Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-19
MILITARY NOTES.
Acknowledgement Orion Drills the First
Artillery Regiment.

A most interesting drill of the city com
panies took place at the Armory Monday
evening. 1t was interesting from the fact
that Adjutant-General orion took COM
mand of the battalion on the invitation OF
Colonel Guthrie and if it had been gener-
ally known by outsiders the Armory would
no doubt have been crowded with specta-
tors, it being a novelty for an Adiutant-
General to be able to command, and give
instruction to q battalion in the various
evolutions laid down in Upton" We are
informed that one military crank, who was
well uptown On his way homeward upon
learning that General Orion was to drill
the battalion, faced right-about and wit
messed the drill. The National Guard is to
be congratulated that it has at its head an
officer who is in sympathy with it, and
capable of instructing all in their duties,
from the general officer to the private in
the ranks. 1t ought to be an incentive TO
every man to attend to his duties faithfully
and particularly not to absent himself from
the weekly drill (the all important one),
when he sees the Adjutant- General take
such an interest in him. This is what
made Mondays drill pleasant, and not the
tact that 1t was good one, because the re-
verse was the case. The men
and officers were no doubt made
nervous on account of the change in COM
manders. The redeeming feature of the
drill was the one point of steadiness of all
in the ranks at " dress parade" with men
and officers at parade rest" and there
was steady improvement towards the end
OF the drill. The General gives his COM
mands in confident manner, indicative of
familiarity with the business, and was pro-
fuse IN giving explanations. He started in
with the 'frings,n and it was evident that
no instruction had been given to the bat
talon in this branch for some time. The
first fire sounded like an earthquake play
ing havoc among pile of brick buildings.
AT the command Aim! !" the rifles COM
nenced TO pop, pop, pop and 1t would
have gone hard with riotous mob if the
guns were loaded, and the commander
wished merely to frighten the roughs by
giving as far as the aim" Right of
companies. rear into column - "Close
column on first company; :" deploying,"
marching in column of tours" and lin
line" were executed in rapid succession,
aud all indifferently- done; forming
column to the rear from line-the simplest
of all, really-being the worst and most
ragged attempt, owing to some of the COM
panies going too far to the rear before from
ing line to the left. The coming to an
q" order" in the manual was poticeably bad
also. Nevertheless, all were well pleased.
just because Gen. Orion was present, and on
a repetition of the drill would no doubt ac-
quit themselves better. Colonies Guthrie
and Mckee and Major Neary assisted dur
ing the drill, and Captains Cook, Hall.
Seymour, Wiseman and Lieutenant Glass
commanded their respective companies.
Il
and the galleries were well patronized by
the fair sex and their escorts. 1t is the
opinion of all who are familiar with and
take an interest in the workings of the
n. g. @. that something should be done
to secure a better attendance
on the part of the enlisted men at
the weekly drills. The attendance is
falling off alarmingly, and will result
shortly in some of the best officers retir-
ing from the service. If the Board of
Officers will take up this matter and can
remedy it, everything would be made easy.
If the ranks were full at weekly drills, in
teresting maneuvers could be executed, and
the Captains would have enough we'll
drilled men to attempt something new and
would be enthusiastic in their work. AS
1t is now there are so few that the we'll
drilled and the raw recruits are put in the
ranks together, and the same old order
must be given, Right forward. fours
right" ETC., until the well-drilled men get
tired and disguised. This is a serious mat
ter, and demands reform. The State is now
spending considerable money on its Ma
tional Guard, and is entitled to some bene-
fit. 1t cannot have this benefit if the men
absent themselves from weekly drills The
receipt of the new uniforms may remedy
this state of affairs somewhat, but the men
must be made to feel that they derive some
personal benefit before any great improve
ment can be looked for in attendance at
drills and parades. We have heard il re-
marked that on the occasion of the parade of
the G.. A. r. Posts in Woodland, last Satur-
day, Company F kept the entire procession
waiting from fifteen to twenty minutes,
and turned out with a very small force.
This information comes from such a source
that it behooves Colonel Guthrie and Cap
tain CURSOR to look after the company or it
may be lost to the regiment.
1t is understood that an effort will be
made to hold grand division encampment
at Santa Cruz next year, with Major Gen.
eral Dimond in commando guarantee
that it would be success.
1t was stated last week that Company
was the only delinquent for its
report. Captain hall informs US
that be is not TO blame, his report having
been filed at regimental headquarters at the
lime. The result of this neglect in for
garding will be that Colonel Guthrie and
Captain Hall will be censured in the next
published general orders, unless the report
reaches the Adj utant-General's Office by the
10Th of this month.
A very useful volume to all military men
pas Just been published by Colonel Gil
christ Of the Ohio National Guard, which
las been revised by Lieutenant Knower,
0. S. \. Is is replete with inform alton of
interest to all officers from the General to
he Corporal, aud the duties of all stated
clearly and concisely. 1t has been intro
iuced here by Major Houghton of the
Brigade staff.
If, as is rumored, the regimental band
goes East with the delegates to the Repub-
lean National Convention, the members
may reckon on having a glorious time, and
he Drum-Major will be big man sure as
ex-Captain Stevens would say. If that
Convention does its business 10 suit the
popular ex-Colonel (Haymond) of the
First Artillery, he will have the band SER
inading all over the United States, and ii
will be many day before the members
wives and sweethearts will see them. 1t is
very certain though, that while they are in
Colonel Haymonds care, they will be well
used, and for the band itself, it can be said
that in the musical line, California will be
well-represented.
Commissions have been issued to Captain
Jurson and Lieutenants Lee and HOPKINS
If Company Il, Woodland.
1t is understood that the officers of the
CADET company q this city are quietly pre-
,ariDg plan BY which dozen or more of
he members are to be dishonorably dis
barged from the company. They intend
o have every member at drills if possible,
md all those who cannot give satisfactory
Excuses will be dealt with very rigidly.
Testimonial Benefit,