Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-24
MILITARY NOTES.
An Unsatisfactory Battalion Drili-Decora-
ton Qay-Etc.


l drill last evening, Captain Cook in com
nand. with an interested and appreciatiyt
audience in the galleries The companies
were tardy in making their appearance
G had fair number present, but E had
only about eighteen or twenty men. Each
was divided into two companies, making
four in all Captain White had command
of the first company, Lieutenant NJ. Shee-
han the second, Lieutenant Lowell the
| third, and Lieutenant Fonteneau the
fourth. The drill, as a whole was very
unsatisfactory one. The colors were placed
on the right, instead of the left of the
color company, but after while Lieuten-
ant Sheehan dropped on it and placed
| them in the proper position The march
| forward III line and tours right and left
| about were very poor at first There are
always some men who wait at the COM
mand Forward march, " until the others
have stepped off, thereby breaking
the line at the very start. When
| the command March is given every
man should step off instantly, with
out waiting for his neighbor. A
| poor attempt was made to give general
| alignment to the line after one of these
bad breaks, and the color sergeant, right
and left general guides, and guides of COM
| panies, all faced to the front and remained
| there without being corrected by the COM
mander We noticed also that at one time
| companies came 9" left front into line =
| while at support arms. The fourth
company was completely off in this
movement, owing to the lack of knowledge
! of its commander The command " Halt
was given at one time during the drill
while the companies were at a fright
shoulder, and every man in the line kept
his rife in the same position as before the
| order. The movement on right into line"
was poorly executed. owing to the first
company not being prompt enough; and
we noticed that in forming line from col
umnS. all of the companies went right up
| to the line instead of hating three yards in
rear, and then dressing. In marching for
ward in line, also, commanders of compa-
MES should take their position in line on
the side furthest from the colors.
The worst executed movement attempted
during the drill was forming columns of
companies from line" Right of companies
rear into column The leading com
pany did not seem to have any .concep-
ton of where its position was to be, chiefly
due to its commander Several attempts
were made at this movement, but without
avail. The fourth company was some
what at sea also, but not to the extent of
the first, and not one of the commanders
of the four companies went TO his proper
position when the command "Fours
right was given. At this command each
should place himself facing to the right,
opposite the first file of his company. and
three yards in FROM 1t will not be amiss
for some of the officers in command last
night to sleep with Upton for a while, if
they desire to do Justice to their companies
Captain Cook handled the battalion very
vol for first night, but when
he saw it was an Off night
with the officers and men he should
have explained more fully each movement.
1t is better to execute one of them we'll
even if the entire evening is taken up with
II, than 10 run over several in a slip-shod
manner. We are happy to note that the
few remarks made in reference to Lieuten-
ant Lowell a few weeks ago had the desired
effect. No officer could be more prompt
than he last evening, and his best friends
commented on it.
A squad from Company B has been drill
ing almost every evening during the past
week, Captain Cook being the instructor
If B's boys make up their minds to have
well-drilled platoon some of the other
companies will have TO look to their lau-
relS.
Quite number of discharges have been
announced from Company F. Woodland
old members whose terms have ex-
pred. The company is being recruited
with new material; but, on account of
Captain Spencer being in business at Graf
ton and not in a position TO look closely
after the company's interests, it is feared
that the company cannot be kept up to
that high standard OF excellence its ma
terial entities it To. A company nowadays
looks to its Captain for everything, and
unless he sees sharply after its interests it
will surely go TO the " bOw-wows
Decoration Day promises to be generally
observed in this city, and the military ma
turally take an interest in the day and what
il commentaries. The G. A. r. Posts are
making arrangements to honorin becom-
ing manner this holiday in memory other
dead comrades. General Carey has ordered
out the Fourth Brigade to act as escort aud
will command in person. The ceremonies
will take place i'll the afternoon. The
city companies of the regiment are ordered
to meet at II o'clock, field a nd staff
officers mounted. Company Z is not yet
provided with dress coats but will wear
their helmets and cross belts, if the latter
Will not slip from the shoulders Arrange
ments have been made for the transporta-
ton Of Company f from Woodland and re-
turn, but that company has not vet decided
II 1t will come to Sacramento on that day
Squads from the city companies will dec
crate the graves of their dead comrades in
compliance with the regimental order. and
donations of flowers will be received at the
armories until o'clock of May Goth. The
graves of eX-soldiers and sailors and ma
tiOnal guardsmcn Will be decorated at Ne
panies and F, there being no posts of the
G. A. +. in those towns. Our city compa-
MES should prepare and turn out with full
ranks on this occasion. They have not had
an airing for some little time and the peo-
pie desire to see if they have profited by the
winters drilling. The appearance of com
panieS Is commented upon more than the
members are aware of The marching
should be steady, the alignment good. and
every man and officer should march and
act as if the company was to be Judged by
his individual movements. 1t is hoped
that the start will be made with military
promptness by the g. A X. Posts, as moth
ing SO wearies and fatigucs troops that are
wearing padded coats, tight-fitting belts,
heavy helmets. etc, as standing in the hot
sun, blessing the cause of the delay We
feel confident that this hint will be enough.
aS the old boys are pretty prompt.
THE SEWAGE QUEsTIoN.-A correspondent
suggests as follows Would it not be
well for the Board of City Trustees to
make haste slowly in the matter Of
pumping the sewage of the city into the
river? If Sacramento can do it, other
towns can, and we may get the worst of the
bargain. If Sacramento commences pump
ing into the river. She is apt to be cnjoined
and have a lawsuit upon her hands. If she
waits for an Act of the Legislature in order
to have State protection, will it not be
necessary 10 make general law, for there
can be no special legislation Would it
not be well for a city taking It's water sup
ply from the river to consider the subject of
river pollution in all its bearings The ex-
pcnditure of $1,000 for a receiving tank.
pipes. etc, might, think if there is any
doubt on the subject. better be used in