Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-04
DRILLING FOR THE MEDAL
A BRILLIANT EVENT AT THE
OGLETHORPE BARRACKS.

The Savannah Cadets Exhibition ard
Prize Drill Witnessed by $500 PeO-
pIe-Sergt. Farr the Winner of the
Frize-Getting Ready for the Mobile
Drill in May.
The Enclosure Of the Oglethorpe bar
racks was a brilliant scene last night.
Fully $500 people packed the balconies
and the square around the parade ground
until there was hardly room to move.
The Cadets exhibition and prize drill
drew the best people Of Savannah, and
from the moment the gates were opened
streams Of people poured in through the
sally-pOrt until the grounds were CON-
pletely filed. Four electric lights illu-
minated the court, rejecting the
polished equipments and arms Of the
Cadets and enabled the spectators TO
watch all the details of the drill as
readily as if il had taken place IN day
light. The Ludden & Bates Silver Tone
Band was stationed on the south side 81
the court and rendered a number of the
chOiceT musical compositions OF tue day
in a very acceptable manner.
The parade ground where the drill took
place was limited by a line formed bV
ropes and stakes. Outside of this lire
several hundred spectators. mostly gen
tlemen, were cOngregated, aru being
apart from the ladies had al opportunity 70
discuss the merits If their tragant liza
vauas while viewing the drill in the
manual Of arms and the ev0lutions. The
sky was clOldless and the temperature
| agreeable, 50 that taking all things into
| consideration a more favorable time could
/ hardly have been chosen. The Cadets
with 81 men in file were marched from
! their quarters by Capt. Branch promptly
at o'clock and took their position at
1.-The 'front.'" with LIeuts. Brooks aud
! Nell in rank. They were greeted with
/ loud applause. The prize drill for the
I company medal in the manual and tactics
was begun a few minutes after 5 O'clock.
| The commands were given distinctly and
/ rapidly. and for the first ten minutes
! were executed with precision by the en-
/ tire command.
After that time. however, the number
/ in line began to diminish rapidly, the
/ men often dropping out by twos stimuli
\ taneOusly. After an interval OF about
/ three minutes for rest the drill was re-
/ sumed by Lieuts. Brooks and Nell,
! the commands being executed with and
I without the numbers. In half an hour
/ the line had been reduced to eight
/ men: Sergt Farr. COrpls.
/ Virgins and Sheftall and Pri-
Yates G0ebel, West. Symons, Cub
D UetlEe ana AppGf. 4 minutes ldI6I
+ yate Appel and COrpl. Sheftall dropped
/ ont together. They We're soon followed
4 by C0rpl. Virgins and Private GOebel,
who also dropped out simultaneously.
/ The assemblage awaited the issue of one
/ Of the most rigid drills they had
4 probably ever witnessed With feel
/ mgs of the most eager expectancy.
4 Corpl. Farr and Priyates Cubbedge,
I SymOns and West were all that was left
I of that handsome company front, formed
I half an hour before. The command was
I given for inspection Of arms, and was re-
I peated, followed by the order TO kneel.
/ when Private West fell out. Private
/ SymOns went out Immediately after on
/ failure to load piece at the second COM
mand for firing while kneeling. Private
4 Cubbedge quickly followed, leaving Sergt.
/ FaTr the victor
IL is hardly necessary to add that toe
7 soldier who mad won the hOnOrs was not
I only warmly congratulated by his COM
I rades, hut was enthusiastically ap-
I plauded.
I The company was then reformed and
4 Sergt. FaTr was ordered to the front and
i presented with the company medal 10y
/ Hon. p. W. Meldrim in behalf Of Capt.
/ Branch.
/ The medal is about four inches in
! length anG two inches in width. The
I top Is formed By strand Of gold flags,
and beneath Is dial With the inscription: