The Portland daily press., 1885-01-07
MAINE&tkfTIA.
A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE
LAST MUSTER.
by Captain ). a Fe..enden, s,h u. >. a.

by Captain J. A Fcssenden, 5ih u. y. A.
Capt. Fessenden OF the United States Artil-
lery, who was detailed to attend and criticse
the muster of the Maine Militia has just fin
ished his task and reports as follows:
THE CAMP.
Comp Robie, named after Gov. Robie, COM
manded by Brig. Gen. John Marshall Brown,
was in field containing about 40 acres stu
ated on the right bank Of the Kennebec river,
and near the State House. A hundred feet
above the river, towards which it gently slopes
the ground is admirably adapted for military
camp, by reason of its location, extent, shape,
and excellent natural drainage. The troops
composing the encampmsDt were the 1st Reg
iment of Infantry, 9 companies, Col. john J.
Lynch: ID Regiment of Infantry, compan-
les, Col. Henry L. Mitchell the 1st Battery of
Light Artillery az pounders), Capt Geo. W.
Preston; the whole organized as the 1st Bri-
gade Maine Volunteer Militia, Brig. Gen.
John M. Brown, commanding.
The consolidated morning report of August
8, the first day showed present for duty 73
commissioned officers and 742 enlisted men;
absent with leave, 2 commissioned officers and
152 enlisted men; absent without leave, 157 en-
listed men. A large majority of those absent
without leave were detained by their employ
ers, or otherwise kept at home by the pursuits
and occupations in which they we're engaged.
Such excuses as these were not deemed suffi-
cient, but that the men would be discharged,
and others enlisted who would cheerfully at
tend to their military duties for five consecu-
tive days in year,
The camp had been leid out and tents pitch
ed by details sent in advance, SO that when
the regiments arrived it only remained for
them to fill their bed-sacks and draw rations
before beginning the prescribedsmilitary exer-
cises. The brigade quartermaster had provid-
ed large allowance of clean, new straw, and
the commissary had furnished an abundance of
good wholesome food, such as the Army ration
is composed of, besides potatoes, onions and
cabbages. There was some complaint the first
day by two of the companies OF an insufficient
cy of rations at supper. This condition of af-
fairs was not in any way the fault of the bri-
gade commisSary, but must, think, be attri-
buted in great degree to the captains, who
failed to remember that it ia their duty, espec-
tally upon arriving in camp, to see that their
men are supplied with their full allowance of
food, and that provisions intended for three
meals are not consumed in one.
The tents used by both officers and men were
wall tents large marquee served as mess
tent for both regiments; it was divided by par
titions of canvas, extending half way to the
top, into compartments for each company, and
also for the messes of the field and staff off.
GERS All the kitchens were in shed twenty
feet from the marquee and parallel to it, each
kitchen being opposite its company mess. Po-
lice of the tents sHd company streets very
good; the knives, forks, spoons, plates, and
cups were clean, but in most OF the companies
not secured and bright; the kitchens were not
kept as clean as they should have been, al
though the cooking utensils were in good or
der, and the food was properly prepared and
of excellent quality; the sinks were altogether
too small, but they were covered with earth
and kept in good condition from day to day.
The full dress uniform for the infantry con-
ssts of light blue trousers, with white stripes;
dark blue swallow-tail coat, with white fac
ings and three rows of buttons; and the he'll
met. For undress uniform, the shirt blouse
and forage cap are worn. The troops were also
supplied with the regulation oyercoat, box
knapsacks, and red blankets.
Arms were in fair condition, few rusty-a
good many from which the oil had not been
entirely wiped, but perhaps more which were
clean and bright. 1 did not discover single
piece which was out of order. The clothing,
for the most part, was neat and well fitted. l
would recommend, however, that the captains
suggest to their men themselves to have the
trousers made smaller in the legs, which
would cost but little and would greatly i'm
prove the appearance of the entire uniform.
BRIGADE GUARD MOUNTING.
The exercises of the first day began with
brigade guard mounting at 2.30 p. m. after
which there were battalion aud battery drills
for an hour and half Every day thereaf-
ter there were two drills of two hours each Zone
in the forenoon, the other in the afternooD),
and brigade dress parade at $50 p. m. The
following observations are from my notes,
made from day to day:
At brigade guard mounting the frat day the
officer of the 1st. Regim ants detachment did
not form it in open order, and 1.-THE staff officer
who mounted the guard faced towsrd the Off
Ger of the day, after the command "Parade,
rest; sound off," The commander of the guard
during inspection took nearly all the pieces
below the lower band; be should have taken
each piece at the small of the stock. The
marching was tolerable, thu platoons losing
distances and not keeping aligned. None of
these mistakes occurred the second day, but L
noticed the officer commanding the second
platoon failed TO give the command "Halt,
left DRESS" after the first Wheel and allowed
the platoon to close upon the band. At that
guard mounting fonnd Go. d, I'd Regiment
had the cleanest pieces. The other guard
mountings were conducted in a creditable
manner and marked improvement from day
to day, which showed an increased interest On
the part of the officers as well as better ir-
struction of the men. There were fourteen
posts and four orderlies. On the first day the
sentineIs we're singularly deficient in the
knowledge of their duties, especially as regards
salutes many of them, not knowing the diff.
ference in the insignia of rank, could not dis
tinguish a field officer from line officer, or a
general from lieutenant, or, if they could
make the proper distinction, they had little
idea to whom they should present arms and to
whom they should give the "sergeant's salute"
This IS not surprising. since, presume, it is
seldom they see an officer above the rank of
captain, save at the annual encampment or on
gala days. However, they were quick to learn
and found them anxious to perform their du-
ties well, and observed also that they profit
ed by the instruction they received from the
officers of the guard, officers of the day, and
the brigade inspector.
Only two wall tents had been provided for
the guard. These were altogether insufficient
for thirty men to lie down in, No tent had
been provided for the officers of the gusrd.
This was surely an oversight, since it is imper-
ative for an officer to remain with his guard;
nor is it intended that he should occupy the
same tent with his men.
BATTALION DRILLS.
The battalion drills were similar to the
guard mcuntings in this respect, that, being
faulty at first, they showed constant daily i'm.
provement. Col. Lynch devoted more time to
drilling his men in the manual Of arms than
did Col. Mitchell, and confined his marching
drill entirely to the mapeuvres by company,
and the march in line. Col. Mitchell, in addi-
tion TO the foregoing movements, essayed sew
ersl formations in the man@uvres by division,
all of which he repeated until they had been
correctly executed. The .adjatants did not
equalize the companies, hence the difficulties
they experienced in preserving their proper
distances, and in wheeling into line without
crowding each other or leaving gaps between
them, / noticed also, in both regiments, that
some of the companies were formed in single
rank and others in double rank. In several of
the companies of the 1st Regiment the front
rank of the left four was entirely uncovered,
whereas Nos. and should have been covered
by Nos. 2 and 3 in the rear rank of the four
next on the right, (see Upton, par. 1907; this
was the fault of the first sergeants. In form
ing the column of fours front into line, many
of the captains omitted the command "dsuble
time;" this occurred in both regiments. In
column of fours several of the captains of both
regiments did not march by the side Of the
guides but directly in front of them, Consid-
ering the fact that the officers have had so few
opportunities for battalion drill, it is not sur
prising that they should make mistakes, for,
no matter how much they may have studied
the tactics, instruction, experience and prac-
tice on the drill ground are essential to enable
them to become proficient. In this connection
would recommend that in the cities where
there are two or more companies they should
be consolidated for battalion drill as often as
practicable; two companies with fifty men
each would make six companies forming them
- II. L