Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-31
MILITARY NOTES.
Battalion Drill-Annual Ball-Sscramento
HussarS-Etc.


| The first of the winter drills, and tn,
first since the encampment, took place a
the armory last Monday evening, and wa
witnessed by large audience from tn,
! galleries. The companies turned out witt
pretty full ranks-notably E and B. Fo
drill purposes each was cut down to eigh
| files front-double ranks, and a right ant
left guide. At the assembly for eompanie:
| each filed into the hall much more prompt
lv than usual, and at Adjutant's call al
moved for their positions in line at eai
which promised we'll for the evenings drill
and when the time occupied in forming
line was announced by Lieutenant Stafford
there was applause from the galleries. II
was very well done, but the line can be
formed in better time after a few more
drills. In future the company assembly
Will be beaten in front of each COM
pany,s armony, so that it can be
heard, at O'Clock, sharp, and time
Will be gwen to form the company and
call the roll before Adjutant's call-ten TO
fifteen minutes-when each must be ready
TO march for its position in line. 1t is lust
as easy for all to be ready at s o'clock as at
$40, II they only try, and this will cause
an early dismissal. The movements at
tempted were mostly simple ones, if we
except the obstacle" movements hut
simple as they were. the drill demonstrated
that practice was needed; but the practice
should be more in the nature of company
drills, particularly in stacking arms. Com
manders of companies should keep con-
stantly before their file-closers the necessity
Tor their looking after the files in front of
tneih. we noticed commissioned officers
IN the line OF file-closers who took not the
slightest notice of restless men who
were directly in front of them when
parade rest was the order. File
ciosers should recollect that they
nave duties to perform, while
marching in the rear or ON the flank of
their companies. The. men during the
drill were very prompt, and there was
much less talk in the ranks than is usual
The marching in line, the abouts, the
length and cadence of the step were ex
celltnt, and the oblique movements
which 1t was naturally expected would be
the Worst-were really the best during the
evening" The wheels-right and left
were fair, and the frings by companies G
and B particularly were excellent Els
hrlng was not quite so good and A bows
were on the ragged-edge, until they got
warmed up to- their work. The Colonel
rather broke up the fire by companies"
by omitting giving the command
" ready The right and left fronts into
line, after having broken for obstacles"
were not well done. The fours'' were
IN too great hurry to get into line. The
right four of carried off the honors in
TINS movement. as, after attention was
called to the slipshod way in which it was
eAecufed at the first attempt this SQUAD
seemed to understand what was wanted.
linz in 1
manner 1t is important that the men in
each four should understand one another in
TINS movement-that they should have
PRIDE IN coming into line better than anv
squad IN their own or any other company.
AS executed at present at battalion drills
the " fronts into line" are failures, and will
continue to be until the men are instructed
at the company drill.
Company b was commanded by Captain
Cook, Company L by Captain Weinstock.
Company G by Captain Hall and Company
"A, the second ranking company, by Lieut..
Blrdsall. The officers were much more
prompt in dressing" than is usual with
them, and are getting pretty thorough
knowledge of their duties. The smallness
oil the hall requires very prompt action
upon the part OF everybody, and when an
ofhcer can say that he can carry his COM
pany through the battalion eyoiutions in a
dashlng style i'll Armory Hall, he knows
enough of the drill to last him for some
time. II the officers and men enter into
the drills with the same vim and spirit
manifested Monday evening. they will
surely improve rapidly, and certainly we
know of no better exercise for a voung man
or a pretty old one either. than that OBJ
tanned during an hours drill on a winter
evening. The young or the old men above
mentioned are In better company also than
IN places we might mention and the exercise
VIII send them to bed in the proper frame
OF mind and body for a good nights rest.
The drills will hereafter be held semi
monthly, with two full companies at each
as this is all the hall will accommodate
and perform all the eyolutions properly.
The all-absorbing topic is the grand
military ball on November 18th. The con-
cert music, by the splendid regimental
band, will be something worth hearinc
There will be musketry firing BY a trained
squad of sharpshooters during the concert.
The sword contest between Ross and Crow
ley has been arranged satisfactorily, and as
the hail will probably be crowded to wit
ness the contest, a limited number of spec
tatorS will be admitted to the lower floor,
and cleared space reserved BY the regi-
ment in the form of square in the center
OF the hall, wherein the fight will take
place. Companies A and f may give an
exhibition drill, and B and G will probably
furnish the thunder during the concert.
Inc Sacramento Hussars (independent)
have Just got through holding Court
martial, which may result in the expulsion
OF three members for conduct unbecoming
soldiers and gentlemen. The Hussars are
determined that their organization shall be
composed OF only such men as recognize
That this IS an American country, and that
any man, as long as he conducts himself in
becoming manner, is entitled to receive
the courteous treatment that one good citi-
zen soldier should always accord to an
other. During the last three months the
ranks of the company have been recruited
with some OF the best young men of the
city, and it is now about equally composed
OF men who are to the manor born and
those who came from other lands to make
this their home. Captain Hebron de-
serves credit for his work in behalf of the
company, and it is hoped that ere long it
will become part of the National Guard
force.
Z and G, of the First Artillery, are the
only companies in this city that take the
iull benefit out of their rifle ranges Occa-
Slonally stray man from B goes out, and
occasionally few crack shots of A
take sight at the" bulls eye" but Z and
U are the only ones that show any deter
mlnatlon to make record at target prac-
tee. For many years G has held its posi-
ton as the crack shooting company, and
from its ranks have graduated some of the
best shots in the State, but it will do well
to keep an eye On L, as if the latter pehse-
yeres III its practice, it will ere long be able
to enter the lists for the supremacy as
sharpshoo;ers.
Private NYm. Naughton, the wit of Com,
pany G and well known throughout the
regiment, died suddenly Thursday morn
ing. His many good qualities endeared
him to his comrades in arms.
The regiments under obligations to Mrs.
Governor Stoneman, Judge McKune, Drs.
Simmons and Cluncss, Rev. Father Grace
Rev. Mr. Ollie, Rev. Mr.. Taubner, Messrs.
Egl, Eitel and others for books donated to
its library.
BRIEF NOTES.