The Portland daily press., 1885-12-30
NAMES MILITIA.
Gen. Craham's Report of His Visit to
the Encampment.


Gen. Crahan's Report of His Visit to
the Encampment.
The following is an abstract of the report
of Gen. W. NJ. Graham, made to the Adju-
tant General U. S. A., Washington, of the
inspection of the Maine militia during the
encampment at Augusta in August last, a
copy of which has just been received
After giving the various commands constituting
the brigade and the aggregate present OF each,
total aggregate 700, Gen Graham proceeds to
describe the location of of the camp, as well as
that of each regiment, battery and brigade head
quarters the tents of the staff of the commander
in-chief being on the right of brigade headquaT-
tiers and in the form of hollow square.
The ground on which the tents of the second
regiment stood, he says, was well drained with
good sanitary requirements. That of the first
regiment very poor, and that of the battery
Swampy, with surface water standing on battery
sanitary @ pon Of View W. Th}s erdund 6eohged
to private parties and had short time previous
to the muster been used by circus company
and was much cut up and rough, which made 1t
difficult to police; balance of the camp was on
ground belonging to the State.
He thinks the epaulment constructed at the
two hundred yards range serves an excellent pur-
pose of inStructing men in firing along the crest of
an enemy's earthwork as well as for the protec-
tiOn of the markers. The campground, he thinks
beautifully situated but too near a town, which
is a source of strong temptation to the best dis
cipined troops, and can as naturally be taken for
granted, causes many abSenteeS who otherwise
would be present with their cOlors during the
whole period of their encampment.
He thinks the art OF Instrumentation not the
least important OF the subject OF instruction in
the art of war, knowledge of which is of the ut
most Importance in campaigning, the health and
efficiency of command often depending upon a
,ue regard to its principles He suggests that the
period OF encampment be extended so as to allow
some instruction in that branch. He thinks the
do aunln mi
il all the ground was available. But on account
OF the trees, ravines and holloHs he thinks there
is not sufficient ground on which to conduct infan
try and artillery drills as well as target practice
simultaneously, very important requirement in
the economy of instructions, where but four days
II 365 are allowed He says officers and men can
not be found who are more jealous and ambitious
in the discharge of their duties in furtherance Of
the objects for which they are assembled in camp.
enable them to practice all the evoluti0ns OF the
brigade and battery school, as well as for target
practice for the artillery and small arms, other
wise their instructions must be incomplete.
THE DRILL GROUNDS,
he thinks very good for evolution in school of
the battalion and school of battery when not occu
pied by infantry, but too limited in area for br-
gade formation, except en- masSe, and leaving no
room for the deployments from line of masse, nor
for battalion skirmish drill. The ground used for
target practice would be good for the different
stantly needed for target practice.
MEssEs.
He says Brig Gen. Gallagher, A1jutant, Quar-
termaster and Paymaster General, assisted by
Capt. Whitmarsh, Assistant Commissary, pr0yid-
ed excellent facilities for messing the troops. Two
wooden buildings were erected for kitchens, fur
nished with ranges and boilers, connected with a
ment and the battery. He thinks a saving was was
made by this arrangement. The rations, he says.
were very good, both as to quantity and quality
In every component, with the exception of the eOf
fee, which was not good; due in his opinion to the
fact that the coffee was not ground fine enough
he concurs to the fact that the coffee was too
closely confined in bags not leaving sufficient air
space to allow the water in which it was boiled to
reach all the fractions of grains
Beef potatoes, beans with pork, green corn,
white and brown bread, pickles, pepper, salt, and
fruit of an excellent quality were supplied. He
ruit, watermelons. Companies supplied with
ample mess formations; water supplied in ample
and excellent quality. He says. 81 consider
that the whole arrangementfor cooking and mess
ing, while open to some improvements in minor
details, and which have already met the notice of
fleets great credit upon the State"
HOSPITALS.
