The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-05-27

From The News and Couricr.l
New ORLEANS, May 19.-tood drill
ing has become so common this week in
New Orleans that the eye Of the most
unmilitary citizen becomes filed with
critical glanccs when it detects the
slightest flaw in company
There have been but one or two compa-
nies here that have not shown hard
work and long practice.
Individual errors are fast becoming
the controlling element of the results.
Together with the rulings from the war
department and the -1,my and Ndval
journal there is ~springinS up a new tao
tics especially adapted by its fine points
to fancy companies. Every mans per-
sonal equation as to time and nervous
ness now forms a factor Of the result,
and the winning company is invariably
composed of the coolest men. All Of
these crack companies usually have a
thorough knowledge Of tactics and fine
points, but all realize that a wrong COM
mand, u slip upon the grass or twelvcs
inches of distance may loose a victory.
The judges do more work OH n drill
merly they sat in a handsome pavilion
and record their notes upon u convcn-
tent table. That is changed now. They
are always with the company and by
their active scrutiny remind one Of en-
pert mechanics examining the workings
of some complicated. piece of moving
machinery.
The most attractive sight Of the week
was the line and platoon movements Mt
double time. A company in line would
sweep across the limited space followed
and preceded by judges at a full run 3;
then. the platoon would wheel, while
every spectator shuddercd as the fence
was missed by a hairs breadth
=. The following account Of the crack
companies Of the Union may be of in
terest ::
The Mobile Rifles, Capt. Lewis T.
Woodruff, were organized January 10,
1888. Their war record is brilliant, and
since their entrance into the competi-
tive field their record is as follows: At
Mobile, My 8, 1881, defeated Nichols
Rifles Of New Orleans. At Mobile, May
20, 1881, they came out sixth in a COM
petition with the 'Chicks," Crcsccnts,
League Guards, Houston Light Guards
and Vauhdry Rifles. At Nashville, May
10, 1882, they defeated the Cresccnts,
Treadway Rifles, Houstons and Law
renee Light Infantry of Boston. May 6,
1888, they were fourth at Houston.
Immediately aftor, they were first at
Dubuque over five companies. May,
1885. first at New Orleans.
The Chickasaws, Capt. S. n. Garner,
organized June 80. 1874. Their victo-
ries and competitions are so numerous
that only a brief summary will be given /:
AtNashville, May, 1875, they were sec
ond Memphis, October, 1875, first ;
Memphis, May, 1873. first; St. Louis,
1878, second Chattanooga, July, 1879,
first; st. Louis, October, 1879, first ;
Nashville, May. 1880 first Nuw Or
leans, 1881, first: Louisville, 1882, sec
ond; indianapolis, 1884, first: Mobile,
1885, withdraw on account Of accident:
New Orleans, 1885, they were third.
In some Of these competitions eight
companies engaged. Their record is
the most brilliant Of all. Capt. Carncs
and Private Proudft have been present
AT every contest. First Scrgt. Richard
Wright has acted as right guide in ten
contests.
Houston Light Guards, Capt. Thomas
Scurry, organized April 81, 1883. Al,
Austin, November, 1875, first place.
Houston. May, 1875, first place; Hous
ton, June 1878, first place; Houston,
1880, first place; New Orleans, May,
1882, second place; New Orleans, 1888.
second place; Houston, 1884. first place.
Many of these were state contests.
The most wonderful company in the
United States is the Busch Zouaycs. Of
st. Louis. They have their own tactics,
and have never taken any prize but the
first in inter- State Zouavc drills. Mos;
OF them are athletes, and execute tho
manunl and man@uvrcs withl lightning
.raPidity. >Uhey have u special four
whose exhibition Of skill in handling
arms IL truly wonderful. Two o: this
Tour have also a double drill in front
while the company il at place rest The
p'"oes, with bayonets fixed, nre re-
T"lYed and thrown high into the air as
lhey change from one man tn another.
Every motion is %cadcnced, and it seems
That you are looi Ing mt the same man
and his mirrored image so uniform and
complex are the motions.
Ihe outcome Of inter. State drills NAV
be summed as follows: A great OK