The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-31
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS REPORT.
A Review of the Year in State Military
Circles.
Some Points on which Maine Soldiers
are Criticized.
What General BeaI and Colonel
harrington Have to Say.
Especial to the Press.1

port of the Adjutant General ON the volun-
teer and reserve militia of Maine for the
year 1887, is nearly ready for distribution,
and we present the following abstract At
the close of the year the Adjutant General
found the volunteer militia of the State to
consist of sixteen infantry companies, the
First Maine Battery, of two platoons, ag-
gregating 70 commissioned officers and 964
enlisted men. Since the last report two
companies have been disbanded, Richards
Light Infantry, of Gardiner, and Jameson
Guards, of Bangor, falling below the stand
ard for efficiency and discipline The va
cancy in the First Regiment was not filled;
that in the Second was filled by the organi-
zation of new company in Bangor through
the efforts of Colonel Brett, to be known as
the ''Hamlin Guards" This company, the
General says, is now in good hands, under a
good and efficient officer, Capt Chilcott.
The present companies of the regiments
are located as follows: First Regiment
Companies A, B and K, in Portland; Com
pany G in Auburn; Company ID in Norway;
Company in Augusta; Company G in Bid
deford-7. Second Regiment-Company
in Oldtown; Company in Dexter; Compa-
NY ID in lewiston; Company in Skowhe-
gan; Company F in Dover; Company G in
Bangor; Company ii in Waterville-S
The first Regiment lost two commissioned
officers by resignation, one by promotion,
and one by death-Capt. John A. Gallagher,
OF Co. E, Portland, who was a faithful and
good officer. The Second Regiment lost
eleven commissioned officers by resignation,
one on account of disbandment of the COM
pany. and one failed to qualify. The status
of the Hersey Light Infantry is reported to
be much below the standard, and it should
no doubt be disbanded at an early day, and
new company be put in its place. There is
but one answer as to the cause of these poor
companies, inefficient officers, or rather com
pany commanders. 1t is recommended
that officers be appointed by the commander
In chief. The character of a company de-
pends upon the character of the commander.
The men are not to blame altogether for
inefficient companies, for lack of attendance
and discipline, etc., because the commanding
officer is the one who should be held re-
sponsible. He should himself follow and
exact of others strict obedience to all laws
and ORDERS punctual attendance to drills
and thorough military discipline.
The Frontier Guards of Eastport are
referred to in terms Of commendation. Two
guns of the battery are located in Lewiston |
with thirty-fve men ana two guns at Bruns-
wick with as many more men. Both platoons
are armed with breech loading rifles and are
drilled as infantry. The battery has first
class officers and men and can be said to be
in good condition.
The Portland Cadets, Yarmouth Rifles,
Sheridan Guards of Lewiston and Bath
Light Infantry, embracing 10 commissioned
officers and 131 enlisted men, constitute the |
Reserved militia. The first three of these |
companies are kept up to good state of ef- |
fciency and drill.
1t is recommended that the enrolment be |
made once in four years instead of every |
two years as at present Better results |
would be obtained.
The Adjutant General notes the fact that |
there was no muster in 1887, the trip to Phil |
adelphia being made instead and the men |
uniformed, which in his opinion was bene- |
fieial to the officers and men who participant |
ed in it,
The sum of $4,000 was appropriated by the |
last legislature for reunifOrming the militia. |
This was about half enough. A sum about |
equal to this amount was used from the ap- |
preparation for military purposes" requir- |
ing the suspension of the annual encamp- |
ment., The uniforms were accordingly OBJ |
tanned, being nearly like those of the United |
States Army. One thousand yards |
of blue cloth for trousers: |
50 yards of white facing cloth for trimmings, |
300 blouses and 100 fatigue caps were drawn |
from the United States government and |
more will be needed to complete the uni |
forming of all the companies also 400 mat |
tresses and 400 pillows were drawn.
1t is thought that lighter guns than the |
present Springfield rifles would answer the |
purpose of the military better The battery |
received some new sabres and tarpaulins.
Target practice has been prosecuted with |
gratifying results by many of the companies. |
Other companies should be required to take |
part in the work as much as any other duty. |
Some give little or any time to this duty. |
Colonel Harrington has been unable to do as |
much work in the way of instruction as dur
ing former years on account of having no en-
campment.
All the companies except the Frontier |
Guards were inspected in June. The small |
attendance at the inspections indicates a |
condition of affairs requiring imperative and |
rigid action on the part OF the commanding |
officers. There should be no excuse for abb |
sence from inspection except sickness or
possibly absence from home.
Names annual quota from the appropria-
tlon OF the general government is $5,52795, |
available July 1st.
Fifty-six commissions have been issued dur |
ing the year. Thirty discharges of officers, |
twenty-one general and forty-one general or |
ders, three hundred and twenty Certificates |
of service" furnished soldiers of the war.
The work Of copying the muster-out rolls |
of the several Maine regiments in the rebel |
lion has been continued.
The total strength of the militia is given as
follows
Brigade Stan, z.
First Regiment-Field staff and Non-Commis-
stoned staff, 7 Band, "a; Co. A. 40; Co. b. 81
Co. @ %; Co. D, %; Co. E, 81; Co. F, Al; Co. G,
Second Regiment-Field staff and Non-Comm
soneo stat 10; Band, "a; Co, A, 51i Co. b, 30;
Go. 49; Go; % D 49,; A.; Co !, At; 20. +, Al Co, g.
Frontier Guards, 40; First Battery, e5. Total
III.
Yarmouth Rifles, 81; Bath Light Infantry, To-
Total, 141.
Grand total, 1o4s.
The report of the Inspector General, Brig
adler General George l.: Beal. is interesting
reading. All the organizations belonging to
the volunteer militia were inspected except
the Frontier Guards. OF the whole number
of officers and enlisted men on the inspec-
tion Tolls about one-half the entire command
was absent. This percentage of absentees
should not be tolerated for moment and at
tendance should be compelled. / found
large number of names on the rolls of men
absent from the State or who had business
so they could not attend regularly apparent
number to hold the organization. / found
all the organizations with the exception of
three in vary fair condition. The knowledge
of having new uniform, will, l think, i'm
prove the organization materially. Arms
and equipments throughout the command
were found in good condition
with the exception of few
rifles in each company. l found strong de-
ollC NY DObli OnhCClo w tO dll lUcy cOuIQ 10
improve the condition of their organizaton
A lack of uniformity in drill and instruction
manner oflgiving commands, cadence of step
and manual of arms was noticed. school
of instruction for commissioned officers and
sergeants is recommended More frequent
officers and non-commissioned officers meet
ings are recommended for Improvement
Col. Albert K. Neill inspected the Frontier
Guards and found them in excellent condi-
tion.
Col. E. G. Harrington, Inspector of Rifle
Practice, states in his report that the i'm
provement has not been what was desired.
There being no encampment interfered
somewhat We need State rifle team. We
ought to be represented at Creedmoor
want a sum of money to be stated in the
appropriations of the next legislature to be
expended in rifle practice. The fact that
Portland, the largest city in the State does
not provide rifle range, was referred to-
1t is important that the companies receive
special instruction.
The following table shows the number of
men liable to military service in each county:
Androscoggin -. 4,948l Penobscot. .......1O,474
ArOOstook ........ 6,2S1 PiScataquiS.... 2,347
Cumberland. Ia, 04 Sagadahoc. 3,036
Franklin. ......... 2,614 Somerset. 5165
Hancock .... G, ,291 Waldo. ........... 4,391
Kennebec. -. 49,. 7 $50 Washington. 6,192
Knox ............ A. 750 York.............. $500