This branch of the service, he thinks, has been
overlooked, on account of the short term of the
encanpments. He thinks it would be advisable
Stan OF the brigade commander in addition to the
present number OF medical officers attached to
regiments Each to have hospital department
complete, with all the necessary camp equipage,
stores and surgical instruments
SINKS.
This subject did not receive the attention desir-
able for sanitary reasons. Each regiment should
have six large pits, five feet deep at least; the
look after them under the direction Of the regi-
mental and battery officers of the day.
POLICE.
He thinks the police of the camp not so thorough
as 1t should have been, owing, to a great extent
to the facts that the troops were engaged con-
stantly throughout the day in military exercises.
Company and regimenta1 commanders being
anxious to have all their men not on guard in
ranks for Instructions, the system of requiring
the old guard to turn out for tour of duty as
police was not understood.
After speaking of the ornaments and uniforms
OF the militia, he takes up the
DRILLS.
Drills in the school of the company and bat
TALON were conducted during every available
constant and untring interest and zeal, indicating
a hearty desire to improve every moment of their
time in perfecting themselves in the important
branch of instruction Many tactical mistakes
were made with marked improvement from day
to day which is the object desired During the
battalion drills, movements were attempted and
without mistakes, but, when completed, indicating
fair knowledge on the part of all of the general
feature Of the drill was the fact that the companies
were not equaliZed Some in double while others
were in single ranks. which gave the formation
ragged appearance, not to say anything OF the
violation of the tactics involved.
The I'd Regiment he says, executed the deploy-
ment as skirmishers by numbers, the tirings and
.SSembly ON the battalion in an excellent man.
ner.'aa
PARADEs.
These ceremonies were conducted in very
creditable manner The 1St Regiment executed
the manual of arms in excellent cadence. Tactical
mistakes were made, but comparatively few As
a whole the regiments presented an excellent
military appearance.
INSPECTION
The condition tha arms and clothinp was
goOe.
The manual of inspection of arms" was poorly
executed by the majority of the men. In some
instances it was well executed, showing good in
structions. The men had a soldierly bearing,
stood steady in ranks and were of good physique.
Gen. Graham made a personal inspection of the
battery, being an artillery officer himself. He
says this arm of the service, requiring so much
more and varied instructions, cannot be expected
TO attain the same relative degree of proficiency
as the infantry.
REVIEW.
His Excellency Governor Robie reviewed the
brigade Thursday, with his staff accompanied by
Gen. Graham.
The brigade passed in review in very good form.
Mistakes were made, but taken as whole, the
very creditable to troops having so little opportu-
nifty for instruction and practice
GUARD DUTY.
Guard duty was fairly well performed. A great
deal of instruction is needed in this important of
all the duties of a soldier. Gen. Graham suggests
that each company be supplied with a copy of
Regan's Manual of Guard Duty, and then that Of
ficers and men be required to practice guard duty,
IN all its different forms, at their armories during
the year.
Very little was known of this subjectby either
officers or men.
TARGET PRIZE DRILLS.
Gen Graham says this most important branch
OF instruction was very thoroughly conducted by
Col Harrington, State Inspector of rifle practice.
Under his personal supervision competition took
place each day of the encampments. "The re-
sut,'' he says, II consider, demonstrates high
degree of proficiency, alike most creditable to the
inspector and the officers and the men under his
command" after noticing and giving the result of
the various matches which took place during the
encampment. The instructions contained in
"Blunt's Rifle and Carbne Firing" were followed
as closely as could be expected.
The militia, he says, speak in the highest terms
OF BluntS book IN every respect, and have adopted
his rules for classification which raises the stan
dard reached by the Maine militia in target firing
above that attained by the militia of any other
state. Gen. Graham also says there is every
reason for holding out inducements to this fine
body of marksmen to send teams to compete at
Creedmore.
MILITARY APPEARANCE.
The troops, as a body presented fine military
appearance on all occasions under arms. The
physiques of the men are excellent, their bearing
soldierly, and arms and accoutrements in fairly
good condition.
DISCIPLINE.
Gen. Graham says, it is difficult to fix stand
teer militia. To take that of the regular army
ms nj Iu ha I met ha caid Of