Morning journal and courier., 1885-02-19
TEE C. N. G.

Notes From the Report of Adiu-
tant General Couch - The Past
Years Service of the States Troops
Reviewed.
The report of Adjutant General Couch to
the legislature regarding the condition Of the
Connecticut National Guard for the year
ending November 80, 1884, shows that Con-
necticut's military force consists of brigade
of four infantry regiments, one from each
congressional district, a light battery of
four guns and one battalion (colored) of i'll
fantry-in all 2 1903 men. A platoon of ma
chine guns, under commissioned officer,
was added last year. The muskets in use
breech leaders, part Springfield pattern and
part Peabodys-efficienta arms and answering
the States purposes. There are rifles of re-
cent invention which undoubtedly fire more
rapidly, such as the Lee gun and others.
The discipline of the troops, though not of
the clockwork exactness of the regular sol
dier, is good, and to be in the guard is not
holiday affair. In craftsmanship there is an
increase of qualified marksmen, though there
was falling off in the Third regiment in
this respect.
The New London and Bridgeport armories
are well under way and lot for one at South
Norwalk has been purchased at cost of
$1,000. There has been expended $170, 800
in the construction of armories.
During the past year the number of vete-
rams cared for at State charge in hospital
was 220. Last year the number was 1876. In
hospital December 1, "a. At Fitch's Home
for Soldiers, Darien, forty-two veterans re-
n11t1 fha
revenues of that institution, of which seven
teen were inmates on December 1.
Men who are well provided for by their
pensions should live on them and not be Civ
en- hospital support. The number of those
needing asylum will increase as old age
comes upon them. All the national asylums
are now full except the one in Au gusta, Me-,
and the adjutant general does not eulogize
the cold climate of Augusta, as far as broken
down old soldiers are concerned. A national
asylum is needed in this part of the East.
The adjutant general in his criticisms on
the work of the guard advises that at the en-
campment at Mantle next fall exercises and
duties be made subservient to that of guard
duty.
On the standing of the regiments General
Couch saws: E'The First and Second regi-
ments are the crack regiments of the brig
ade." The former ''has for six years been
| under the command of Lucius A. Bar
bour, who, by untiring persever-
ance, united with strict justice and
splendid soldiership, has carried it up from
condition Of merited discipline to that
ahead of all the regiments in New England"
Of the Second it is said that ''no matter how
you look at it, or in what position it is
found, it has the veteran swing and solid
tramp of it's columns ineffaceably stamped
upon it. due to the long and careful training
of its old colonel, Stephen R. Smith, and
maintained by the efforts of Colonel Charles
P. Graham"
General Couch recommends that instead of
the present system of messing there should
be ration table made up by board of ca
pable surgeons. He advises that policing
of sinks" is the proper duty of the troops,
and that hired men should be employed to
do the work as was the case at Mantle.