National Republican., 1888-02-12
OUR NATIONAL GUARD.
DOlNGs AMONG THE MILITARY ORGANIzA.
TION5 OF THIS DISTRICT.
for the Next mspcction--I.cyis-
ing Tactics as TO Knceling Firing-Balti-
more Militia Wants II walking Match
Starting ~ Soldiers Gymnasium.

The second inspection of the National
Guard begins April I'd next. The schedule
of dates for the various companies will be
prepared shortly. Order No. 4 has been is
sued and il states that the companies of the
National Guard will be inspected in the
school of the squad, including the Rrings.
Each company will he formed for inspection
in squads of from eight to twelve men in
single rank, and upon their inspection
formed in squads of from sixteen to twenty
four men in double rank, each squad
under the command of commissioned or
non-commissioncd officer. Every company
offer will attend. The order is signed Off
cally by Acting INSPECTOR General John
Bigeow, ir.
The last inspections were very favorable
and showed great inclination on the part
of the various companies to come to the front
in good shape. The markings were very
fair and just These facts have been accepted
aS true by the captains who have been
shown in Il plain, straightforward way the
defects noticed on inspection in their COM
mands The result of the markings has been
the means of throwing an immense amount
of ambition into the membership of the
militia. Drilling has again become the
desire of all the companies. Hardly night
passes now without some company will be
heard marching in its armory. The Wash
iugton Light Infantry are drilling for all that
they are worth. The companies mean to
get above the standard that they have at
tanned. The Fencbles are drilling twice II
week. The COlorcd troops are at 1t nightly,
and they mean to raise the per centage at the
next inspection.
Captains Ross and Domer and Lieutenant
Oulund have been ordered to sit as a board
to revise paragraph no of the tactics. This
paragraph refers to fire kneeling," and its
present meaning is very doubtful. The board
are to consider some method for this COM
mand that will give greater comfort to the
men while firing kneeling. They will meet
at the call of the president of the board.
Lieutenants Mosher and Thomson, of the
Fencibles, who have been quite ill., are now
fast recovering and will soon be on duty
again.
The Fenciblcs will probably have an in
formal hop at their armory very soon in
honor of the ladies'. who took part in the
equestriennc drill recently.
The command is talking of organizing a
base ball team and they propose to cross bats
with teams of other companies which ii is
cad will also be formed.
Should the friends of Colonel Moore notice
that he is grown suddenly handsomer than
before, the cause is explained by the fact that
he is to lead the grand march ut the lull-drcss
hop of the w. l.. |. Corps tomorrow night.
The lady who will be his partner is also very
pretty, and the gallant Colonel intends to be
equal to the occasion. The boys of the com
mand are laying themselves out for the night
The armory will be made scene of beauty
and the event one long to be remembered.
This command expects, about the 10th inst
TO organize its gymnasium club and begin
work. Ham. Cruger, Sergeants kirchner and
Wade, Sergeant Major Loefiler, and others
have been visiting the local gymnasiums get
IN IN mot a
least fifteen of their eX-members back, the
good result oftheir recent reunion.
Sergeant James 5. Wade has received 6
letter from First Sergeant John Jay Carroll, oi
Company Il, 9th Maryland regiment, Balti
more, stating that the Maryland soldiers arc
very eager to compete with the w. l.. boys
in walking match between the two cities
The plan is for a company from the 9th tc
march from Baltimore to this city while q
company from the w. L. |. is to march from
here to Baltimore. The writer says that the
9th is eager for the challenge. Sergeant Car
roll proposes to come over shortly and max,
the arrangements. Sergeant Wade says tina
it is proposed that each company is to b'
banqueted at the end of its march,
The Signal Corps is now pleasantly situated
in Grand Army Hall, Seventh and l. streets
Lieutenant Field says that his command IL
increasing rapidly, and the members are now
being taught the duties of a soldier. He il
highly delighted ut the progress the men arr
making, and he thinks that his will be thu
company of the National Guard.
Who will be the major of the 4th baal
ion? This question is soon to be answered
and it is likely that Il well-known ex-mili
tary officer will get the shoulder straps.
The talk is now that the military commit
tees of both houses of Congress are to d'
the right thing by the District militia. Mat
tiers are not so quiet in this direction as the.
are thought to be. Patience on the part O
= the soldiers will be rewarded by a little sur
prise that they will be pleased with. TIL
militia bill is set down as Il certainty as pass
ing CONGRESS by u large majority.