Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-16
OUR VOLUNTEERS.
TIE CONDITION OF THE MILITIA oY
THE COUNTRY.
Reports Of the Army Officers Inspecting
State Troops Comprehensive idea Of
the tystem Of Training, &c.
fRr telegram to the nl.pa.ch. !

fBy telegraph to the nspatch.l
WASHINGTON. November l5.- rbe Adiu.
tsnt.Geuerai has made pubic number OF
reports from army officers who were De-
tailed 10 attend and inspect the annual en-.
camrmenis and evoluiions OF the militia o.
the states of Alabama, Maine. Michigan,
New Hampshire. Minnesota, Missouri. New
York. Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvanti,
Iowa. Illinois, Vermont. MASSACHUSETTS,,
Rhode Island. Indiana. ksusss, Conaecti-
cot. snd DsGsta. The inspections were
confined 20 the states above enumerated,
for the reason that the Governor. ot other
states failed 90 request the War Depart
uent 10 detail officers 10 yisi the cncamp-
ment. IN their states. While critieizing
the details ~ the various organizations.
such - lack q uniformity In clothing.
poor attendance Al roll-cal'-, aud DISPOSE
tion TO shirk guard duty and other onerous
duties Of soldier-lii,, the reports are unanl-
nous in praising The physical qualis atoms
of the mes who make % the militia, their
excellence in drill and tactics. and the
earnest. manly efforts oi The officers 10 tn-
PROVE The commands snd miinlain high
standard of discipline. General complaint
Is made Of poor quality of arms furnished
the nJiiitis, consisting IN a great nui oiold,
badl,.woTn and unserN iceabie springfield
and Sharp rifles. Most Of the orgsnlza-
tiop, showed much interest In target prsc-
tice. and the Maine militia T. especially
commended for H. marvellous skirmish'
firing. several reports speak of the crying
ne, d of thorough. systematic instruction.
The material is said 10 be splendid, and
zeal snd intelligence the rule, but lacking
II l.. 40 fha War
pepartmeut should detail ofi ers 10 report
20 The Governors oi the various states TO
he assigned 10 duty A. instructors solely.
with no command whatever; aud II the
plan should be adopted IL J. thought that
the result would be- Of greet value 70 the
states. II il recommended that closely
neighhoring states accredit visitors OH
| cially t. State encsmpmcnts, whose duty u
.hsll be tOtake notes and report upon mat
ieis 81 interest to the militii. More study
was found TO be necessary by suballerns,
and tie use Of dummies or blocks In tacti-
cal studies IL urged.
CAPTAIN Howell, second artillery, In his
rcpori oi Visit 10 Camp ~eay. near
| Mobile, 10 inspect the irst regiment Ala.
| hama troops, calls attention 10 the lmper-
| feet arms aud their bad condition. The
| IItNkri~ Mfff NlN- lhAt'lt u : ~ htit
| muskets. snd nearly all shoN I'd great lack
Of care. probably fifty Of them Captain
| Howell said. "Were almost totally uuser-
viceable from neglect. This was specially
noticed IN = COMPANY from Evergreen. Out
! OF prohshly dozen that examined In this
company, there was not single gun thai !
| would not anticipate unforWnlie results
| from IN Gaze II were tred. and In conse-
quence principally OF the gun bring eaten
up with rust. The idea of srrN ice IN the
field seems to hsvc considerable weight
with tni> command. Gun- and HccoUtre-
utut., fatigue uniforms, tents, and sUf-
fireut ammunition 30 meet q sudden emer'
gcncv are kept constantly al The armory,
| and .ystcm arranged for assembling
| pr0mvily. There l. llttle or 20 camp
! ,gulpsge on band beside tents, OF
which each company sthe owner Of a fair
supply, exclusively wall tents. With The
exception u two companies that have nc
uniforms III for rough service, the regiment
could take the Geld on few hours' nO,ic,
sud 10 pretty fair condition for service
There ere many points, oi course, In which
they would Dee greatly detective, originating
m limited opportuniiles; the scant supper
the. receive from th- state and the United
Ststoe. and the system which obtains II
many, II not oh. ~ the companies, O
wasllug timc IN cnCeayoring 10 reach me
/ chanical precision m certain direction
Nhile ueglecting wha, would be mole u~efu
"a actual service. The precision on dri
AID parade. in connection IS lth -hOH
uniform. i, calculated 90 Winibc a1mlrstlO
~ tbe popUlace which is The reward that
chiefly looked forward 20. and i the ~
duccmcut aDoNe all Others that Keeps al
and gives vitality 10 the or.anizati)n. >nel
thing, - Sre not conducive o. tnis end ar
.Dost generally neglected.
Dn tins subject Captain Howell says
The msi0riiy u the Infantry companle
appear 10 be well up IN squad aud comp1
uy-drills. some ~ them show that mucl
lime and care have been successfully ex
pended IN pcriectng themselves In thes
I dull.. attaining precision OF moyemen
that ! have never seen surpassed. In
.iruction, however. has extended bur lilil
t,VOnd ihis. ~klrmisb- and batialon-drill
sud taI.etpractice have been almost eu
tlrely neg, ricd.'
In concluding. Captain Howell make
the follow iug r,commcndations . ] thinl
n advisable that c0Duni'> should All bay
/ The same uniform. ln - flr. m least, a
fatigue uniform or dress fpr lrlI service !
concerned. Al present such h. not the ease
simple. plain, but eryicetb,e fatigue uni
form might be prescribed hy the state al
thoTiti,s for all II, troop, - which IA
companies might gradually conform witbil
limited time say one year. J tIlkei
With several officers on the subject, ant
. they strongly favored the ldea - q commDl
uniform for all. also think II adyIsabl
that n. Instead - establishing these cn
Camymcnts m the immeditte Yicinit
u the hsmes ~ TIE member, % commands
they be- located 90 some more di-ian
point-say .. least one days march,
vii result ia very great Advantage. In tbi
case busincs, and sOcAI influence. that nos
hamper .yery effort %, imparting insiruc
ton could be more easily overcome, an
90. men held in hand for practice 10 bat
taliou-Grill, Enthusiastically. target practice
| guard duty, and many other thugs - g
/ ,tuiial 10 the success of iroOps IN service.