Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-17
MILITARY NOTES.
Referring Principally to Company Drills
and Methods of Instruction


On account of the inclemency of III,
weather, the company drills were not a:
largely attended as would be desired the
past week, if we except Company B, which
| had in the neighborhood of 40 men, but
the election for Second Lieutenant NAV
have been the cause of this somewhat, al.
though the members as rule attend tc
business pretty we'll 1t certainly is not
| too much to expect that between so and 4C
men of each company should attend the
weekly drills out of total membership Of
| over 60. In a review of the drills during
the past week, comparisons of methods OF
instruction, steadiness in the ranks. etc, il
may be said that Company A goes through
| its work in better form and with much
| more spirit than any other, and, truth to
say, is second TO none in the attention paid
! and steadiness while in the ranks. This
latter qualification might not be expected
IN this company, as AS boys have the
| name OF being lively" to put il mildly
but II is fact, nevertheless, and we think
the chief reason for it is that Captain
Stevens does not give them an opportunity
to think of anything but the work in hand
He works his men too hard if his usual
weekly drill is like his last, and it should
be shortened. The Captain does not ex.
plain how movements should be executed
as well or as often as he should When an
order is gwen that is not executed nicely. il
is time to cry halt, explain fully how il
should be done while the men are resting
and try it again.
Company G could make splendid show.
ing on the drill floor if some few of IFS
members would quit talking while in the
ranks, and desist from constantly MOVING
the head, hands or feet. From obserya-
ton during the week the men of this CON-
pany are more unsteady in the ranks than
any other. This applies only to a few OF
its members, but the entire company is
Inarred by 1t. Captain Halls method OF
instruction is the best we have seen. He
explains fully, pays attention to the little
details, and if he can claim the undivided
attention of his men and fuller attend
ance at drills, he will have thoroughlv
good company before long.
Company b needs drilling. There are a
good lot OF boys in the corps. It has excel
lent ofhcers, and more of them than any
other company, but it goes through the
drill IN careless manner, and some of its
members are very unattentive. The ex-
plantations of Captain Cook are not as full
and complete as one would desire. and one
thinks he will find it to his own and his
company advantage if he will lay out his
work each evening. Take certain move
ments and explain each fully, and keep at
1t until 1t is thoroughly understood. The
Captain has an excellent understanding of
battalion evolutions. and all that il re-
quired is to get his men to understand their
company drill, and insist on their piving
entire attention to their duties while in
the ranks. BIS and G's officers should look
after this particularly. Company Els at
tendance was not up to the standard. but
TINS was chiefly on account of the bad wea.
Their. No fault can be found with the at
tendance at drills as rule The men of
this company deem it point of honor to
attend to their duties as National Guards
men, and no class OF men can pay
better attention while drilling. nor
profit quicker by the instruction
given, The private soldiers carry
the tactics in their pockets, and we no.
uced one OF them pulling il on the Colonel
the other evening. while a discussion was
being carried on as to the position of a
guide III certain movement. Captain
Weinstock has improved greatly in his
method OF giving commands, being PROMPT
and sharp, and if he will add distinctness.
so that men can hear and understand well
there WILL not be so many breaks made.
The Captain does not explain matters as
fully as he might.
There seems TO be desire among ell the
company commanders TO 90 through as
many movements as possible during the
evening, and either not discovering or
winklng at little inaccuracies in drill. This
should be stopped What YOU do should
be done well. Don't attempt too much,
and above all, do not work your men too
hard. Endeavor to start in with your drill
promptly at 5 O'Clock, and an hour each
evening will be enough. Notify your men
that you Will have such and such move
ments executed, that you wish to get them
perfectly, and insist on the men giving
their entire attention. If you find one who
Will not keep steady, drop him out. He is
OF no use to you, and gives the company a
reputation il should not deserve
Corporal Charles B. Strong was elected
Second Lieutenant of Company b Wednes-
day evening, vice Lieutenant Best, resigned.
lie seems to be favorite with the COM
pany. His examination takes place Mon
day night.
Company BIS target practice at Alder
creek has been postponed on account of the
ram. The shoot for the gold medal bv
mem bers OF the field and staff team has
also been postponed, tie range being COW
cred with water.
An election FOR Captain of Company f,
Woodland. has been ordered for A pril 9th,
Lieutenant-Colonel Guthrie Inspector.
The company drills next week will be
superintended by Northumberland fgtb-
RE. During last week there was not one
staff officer present at drills.
The matter of what sort of targets should
be used by the battery AT its practice with
the -canuon-being up for
discussion at BIS meeting Wednesday. Ma
ior Win. Davis, OF the. brigade staff. very
kindly offered the company one Of his
brother staff officers as target for the oc-
casion. 1t was not quite clear whether this
was shot at the company or the proposed
target"