National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-10-14
CRACK COMPANIES
which VIII Enter the National Drill
Brief Extracts From the secrotnry's
Latter Ronk

which Will Enter the National Drill
Brief Extracts From the secrotnry's
Letter Book.
In view Of the widespread interest OF the
National Guards Of the Union in the ma
tional drill, proposed to be held here next
May, reporter of the NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN yesterday sought access to the letter
book Of the secretary Of the committee and
made some brief extracts.
Capt. 8. I. Carnes, who commanded the
famous "Chickasaw Guards,n of Memphis,
in most OF their "ten out Of eleven consecu-
tive Victories" writes personally to MIR.
De Leon: ~ think the Chickasaw Guards
will take part in the national drill and en-
campment at Washington, should your ar
rangements for one be perfected.
We have Just gotten fixed 10 our handsome
new quarters; and shall probably resume
our drills very soon.n
Capt. w. II. Thrift, company A, 4th regi-
ment. Iowa National Guards OF Dubuque,
writes for details stating; "The original
company organized In 1859, under Capt.
Frank Heron afterwards major-general)
was the first command in the United States
10 offer Its services TO President Lincoln at
the beginning of our civil war;
Capt. A. Is. Garland, IT,, commands the
Montgomery (Ala.) True Blues, the COM
pany that won the second prize at the
Savannah centennial drilli' and recently
carried of the second $4,000 from the Gal.
weston drill, being only one.and-a.half
points behind the champion "Houstons''
for the first place. Capt. Garland writes:
"Passing through Mobile In August, on re.
turn from the Galveston drill, told Capt.
Price Williams that we would meet the
great old Rifle Company at Washington
next May now write TO enter the Mont
L.. N.NIN
Secretary Corbitt, OF the world-known
Porter Rifles, Of Nashville (named for the
present Assistant Secretary Of State) also
proposes TO have that old company meet It's
lang syne rivals on the Washington drill
field.
Indianapolis also comes to the front,
Capt. J. Il. Curtis, Of the Light Artillery,
saying; at was with great pleasure that 1
read OF the proposed encampment at Wash
ington, and when mentioned IL at meet
ing OF the Battery last night, the men re-
reived the news with great enthusiasm. In
my opinion the organization would rather 90
to Washington than any other place. You
may depend on our being with YOU"
The "Hermitage Guards OF Nashville,
Tenn, met two weeks since, passed reso-
buttons to enter the drill, and began drill
ing for II the next night.
Tho National Rifles, Of this city, have
more recently had meeting AMI decided
to enter the Infantry contest, action in
which every Washingtonian will take deep
interest.
From far-away Milwaukee comes the
cavalry bugle note, blown by That company
OF national reputation, the "Light Horse
Squadron" Capt. Geo. j. Schoeffel COM
mands troop Of horse, second to none In
the country as soldiers and gentlemen, and
he writes for full information as to entries
and all details. Secretary De Leon states
that one Of the gravest disappointments of
the Mobile drill was the failure to induce
entry OF this noted corps.
Capt. Price Williams, OF the Mobile Rifle
Company, very warmly Endorses the idea OF
the national drill. Under his command the
Rifles defeated the then champion Sores
cent Rifles" at Nashville In May, 1888, and
later carried away the diamond badges'
from the full field at Dubuque.
Yesterdays Evening Star published ex-
tracts from a long aud interesting letter to
Mr. DeLeon from Gen. @. 8. Bentley, OF
Chicago. Gen. Bentley's high reputation as
asoldier, In war and In peace; his great in
fueIce with the national guards of the
whole west, and his experience as COM
mander of interstate encampments, make
his approval Of rare value. lie says of the
national drill : ~ believe In 1t. have faith
in 1t. indorse it.n