Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-03
MILITARY NOTES.
Battalion Drills Something by Way OF
Criticism.

| AELllIeTy fle8SlIheIlt kiIlCluuiIi5 Iuc Neiuelc
located in this city, two battalion drills are
held each month, the Armory not being
sufficiently large to accommodate all at one
time, and allow movements TO De executed
properly. The frequent drills also give
Lieutenants of companies an opportunity
to command, as Captains are occasionally
detailed to drill the battalion. The first
drill was held April 7th, with Companies A
and G and portion of the Cadets, Major
Mckee commanding. This drill was held
in the streets, owing to the ArInory being
occupied and the instruction could not be
as thorough as in a well-hghted hall, but
all acquitted themselves fairly well
| The second drill, with 3, 4 and Cadets,
Captain Burke, of Company A, command
ing, took place April 24th Captain Burke
| handled the battalion well, and will make
a good battalion commander with little
| practice and closer attention TO details He
| has good voice, but we would suggest that
the preparatory commands be given more
distinctly, as it was evident the men and
commanders Of companies did not hear or
could not understand all the orders. This
was the first appearance of Company f at
battalion drill, and it was loudly APP
| plauded by the spectators as it filed into
the drill hall. There were one or two bad
breaks by the second and third companies
during the drill Lieutenant Lowell had
command of Company z, which made
| fewer mistakes than was expected. The
verdict of the loOkers-on was that the com
pany marched well for new beginners, and
their wheel was very good. Lieutenant
Lowell has a good presence, and his com
| mand is tirSt-claSs. A little more activity
thrown into his movements and command
| will make him formidable rival OF those
who have seen long service.
1t is not our purpose to criticiSe closely
in matters of this kind at present. but
merely to point out glaring faults, and to
encourage all in their duties; and right
here we desire to state to Captains of com
panieS that their system of eXcusing men
from drills cannot be of the proper kind.
Neither Companies b nor e had one-half
the men they should have had at the drill
mentioned above. nor did Companies A
and q at their previous drill Company
discipline cannot be good where more than
one-half the men are absent from such
drills. If habitual abSentees were Court
martialed, dishonOrably discharged. and
their names published, il would, no doubt,
have good effect The drill at guard
mounting by all of the nOn-commissioned
officers, on the 23d ult., was a failure on
account of the slim attendance 1t was a
glaring case of neglect of duty, and we
understand that unless every absentee on
that occasion presents q sufficient excuse
for non-attendancc, approved by his Cap
tain he will be reduced to the ranks.
Companies A and B viii drill Tuesday
evening May 9th, and Captain White. of
Company q, will command, if sufficiently
recovered from his recent illness.
The inspection last Wednesday evening
was very creditable affair, and demon
strated that when the Importance of the
occasion demanded, good showing can be
made with the material on hand The at
tendance was not as large as it should have
been III any of the companies, excepting
Company q, which had some - present,
rank and file. Company commanders
should be more particular as 70 the appear
ance Of their men At reviews and inspec-
tons, They should i'll fact inspect their
companies before forming line, and see that
belts tit properly, that the coat is buttoned
fully, and that every man should be fitted
out with white gloves. We noticed several
of the men who were without gloves. and
whose belts seemed rather to be thrown on
than fitted. The staff officers performed
their duties very acceptably, having
Captain Rice Chaplain handled the
rifle like ar old veteran. During the
review we noticed that two or three of the
officers did not salute properly. performing
the present more in the style of non
commissioned officer. There was also too
much space allowed between the companies
and the marching past in review in double
time was execrable, which was in part due
TO the band, as the music drowned the COM
mandS of the officers We noticed also that
the Adjutant was in rather too great hurry
to terminate the review and 20 on with the
inspection taking out the color guard be-
fore the review was over but hint from
Lieutenant Guthrie, who was in command
set matters right. The troops should be
formed for review so that the reviewing of
ticer can pass in rear of the ile-clo>ers while
inspecting the dress and appearance of the
men.
The frings were fairly executed. with the
exception that nearly half the regiment
pulled the trigger at one time when the
command recover arms was given call
ing forth sharp reprimand, which had
the desired effect in preventing rcpeti-
ton. The ceremonies concluded with
dress parade which was well executed
The men are little unsteady at parade
rest - the Drum Major usually steps off
with the wrong foot first, and some of
the officers start to march to the center be-
fore the Adjutant steps Oft. The march of
the officers towards the commanding officer
was very well done, good line being pre-
served; and the color guard performed
their duty of receiving and parting with
the colors in better style than we have vet
seen in this regiment
There is tirst-class material in the regi-
ment to make fine organization. and it
only requires a little study on the part of
all officers, attention to little details, and
the determination to do well whatever
they undertake, to make it a well-disci-
pliued body, and one Sacramento can have
confidence in and be proud of Brigadier-
General Carey was an interested looker-on,
and Colonel Tobin, Assistant Adjutant-
General of State, took particular notice of
the inspection and review, and expressed
himself as highly pleased There was also
4 large number of spectators in the galleries