The Portland daily press., 1888-06-19
MAINE VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
Annual Report of BrIgadier General
n. L. Mitchell.
A Want of Cooperation Between
important Departments.
The Commanding officer Hampered
by Lack OF Funds and Inform alton.


The Commanding OFFICER Hampered
by Lack OF Funds and Inform alton.
Especial to the Press.
BANGOR, June 1S-The annual report of
Brigadier General Henery l.. Mitchell for
the year 1887, which has not yet been made
public, has now been given to the news
papers. The full report is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADEl
Maine Volunteer Militia.
Bangor, Dec. 81, 1887. }
Sr:-I have the honor to respectfully submit
the following report for the year ending this day.
cannot be expected to furnish any information
that is not within the knowledge of either the Ad-
| jutant General or the Inspector General, for l
have not been furnished with any means to en-
of my staff to visit or inspect for the purpose of
| giving instructions, any of the companies In the
Brigade, during the time since ! was commits
during the tour OF volunteer duty to Philadelphia,
| September 14th to 18th.
| Militia during the past year. and no duty per-
| formed other than armory work, where was in
| duty with the Brigade During the winter Of 1887
each company u the second regiment was in
spec.ed& & By an Sd oeer detailed by the regmental
reports made by the officers so detailed, II then
being In command Of the Brigade, as senior colon
ell am satisfied thatt the benefits derived from
that inspection for exceeded the expense.
lffrequent inspections in the regular army are
ot great benefit to that service as protection to
government property; how can 1t possibly be
oiherwlse than great benefit to the Militia SER
VICE VICE, and tend to protect State property in the
iianus OF the Mllita, TO have frequent inspection
In the Militia?
have not been Informed of any inspections
that have been ordered in the first regiment, dur
ing the past year, and all that know about that
command or its present condition is what have
learned from what morning reports have been
sent through Brigade Headquarters during the
year, and from seeing portion of the officers and
men during the tour to Philadelphia. And it is the
same as TO the Battery. have not even been in
formed of the condition in which the Inspector
General found the several companies and the Bat
teTes during M his 6 tour Of Inspection in June last
were furnished by the Adlutant General, with an
abstract OF the inspections made by the Inspector
correct any errors and faults that were found to
exist IN company. reported by the inspecting Of
me- 70 ibe ssryc II as thst u Mould De q great val
In the future, more especially II no other inspec-
tlons are 10 be allowed, unless the officer order
mg them pays the expense. The members of the
different companies in the volunteer service are
constantly changing; old members being discnarg-
ed and new men cnlisting, so that company Off
In the kutes of the soldier, and they need all the
help and encouragement that can be given them
the best interest of the State, to try and keep a
man in the ranks five or ten years, unless he is
form and desires to remain. NV idea IS that Il Is
important to keep small, reliable force for i'm
mediate use in case Of need, and give as many OF
our young men as good an education in the duties
OF the soldier, company and the camp, as the
means provided will admit; that this policy win
give the State valuable and reliable men for
prompt action should they be needed in the fu-
ture. How many of the brave officers from this
state, who won DISTINCTION IN the late war per-
formed their first military duties in the militia
service OF the State?
TOURS OF DUTY.
Company ID. Second Regiment at the individual
expense of the members of the company, with the
help of their friends performed tour of duty to
Washington, ID. c., to take part in the national
competitive drill, in May last. did not go with
the company, and no report has been made to me,
or sent through these headquarters; therefore
assume that the company commander has sent
his report direct, instead of through the channel
directed by the regulations of the service under
the belief that he was duly authorized to do so.
II reglmental and brigade commanders are TO
pc held responsible for the order, discipline and
see why 1t Is not OF more importance that they
should have the information that report of such
tour OF duty would impart than an officer who
in is no wise responsible for the order discipline
and Instructions in the volunteer service. Several
OF the local papers published in Washington at
the time the company was there were sent to me-
IN which found many complimentary notices OF
the company; that it was made up and composed
OF nne looking body of men who looked like the
real true soldier, attentive to their duties Of first
class discipline finely drilled and only failed to
take rank with the best drilled company present
by errors in few fine tactical points +; that this
company was an honor totne State it Represented
pany are entitled TO much credit for the energy.
ability and pluck displayed in taking that compa-
ny 70 washington 10 represent the service and
the State.
In compliance with Par. 2, G. o. No. IA, A. G,
.. c. S. ISSUED an order detailing sixteen men
and two sergeants from each OF the sixteen COM
panieS In the service that volunteered to serve
WITHOUT wiz out pay for the trip and enough field staff
companies of sixteen file front, to or acf as
escort TO the Cpmmander-n-Chier during his tour
sate Il Maine i at g. 81 Se
centennial NE o5 the PRONUNCIATION Of the constitution
Nth SWaeS sSIates az Of the order here
the trip to Philadelphia and return closely Oh.
served the conduct, department and discipline of
nave been informed there was not one case Of a
breach pre- OF discipline during the trip. Each officer
aaa man e seted as though ne telt that the good
lPdiyidual good conduct and faithful attention to
the duties that be went there to perform. They
that the @ Desoh ssia ssefsed of tnsm a
nc. o. No: 16, A: G.; O: c. S. This or
IS but NATURAL that they should feel We'll n to Know
that what they tried to do we'll was duly observed
and appreciated by the Commander.in-Chief
Regiment was under the command Of Col Victor
Brett OF the Second Regiment, and much credit is
due 10 him for his faithful attention TO his COM
mand. Much credit is also due TO Capt: Alfred X.
Paul, brigade quaItelmaster for his able service
rendered In providing for the subsistence, shelter
ana comfort OF the men during the time that they
remained In Philadelphia. Capt. Paul went to
Philadelphia several days in advance with orders
70 report to Gen. Beal for, duty and remained
there several days after the Maine delegation
mad left for h0nle, and attended to the unsettled
business Of the qnartermasters department. lie
management Of the duties of his Office show that
he was well informed to the duties of the quar-
oIhcer for the service, and the State, The tour
q duty 70 'Pnuadelpnia was OF much benefit to
e of IN men ss sro Y MAS Mss seneong II The
and steamboat and gave officers and men Conf
dence in themselves IN being compelled to march
Of the best drilled men In the United States, and
me ue, tact that they won many compliments from
discipline and fine soldierly appearance was 4
great ersdit 70 both officers and men.
reer the e Z Ae p egads e. Tsps1u
speetor Of rife practice, 4 haye not had the
from teadng Tie @ Shoot heid ii HSensa oc Se
18th and 10th, ] belieye that this branch of the
soldiers duty should be encouraged as much as
propriated for the whole service.
Eght Of the Infantry companies and the Battery
our late oommand @ in % under a. the he command
OF Col John J. Lynch of the First Regiment
The e order forming and detailing the escort was
as Colonel Lynch has not made any report of that
tour of duty tc or through these headquarters, /
through ths channel directed by the regulations
of he SERVICE and that his report will give the re-
quired account of thattouf OF duty.
] cannot more clearly expfesS my views than
tneY are presented in the following from the pen
of d regular army officer, quoted from an article
ance Of small company Of militia kn6En as the
Capital Guards, of Augusta, which served as o
guard of honor to the remains of the late Govern
or Bodwetl as they lay three days in state at the
Capitol has done much to create a favorable sen
timent in regard to the militia in all parts Of the
State This little detail, consisting OF but twenty
five men, presented such a s0ldierly mien and
were SO thoroughly well disciplined that warm