year, two Of the companies, Q Of Dex-
ter and II OF Waterville, having qualified ev-
cry man as marksman, the former Sc, and the
latter forty-six men. With q desire to get q
good idea of the actual shooting of the brigade,
and to allow the visiting officers from Masss-
ohusetts, Adjulant-General Dalton, Assistant
Inspector General Stevenson, Colonel Wslling-
lington, Lieutenant-C Colonel Richardson, and
Captain Duchesuey, to note the proficiency OF
| of the men Colonel Harrington had fifty mon
detailed from each regiment and iormed the
| tive squads in single rank and gave eaclfSman
ten rounds of ammunition. They were to a.
vance in line, halt at the sound of the bugIe.
judge their own distance, fire one cartride, ad-
vance again and repeat five times, and execute
the same frings on retreat. The first FIRE was
at 200 yards, and the fifth in advancing about
100 The number of cartridges used was 1000.
and time occupied in the firing of both SQUADS
was fifteen minutes. The target, a third-class
one, was perforated like sieve, and after a
careful count 1t was found that there had
been seventy-six bull's-eyes made, 1853 centres,
336 liners and 1876 cutters, making in all
the extraordinary number of 960 out OF the
1000 shots that hit the target. The total valua
of the whole number of shots was 3190, or 81
to each man out of possible so. This shoot
| ing stamps the Maine militia as a body OF
| marksmen, for the number that took part in
the skirmish were more than one-sixth OF the
total number of the active force. What the
militia of Maine need is larger appreciation
for their maintenance;- sic, 600 is a ridiculous
ly small amount. They ought to have at
least $4,000. This would enable them to
raise good company Of cavalry-just what
they need; would allow for the expenses of
rigid inspection and better examination of
officers, and put the command as at present