National Republican., 1884-10-24
THE LIGHT INFANTRY LOST,
But They Learn the Value OF Seven Minutes
When Quantity Counts for More Than

But They Learn the Value OF Seven Minutes |
When Quantity Counts for More Than |
Quality.
RICHMOND, VA, oct 23.--Tho trip Of COM
pany u, Washington Light Infantry corps, to
this city was without incident, and the five
hours OF the journey were utilized by the men
in drying overcoats and recovering from the
fatigues Of the march to the depot through the
drenching rain. When the train reached
Richmond at 10 o'clock, the company was re-
ceived ut the depot by the Richmond Light
Infantry Blues and escorted to the st. James
hotel. All hands retired early -,
This morning dawned clear and cool, ana
aiter preliminary parade through the prln-
competitive drill took the cars for the iair
grounds. The competing companies, accord
Ing to the secretary's entry book, were a. lol-
lows: Company &, Governors Guard, Erie,
Pa, commanded by Capt. ID. S. Crawford;
company B, Walker Light Guard, Capt, Henry
$. Jones, Richmond, Va; Edgecombe Guards,
Guards, Capt L. 1. Watkins, Farmville,. Va;
Alexandria Light Infantry, Capt g. a. Mtlsh-
bach, Alexandria, Va; company y Washlng-
ton Light Infantry corps, Capt; y; X koss,
Washington, ID. c.; company a, Richmond
Grays Capt. l.. J. Boisseux, and company 9,
Guard of the Commonwealth, Richmond, va.
OF these the companies from Erie, Pa; Tar.
boro, ~ G., and Farmvllle, Va, failed TO put
in an appearance leaving the contest between
| Richmond, Alexandria, and Washington.
by designation os Gen. Tldball the following
| officers of the regular army were present 70
act as judges: First. Lieut.. r. II. Adams. 9TH
artillery; First Lieut.. Albert Todd, lst aTtlle-
ry, and Second Lieut.. S. f. Massey, 5th artillery.
The first prize was $1,000, the second S5D,
and the third 500. and was open TO all white
companies throughout the United states, eight
| or more companies to enter for competition
AT Has the drum signaled for the tlrst COM
| pany, and at 1883 the Guard OF the Common
m M MT M
test began. The drill of this organization was
rather poor aud full OF errors, both in COM
mand and execution, aud could nave been
| readily turned down by even the youngest or
ganization of the district military,
| AT l2:23 p IN. Company b. Washington Light
! Infantry corps marched out and were drawn
up before the judges. For some reason which
was not understood, they were kept waiting
seven minutes, and later on found TO their
| surprise that this time was deducted from the
| half hour allowed for their display. From
the start II was evident that Capt. Ross and
his men were bent on cutting out some heavy
| work for the other contestants. The manual
| was gone through with with the machine.likc
precision that has made the 9rgani5atl,o,n y,
| famous, and the crowd. which had swelled TO
thousands, appaudcd heartily. Then came the
| foot movements, and the line OF bun and blue
moved back and forth over the green sward,
now marching in company iropt then break
ing into iours and platoons Us the various ma
| neuvers embraced III the programme OF tho
drill were iaultessly executed. When the
drums sounded the recall the boys had finished
tho hardest part of the programme, and, ac-
cording TO the system OF scoring, could nave
piled up u handsome record could they nave
had the seven minutes they had counted on,
and OF which they feel they were unfairly de-
priyod
The Richmond Greys were the next to drill,
and their work was exceedingly well done.
Unfortunately for them, their commander,
Capt. BOissicuX, was taken suddenly and Sc
| riOusly i'll Just about the middle Of the drill,
and was forced to turn his company over to
his first lieutenant. The time thus lost was
fatal to the chances OF the Greys ior hrs
money.
The fourth company was the Walker Light
Guards. Capt. Henry c. Jones, who commands
} this organization, was one OF the constructor
of the programme for the prize drill anc
when he began to execute II the haste of hi
movements and the disregard displayed 10 I'M
/ faulty manner in which his company Wen
, through the foot movements and manua
: made 1t evident that his only object was to &c
; through. The policy of this became appareh
! when the scores were made up.
! The Alexandria Light Infantry was the las
. spIendid sppi tH drii d and Capt %SshbSch can tax
0 credit for the very excellent manner in whtc
I his command acquitted themselves. Az IN
close of the drill the score-sheets of the judgs
3 were turned over to committee TO be mao
A up for the award of the prizes.
IS Rule of the programme provided that eac
Judge should score each movement separated
as executed. The sum of these scores divide
n schedule would give each judges score. tn
!, score of the Judges added together and divide
IL by three would give the score upon which III
:, awards were to be made. Hence faultless O.
z. ecuton would be more than counterbalance
SO by rushing through the programme eve
IL yssseJlse bidGesO would qpIy park @ sH ny i9T
walker Light Guards. 8 3i-1
- honu bIhys''''.',''.... ........... O 66-l
N Guard OF the Commonwealth. 8 l1i-1
:. Alexandria Light Infantry. ............. l22-l
d 20. b, Washington l.. /. Corps......... 1881
10 or the q numbers executed by company
l. W. Il. l. Corps 2l were given 10 credits eacl
4. thht being the maximum credit given IL
n iaultiess execution. The lowest credit n
Ia lowed on the other numbers was s. nm
e ranging up to 95-l0. On an actual ayerap
k made from comparison of the number {
movements executed the score sheets Shove
that Tor p numbers executed by COMPANY
they Obtained an average of 5-27, or within
:, traction OF perfection, while the average G
u inc winners of the first prize for 81 movements
:, or the tnll programme, reached less than 81,
a But with quantity, and not qualify for
!, standard for the contest the Washingto
L soldier boys cun well afford 10 see the frs
prize 30 where II did.
AZ G:9O this evening. company left 70
washington. Among the Washington visitor
~ hlchlnond today We're Capt. and Mrs E. g
Mheeler, Capt. and Mrs. George Breitbarth
= capt ana Mrs; Entwistle, Miss Emma Hirsh
I 9ach, Mr.. and Mrs. John Wanstall, NAL Van
Ierbnrgh, DR.. f. S. Kimball, Harry Bauer
NJ, Ham Lecch, Lieut.. Geo oyster, Bucl
n I..A... Il, 4