Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-05
MILITARY NOTES.
Demands for Camp Expenses-What is
Required of soldiers-Target Practice,

will be honored if, found correct according
to the daily report of members present in
camp. There will be separate demands.
one for per diem and one for transporta-
ton. 1t is well understood that the SIG. 600
will not cover all the expense, and this
being so, is it just and right that the 81 900
contributed by the Santa Cruz people
should 90 into the pockets of any of the
officers for their personal expenses 1t
would be proper, we think, TO pay the
transportation OF the officers and their stats
and subsistence at the same rate as were
allowed the men and the regimental and
line officers but we submit that the bal
ance should 20 towards the general expense
account for encampment purposes
AS a rule during the late encampment
the men of the First Artillery attended to
their duties faithfully and well and it is
chiefly owing 20 the fact that they are in
telligent and look on the business as being
high duty they owe the State as good cit
liens. They know that the presence of an
efficient body of National Guardsmen pre-
vents the commission OF ri0ting and law
lessness upon the part Of the vicious ele-
ment, particularly in large cities. This is
a fact that has been demonstrated time and
again; but there are always some among
the many who do not understand their
duties as fully as they might, and who do
not desire to take part or do their duty I'M
less everything IS pleasant and TO their
liking, and who are not willing TO discom-
mode themselves to help along in the good
work, and, when arduous duty is required,
sheer at the service and wish they were out
of it, etc: and who will not willingly
obey the orders of their superiors.
and when they are compelled to,
do it with such a bad grace
that it makes it unpleasant for
all We have known Of a case which oc-
CURED here recently. when q Corporal of
company, while on drill asked permission
of his Captain TO be excused and when
refused for good reasons, slipped ont of the
ranks the first moment the Captains back
was turned upon him. Another instance
occurred in camp, where Sergeant was re-
duested to act rs one OF a set of fours for
drill purposes, the company being one man
short. The Sergeant refused, although to
our knowledge the same request was made
of several Sergeants at times to do like
service in order to complete the fours, and
it was done cheegfUliy. The result of the
refusal, as above stated was that the case
was reported, and the Sergeant was reduced
TO the ranks in camp for disobedience of
orders. 4 demand has been made for a
Court-martial in the case. or Court of
Inquiry. 1t being a new case, and the
desire being TO do no injustice to any man,
and to do away with the trouble of calling
Court together if it can be avoided the
officer in command of the company wrote
for advice III the case. The officers letter
and the answer from a competent army
officer is herewith annexed:
SACRAMENTO, August 25, 1885,
Major Gordon, L. 5. H., Presidi1-sIR: Has
commissioned ofncer the right TO request or or
der non-commissiOned officer into the ranks
while at a drill or parade? My question is the
result OF the following circumstance:
While preparing for dress parade one evening
during the encampment at Santa Cruz the First
Lieutenant of our company, who was in com
mand. asked our QuauermasterS Sergeant to step
into the ranks and complete Il set of fours. This
the Sergeant in the hearing of all present fatty
refused to do. The Lieutenant promptly placed
the Sergeant under arrest. and after parade re
ported the case to me. | communicated with
the Colonel, recommending that the Sergeant
be reduced 10 the ranks for refusing to obey his
superior officer. The Colonel approved the rec
Ommendaton and the Sergeants reduction to
the ranks was read aloud in orders before the
regiment at dress parade the following day and
he was then ordered TO report as private. The
party in question now asks for COurt-martial,
claiming that Sergeant cannot, even tempo
rarily, be ordered into the ranks, which can be
filed only by COrporals and priyates. He fur
ther holds that the commissioned officer eX-
ceeded his authority in ordering Il Sergeant
into the ranks, and that as Sergeant he was
justified in refusing to obey such order.
Being in doubt on this point, and knowing
that you are thoroughly informed on all such
questions would, before proceeding with the
Court-martial, ask your opinion on this matter.
If the Sergeant is correct, further proceedings
will of course be unnecessary; he, i'll that case,
being entitled to restoration of rank.
j trust you will pardon my troubling you in
this matter, but the case is a new one to u.s. and
one to which we attach much importance as a
precedent. 1t is being watched with much in
terest by all who are acquainted with the facts.
Thanking you in advance for your kindness
in the matter and with my personal regards,
believe me sincerely yours,
Captain E Company, First Artillery Regiment
Fourth Brigade.
Preside or SAN FRANCISCO, Cal,
August Is, 1885.
Respectfully returned to Captain II. Vein
stock, commanding Company Z, First Artillery
Regiment. In obedience to paragraph II of Codi-
fed Regulations of the Army, which requires all
interiors to obey strictly, and to execute with
alacrity and good faith the lawful orders of
their superiors appointed over than, a CON-
missioned officer - commanding" squad. COM
pany or battalion has perfect right to give any
orders he may deem necessary at drill, or place
or replace any non-commissioned officers, or de-
line the position of any member of the organiZl-
ton while in command. The order of superior
in command must be strictly and unequirocaHy
obeyed It is not question of the post position
OF the officer or non-commissioned officer, ac-
cording To tactical instruction. it is a question
of dlsobedience OF orders, in violation of the
quoted paragraph of the regulations and your
action in the matter OF the Quartermaster Ser
geant is correct, and will be sustained by any
military tribunal. D. S. GORDON
Major Second L. S. Cavalry.
From the foregoing it will be seen that
unhesitating obedience to orders is one of
the first requisites of good soldier. If an
injustice is done, the injured party can
have his remedy afterwards. In the Ma
tional Guard particularly it is no disgrace
for man to drill in the ranks. Ii is an
honor rather, for there is many man in
the ranks who is the peer in every way of
the officer in command, and frequently we
have seen officers drill in the ranks in order
to set an example to their men, and for
their own instruction also. If it was done
oftener it would be productive of good, as
will, we hope, the decision of Major Cor
don in the case cited above
The Board of Officers meets Monday
evening, and there will be an examination
of the Sergeants of Company G.. Orders
are being prepared for the annual target
practice. 1t should come off after the State
Fair is over, so as not to interfere with bust
ness, and also to secure large attendance.
The shooting gallery in the armory should
be pushed to completioniat once, and strict
rules established for Quoting it properly.
The school of instruction for officers in the
sword exercise should be started as soon as
Pooolple. II "oulu NC PHEASANT part ol al
evenings entertainment to give an exhibit
ton at the foils, at ball or a drill, and we
hope the officers will not let this fall
through, particularly since it is something
they should all be fairly versed in, and it
will help to elevate the standard required
for officers. 1t would be well if our boys
could read an account of the Illinois Ma
tional Guard encampment at Ottawa. The
little troubles in Camp Stoneman were
light as air in comparison. but the reading
will show that the cause of the trouble was
the same there as here.
four of the crack shots of Company G at
the range tomorrow. 1t is reported that
Canfain Hornhtnn of the hrirada staff hoe