Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-18
NATIONAL GUARD.
THE LATE BATTALION DRILL AID
GUARD-MOUNT.
Lessons in the School of the Soldier
The Challenge TO Company
G. for Shoot.

Lessons in the School of the Soldier
The Challenge TO Company
G for Shoot.
The general drill in the school of the
battalion and guard-mount was witnessed
by large audience at the armory last
Wednesday evening. The four city com
panIes were represented. together with the
field, staff and brigade officers. Colonel
Guthrie put the battalion through the
movements indicated by the brigade COM
mander, and Colonel Hubbard and Msior
Houghton took notes of the manner in
which the drill was conducted. The COM
panies were commanded by Captains Cook.
Hall, Seymour and Lieutenant Lloyd. It
isa noteworthy fact that while the on
lockers understand very little of Upton's
tactics, yet they generally are able to tell
when movement is we'll executed and
where the applause comes in, and are cor
respondingly discreet when (as often hap
| pens) some bad break on the part of a COM
pany or individual soldier mars the
eternal fitness of things' In a drill for
instruction it would be best to have no
| spectators, but the people hereabouts like
10 see the drills, and it puts the bows on
| their best metal to know perhaps the girl
they love land she is numerousl is LOOKING
at them. If some arrangement could be
made whereby the lady friends of each
company could be induced to be present at
the company drills, it would no doubt have
tendency to fuller ranks, and make the
event more interesting to all concerned.
| 1t is generally conceded that throughout
| the National Guardf the weekly drills SIRE
not attended as they should De, and also
| that Lieutenants and Guides of the COM
paDles are not as rule up to the reouire6
standard. This makes hard work for the
| Captain, who cannot be expected to he
present on all occasions, and who. if he is
not, feels that his company will suffer.
Inc same condition of affairs applies to
! held officers OF regiment. As for Brigade
ofhcers they are not expected to know
mncn, as they have very little opportunity
for practice, but it can be said of the Fourth
Brigade Staff that ii has perhaps as good a
set of officers as there is in the State o-dsy
nearly all OF them having seen active sery-
ice. The drill en- Wednesday evening
was general review of battalion eyoIu-
lions, and neither the reeimental COM
mander nor company officers were aporised
of what they were to do.
The school of the battalion was pretty
well crowded, SO much so that it is impos
siole TO enter into general criticism of the
movements, but 1t is conceded by all that
1t was severe test on officers and men
and that they acquitted themselves with
credit. Everything depends on the COM
pany commander in drill of this char
acter, but he should have good guides. and
also assistance from file closers. The latter
seem to have no conception of their duties
and their dress" was simply vile. Cap
| tains Hall, Seymour and Cook would have
made very few errors if their commands
were loud enough to be understood at all
times. Lieutenant Lloyd was not up to
his usual excellence, and his left guide
should be changed. Captain Cook is a
cool, able officer, but he should give his
commands in louder and more distinct
| tone of voice.
1t would also be well for company COM
! manders to have more of an interval be-
tween the caution command and that of
execution. 1t prepares the men for what
| is coming. The battalion commander does
not always give the necessary preparatory
command, and this causes confusion in the
| ranks, particularly when "halted." There
| is also no warrant for giving the order
cC TIC When IOuTS I1glt'
or "fours right about" is given. The firings
by rank and battalion was very well done
lthat by company not SO welI). and when
the recover" was ordered, after 'aim."
very many fired their pieces. The rear
rank, in firing showed up badly. 1t has
evidently not been drilled lately. There
was scarcely dozen men in the rear who
knew that they should advance the right
foot eight inches to the right at the COM
mand aim"
In right of companies rear into col
umns' Captains Cook, Seymour and Hall
handled their men well. Company A went
too far to the rear every time. Closing en-
! masse on the rear company was the most
crude effort OF the evening, although much
more difficult movements were executed
with ease. a and L were notably off in
this movement. The wheelings, clearing
| obstacles, forming double and close columns.
deployments. changing direction in close
columns, changes of front faced to the rear,
closing column to and on the right, with
the right and left IN front, and various
other eyolutions were very promptly done.
Given plenty of room, distinct orders and
less noise, the regiment will compare favor
ably with any in the State If more atten-
ton was paid to little details Of drill and
discipline 1t will be a force TO boast of
| Better guides. color Sergeant and file clos
ers will be great aid to perfection The
| guard-mount was fairly well gone through
with.
The Sergeant bringing on the first detail
wheeled into line, instead of making a
| flank movement. The Sergeant-Maior. a
| fine-looking soldier by the way, when he
| will have acquired more confidence in him
self. presented sword as if he was a COM
manding officer, and the Adjutant remained
at carry" when all others were at 90 pa
rade rest" The platoons were poorly
wheeled into line after marching past in
review, but an excuse for this can be given
on account of the band. In a school of in
struction it would be better to omit all
music, as it is simply impossible to hear
commands while the band plays. We think
| the presence of the brigade officers in force
at these drills has an influence for good
and they can be of material assistance to
J the field officers.
| This drill, taken as a whole, presents
| the city troops in very fair light. Re-
| newed effort on the part of all will make
it force which will be an honor to the
State and will repay the people for the
money appropriated t. maintain a first
class National Guard.
RIFLE-sHooTING CHALLENGES.
Company c. First Infantry, of San Fran
cisco, issues challenge to Company G, of
this city. People will think it singular
that Captain Klein did not accept Captain
Halls challenge, published on the 10Th of
| last March. 1t was open to any company
| in the State until April lst 1t seems a lit
| tie curious, particularly when the fact is
| noted that Captain Hall stated that all men
shooting must have been members of each
| company in good standing on January l,
| 1889, and this fact must be slcorn to. Captain
| Klein waits until May 18th, and his terms
are that the men contesting must have been
members Nay LIST. Looks a leedle" giddy,
| Amt il?
| THE BRIGADE SIGNAL CORPS
Will be organized as soon as it is deter
mined if a new company is to be admitted
from Sacramento. There is material
enough in this city to maintain full regi-
ment if the proper interest was taken in
military matters by young men. As large
a force as possible should be maintained at
the Capital of the State. it being railroad
1 center from which troops can be sent in
every direction at very short notice, and
valuable State property is likely to be
stored here-rifies, cannon, ammunition, etc.
| MEMORIAL DAY PARADE.
| The brigade troops have been ordered out
for parade on Memorial Day, May 30th