Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-29

Ing tleft oblique) into their backs, while the
left wing was filling their stomachs with
imaginary lead at q right oblique fire
Private Naughton, of G, had to be carried
Oft the field Some of the boys maliciously
state that the trouble was fright
Much has been said by the press in ref
erence to the little camp troubles, the cases
of extortion by the Santa Cruz people etc,
and great exaggeration INDUCED in It
would be impossible to please everybody in
an encampment of 1,S00 men or there
abouts, and we venture to say that there is
not town in California whose merchants,
hotel-keepers, saloons, etc, would not
charge as high or higher rates than did the
people of Santa Cruz in such a crush as was
there camp week. The sentiment was uni
versal among the military that more de
lightful place could not be found The
grounds were ample, the weather pleasant,
bathing and other amusements plentiful,
the people aifable, and the press of Santa
Cruz did its part to make the encampment
pleasant to all. We believe it would be a
wise measure for the people of Santa Cruz
to start a subscription fund with which to
purchase the grounds, present them to the
National Guard, and let the State furnish
the funds to carry on an annual encamp-
ment by regiment, under the instruction of
competent regular army officer, and as
one regiment leaves let another take its
place. The giving of receptions should be
sternly prohibited in camp. 1t democrat
lies the officers and creates discomfort
among the men, who cannot participate
Just because they are enlisted men, but very
many of whom are the peers in every re-
spect of those who give these receptions.
The First Artillery is under special obliga-
tons to the press and people OF Sacra-
tol- 10 ~
ment and encourage the officers and men
by hearty appreciation of their services.
The unattached companies in the Fourth
Brigade camp were neglected by not hay
ing competent corps of field officers to
drill them. There are many able officers
among the companies, who could have pre-
pared themselves for the business If re-
quired, but they were led to believe that
competent instructor would be furnished
them, and hence did nothing themselves.
Captain Eehe, of the Stockton Guard, is q
very able officer, and Captain Batchelder,
OF the Chico Guard, surprised his friends
by handling his company in battalion drills
so well. There is no occasion to tell him
how to do a thing twice, and he is con-
stantly looking after the comfort of his
men. The First Artillery do not hope to
find better lot of men to camp with than
those composing the Provisional Regiment
at Camp Stoneman, and both regiments are
fast friends for all time. The Forsgthe
Guard, Fresno, is a fine body, and march
well for new company. 1t has some very
prominent men hi its ranks.
Great attention was paid by the men in
camp TO the little details of camp life 1t
was very rarely that an officer was not
properly saluted and the proper degree of
respect shown him. Looking over the
field to see what branch of military knowl-
edge the companies were most lacking in,
we would say that the skirmish drill should
be practiced more than any other for some
time. The wheeling by fours needs look
ing after, and distances in column of COM
panieS, and twos, single and double ranks,
should be more carefully estimated There
is one other matter that the Captain of
every company should pay the closest at
tention to, and that is to stop all talk in
the ranks when his company is drilling.
We believe it would be good plan to i'm
pose fine on any one who talks unneces-
sarily. 1t is the cause of many a break in
an otherwise good drill, and is a constant
source of annoyance to officers, as it dis
tracts the attention of all within hearing.
This is a good time 10 start reforms in COM
panies, and if the evil of talking in the
ranks can be suppressed it will be of the
greatest benefit.
Towards the close of the encampment
the field and staff rashly accepted the chal-
lenge of Company to shoot match at
200 yards, and got left" The field and
staff were pretty well used up at the time,
but labored under delusion that G was in
a worse condition.
The serenading tour of the officers of the
regiment to the various headquarters, ac-
by their excellent band, Satur-
day evening, was very heartily appreciated,
and on the march home, while passing the
Second Brigade camp, the cheers for the
First Artillery were hearty and continuous.
COOP OLD BEANS.