Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-29
MILITARY NOTES.
A Review of the Recent Encampment at
Santa Cruz.

of weekly drills. It will be well if Captains
of companies will calmly look over the
events of the past couple of weeks and find
out in what particulars Of military knowl-
edge their companies are most deficient.
and make notes for future use In the
history of the First Artillery there never
has been time when companies have been
commanded By such competent Captains as
at the present. This is u matter Tor CON
graduation, as ii is the most important post
in the National Guard. Generals, Colonies
and other officers are necessary in large
bodies but the hardest work falls on the
Captains, and upon them deyolves the duty
of drilling their men week after week, OF
making the drills interesting, so that the at
tendance will be regular and full, keeping
constantly before their men the principle
that il is high duty they owe the State.
etc, and all this is done outside of business
hours, and without any recompense, or the
hope of any.
The encampment has been of great value
to all The men were worked harder than
at any previous gathering of the kind.
There was not the slightest trouble in the
camp (eYen Chaplain Rice and Surgeon
WEIGH were the best of friends, after the
latter was soused in the surf by the former,,
nor was there single case of intoxication
noticed. The improvement III marching
and wheeling in column of companies was
very noticeable at the close of the week,
and was q source of pride to the officers
and men, and the very best of feeling
prevails towards the officers and men of
our regiment throughout the division.
Major Hubbard, of our own brigade. made
himself a general favorite. He is soldierlv
III his bearing, looks after the comfort of
his men, understands his business and does
not interfere with the rights of his subor-
dinates. Major Hebron also was invalu.
able, and Captains Houghton and Sheehan
were excellent aids to General Carey
Captain Rapp, of Company c, Nevada
City, had the right of the line, and main
tanned it with credit to himself, his com.
pany apd the regiment. He was ably
assisted by Lieutenants Nihel and Simons
two very conscientious officers Captain
Cook, Company b, next in rank. held the
left of the line. He is a very cool and able
officer, does not need much coaching in a
dnll, and when a superior officer orders
hlm to duty, IS prompt ana willing; but
that superior, whoever he may be. should
be careful that he understands his business
because the Captain will not stand any
nonsense. Captain Stevens, Company A
has raised himself immensely in the esti-
nation of his company and brother officers.
He held his men down to business, and
proved himself a competent officer. He is
a man that, i'll a fight would be followed
TO sheol,' and he would not be the last
man in, either. This company had the
colors in its charge. and it would go hard
with any company or regiment if it should
be toolhardy enough to attempt their cap
ture
AT the close of the sham battle, when the
final charge was made by the First Infantry
on the First Artillery, which was retreating
according to programme, there was a circle
OF glistening bayonets drawn around the
colors, and if A was hard pressed G was
alongside, ready to club their mus
kets i'll its defense. Captain Weinstock.
of h, came in line between c. and A,
and is on the high road to become
very efficient officer. He was constantly
on the lookout for the comfort of his men,
devlslng ways and means for their amuse-
ment, lnstructing them, seeing that they
were not imposed upon, and when concert
OF action was required by the regimental
officers for any purpose for the good of the
force, his advice was Invaluable His COM
pany was sent out to skirmish for the pro-
visional regiment, and for some time was
at great distance from his own. When
finally ordered in by the Colonel, it took
about five minutes to get him to under
stand what was wanted. He was as ex-
cited as if it was genuine fight but when
he finally understood he and his men were
wanted to aid his regiment at a rally, it
was sight worth witnessing to see Els boys
put out for the beleagured command. Some
of the lookers-on affirm that the Captain
outran the Coloners horse in getting back
{ onto of
land, a good officer and thorough
gentleman, was out on picket,
and gave the first notice to his
regiment that the enemy was in sight. He
commenced rafting fire Oh the First In
fantry and battery, and, his blood being
up, positively would not give way until he
was assured that Company A was coming
at run to relieve him When he saw
Company A advance, he retired to rest his
painting company behind the regimental
line. Captain Hall, of Company G, the
youngest Captain, if he continues his hard
study of tactics, will probably wind up his
military career with the honor of wearing
a star, but he has sense enough to know
that, as the National Guard is at present
constituted, two bars are more honorable
He has very orderly body of men, and it
will not be his fault if they are imposed
upon. He looks after the smallest details.
and on drill handled his company surpris-
ingly well for the short practice he has had
He is liked by everybody, and is hard
worker.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Guthrie and Major
Mckee were continually in camp attending
to business, and we do not believe there
was more efficient set of staff officers in
the camp than that of the First Artillery.
Almost any of them could be called upon
20 i
petent. When Adiutant Neary was called
home by the sickness of his brother, Pow
ers took his place with credit to himself,
and when he was engaged in other duties.
Lieutenants Rivett and Plant could supply
the deficiency. Quartermaster Riyett and
Quartermaster Sergeant Hughes worked
hard with the tents and baggage, and we
have not heard of case where baggage
was lost which was handled by them. In
fact, every man attended to the duties set
tor him to do faithfully and well
The weeks drills have been beneficial, as
before stated, and the sham battle, which
at first thought would appear to be use
less, is q school of great importance 1t
teaches men and officers to keep cool,
which in itself is very necessary in real
action. We have no hesitation in saying
that participation in sham battle few
times would enable all 10 see how neces-
sary it is to preserve unbroken lines, to
give the commands coolly, to keep an eye
on the movements of the opposing force, if
in sight, in order to checkmate any move
upon their post to turn their flank, and
various other points. OF course in actual
battle, when troops are at such close quar-
tiers as they were on the 22d at Camp
Stoneman, and plenty of ammunition on
hand, there would not be a grease spot of
either side left unless the firing was terri
bly, wild, and as matter of fact the Third
Infantry would have been annihilated by
acting Colonel Lehes regiment before it
could have got to the foot of the bald
(Tripe) hill near Lehes quarters as he had
stronger force and clear sweep at the
enemy from summit TO base. This was
the most picturesque part of the battle,
several lines of skirmishers being out and
the scene clear to all. 1t would have Jared
harder with the First Artillery, because
the opposing force was much larger and
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