Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-07
MILITARY MITES.
Review on the Gath NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
DrilI-Etc.

armory of the First Artillery Regiment, on
the evening of February oath. Brigadier-
General John T. Carey will be in command
of the brigade, and the Military Commit
tees of the Senate and Assembly, members
of the Legislature. San Francisco officers.
and the citizens generally will be invited to
witness the exercises, but no children Will
| be admitted TO the armory. Five compa-
MES of the regiment will be ordered out
the four city companies and Company OF
| Woodland There will probably be social
| hop ar the close of the drill. 1t has been
customary to give these exhibitions for
a number of years past, so that the Legisla-
| ture could see for themselves the condition
| of the National Guard troops in this city,
and strangers generally have expressed
| themselves as being surprised that the
companies here made such good showing.
| This wear will be no exception to the rule,
we are satisfied, and the Military Commit
tees who have been around examining the
condition of the National Guard IN other
portions of the State, including San Fran
cisco, will find that the companies here
compare favorably with any in the State,
and that the accommodations are far SUI
perior to ANYTHING they have yet seen. The
various company and regimental armories
will be open to the public on this occasion,
and they will all be found neat, cOmmOdi-
| ous and fully fitted for the purposes for
which they are used.
The evenings exercises will consist of
review by the Governor and staff, an eXhi-
bition of the setting up" exercises and
the bayonet drill by Company A, Captain
! Stevens; the manual of arms by Com
pany G, Captain White; the process of
loading and firing, mounting and dis
mounting one of the heavy 12-pounder
cannon, by Company B, Captain Cooke,
and perhaps other interesting maneuyers
will be added by Companies i and F, Cap
tains Weinstock and Spencer. The whole
will conclude with brigade dress parade in
! line All ii needs to make the affair brill
liant. successful. and one which will be of
great benefit to the various companies, is
that Captains will require every man who
| is III town, and who is able to bear arms
that evening, to be at his post in his COM
pany. This is a matter that seriously con-
Germs each and all, not only for this occa-
sion, but for all weekly drills as the fol-
| lowing order from General Headquarters
| will show:
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF CALIFoR-l
| MA, ADJUrAST-G GENERALS OFFICE,
| SACRAMENTO, February >, 1883.
| Genera! Orders, No. 5.
l. In making out the monthly returns for
! attendance at drill commanding officers of
companies shall give only the number OF men
| actually present and in uniform during the en-
tire time occupied by such drill, in the column
marked Total Present.
| H. Absentees. even though sick or under
| leave OF absence, or for any other cause shall
not be counted as present; but the number of
| those who have valid reasons for their absence
| shall be marked i'll a separate column, and due
allowance shall be given for such al these head
quarters.
Ill Attention is called to Article VIII. of the
Articles of War, which says Every officer who
| knowingly makes a false return to any of his
superior officers, shall, on conviction
thereof, before court-martial, be cashiered.'
| By order of the Chief.
| GEORGE B COSBY,
I Adjutant General.
The foregoing strongly intimates that
returns are not made on the squire and
shows that the Adjutant General is after all
with sharp stick. This matter has come
up before. and the commanding officer Of
| the First Artillery has detailed members Of
his staff to superintend the drills and meet
| ings of the city companies during the month
| OF February with the view Of assisting the
officers of companies in securing a better
attendance of the men ut the weekly drills.
These staff officers are Captain Neary, Adj
I jutant: Lieutenant Long, Ordnance officer;
Lieutenant Rivett, QuarterInaoter, and
Lieutenant Plant Paymaster. Their du-
ties are to report when drill commences
and closes, the number actually drilling,
conduct of drill, manner of excusing men,
bers etc.
The scarcity of work in the railroad shops
has crippled some of the companies,
notably Company G., many of whose mem
bers worked there and have now moved
from Sacramento. 1t has been suggested
that the business men of this city should
require some Of their employees to belong
to the National Guard. 1t is duty they
owe the State in the first place, as good CIT
liens, and in the next, many OF the young
men would be better oil, physically and
financially, if they would spend their
evenings in the healthy exercise which
they would get while at drill. and when not
engaged in this, pass the time socially
at their company armories where there is
every accommodation for such enjoyments
Is music, boxing, athletic games, reading.
etc. If this matter was properly brought
before the business men of this city, they
would be apt to assist in recruiting the
companies to the required standard, and it
would be a guarantee that their employees
worsd be spending their evenings in a
healthy and useful way.
Company g. we understand, is about to
follow the example of some other cOmpa-
reading-room in its armory. All armories
are kept open every night, competent
armorer being in charge Of the entire build
! ing.
Target practice has been at a stand still
! lately on account of high water.
The amendments suggested by the mill
tary convention held in San Francisco have
passed the Assembly, and will no doubt
pass the Senate. Some few changes have
been made, the most important being the
matter Of leaving the punishment of men
for absence from drills as it now is, which
| requires a Court-martial in each case 1t is
| to be hoped that money enough will be APP
propriated to allow all organizations of the
| National Guard to 20 into camp this com
ing season. and that the money cannot be
| diverted to any other purpose, as has been
/ done the past two years. These annual
cucampmcnts have been OF the greatest
good to those who have availed themselves
! of the advantages. and entered into them
| with 4 view 10 learn something If il is
assured that an encampment of this regi
meut is TO take place this summer, it will
| place all companies on Ilrst-class footing
/ and till up the ranks Immediately. Prizes
/ for competitive drills. shooting etc. would
be offered, and 4 friendly spirit of rival
/ ~ spring up which would be OF
| incalcuable benefit TO all concerned.
/ There is material in Sacramento city for
/ half dozen fiySt-claSs companies, if our
Young men will take hold of the matter
/ The recruiting of Company L proves this,
and if the same energy is put forth by
/ Captains of companies As has been done by
/ the Captain of f, there is very little danger
of any i'll this regiment being mustered
! out
If the military hill is passed, Companies
/ c, of Nevada City, and +, of Woodland,
will be required 10 drill weekly instead of
monthly, as at present
The Colonel commanding the regiment
! has received from Assistant Adiutant-Gcn-
| cralTOb;n, notice that the missing package,
| containing among others, the official
| papers of Companies A and f, was delv-
/ cred at the Adjutant-GeneraIs office by
| Wells. Fargo & Co on February 9TH The
! L.... .-.......:. y ....! n.c.... L..r