Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-27
anLITARY NOTES.
The BattaIItn cri1 at Armory Hall
Tburs day Evening.

The BattaII,u 5srin at Armory Hal
Thurs day Evening.
Companies Z and G OF he First Artillery
Regiment were drilled il few battalion
evoiutions Thursday evening, ana TO an on
locker there was very little to say IN re-
gard to it except TO find fault There vas
scarcely movement executed that did not
CRATE harshly on the spectators, and the
fault does not lie altogether with the COM
manders, except in so far as that it was ap-
| parent that company movements are not
looked after closely. When a drill is so
generally rough it is impossible to enter
INTO a criticism of the affair, and only sug-
gestlons can be offered. These are that at
| the weekly drills more attention be paid to
the simple movements, such as wheel
lngs by fours," fright forward fours
right" right and left front into line"
wheelings by companies" ETC., and eau
toning the men before they enter into a
battalion drill that they will not be called
upon TO execute any movements not taught
In the school of the company. The other
evening the movements were entirely too
rapidly executed for a school of instruc-
tion-notably the firings by company.
When firing, the orders should be given
slowly and deliberately, so as not to excite
the men. When movement is attempted
that IS not satisfactorily executed. it
should be repeated and fully explained,
and the orders, particularly the prepara-
tory command, should be given distinctly.
1t could be plainly seen that the orders
were not always understood. There is gen
orally considerable noise in the hall during
the drills which cannot be avoided, and
this necessitates the closest attention on the
~ nf 81
whom seem to be occupied in thinking of
something else besides the business in hand.
The file clOsers were SO close together at
times that they broke up the fours in
wheeling about; then there were too many
men in line for the size of the hall, and
this had tendency to break up and give a
ragged appearance 10 the drill, especially
in the Fronts into line" The company
officers understand their business very well
generally. but do not seem to be able 10
command the attention of the men, and
all are IN too great hurry. When line
was first formed the colors were on the ex-
treme left instead of being in the center.
and the company on the left dressed to the
left instead of to the right. The Color-Ser- |
geant also did not seem to understand his
business. 1t requires some little fore
thought to place the companies on the floor
properly, and have the colors where they
belong.
Both companies turned out in goodly
numbers. The men should have been
placed in double ranks, so as TO leave only |
frontage of forty men, when there would |
have been no crowding. Attention to these
little matters in advance will save time and
insure much smoother drill.
Colonel Guthrie was in command and |
had no assistants. Two or three field or
staff officers would have found plenty of
work in seeing that the men gave their un-
divided attention, as one man cannot be |
everywhere. The companies were COM
manded by Captains Hall and Seymour and
Lieutenants Sheehan and Johnson.
The supervision of the brigade staff
officers seems to be bearing good fruit, as
the increasing attendance at company drills |
demonstrates.
There wss pleasant hop after the drill, |
and these, if properly guarded, will be-
come very popular through the winter.
There is no lack of handsome girls for
partners in the Dance and members of the
companies who do not attend drills regu-
larly are not allowed to go on the floor to
dance.
Adiutant-General Orton has made
requisition on the Benicia arsenal for 325
belts, cartridge boxes and steel bayonet
scabbards for the use of the First Artillery
Regiment. They will be divided among
the companies when they arrive, which
will probably be by the first of next month.