Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-24
MILITARY GOSSIP.

THE Washington Infantry are taking steps
toward an encampment next summer.
LIEUTENANT CHARLES E. BROWN, Of Allie
gheny, has been in Washington during the
week, on business from political standpoint.
SEVERAL of the local companies are being
exercised pretty thoroughly in skirmish drill
and guard mount, with an eye to being pre-
pared for the spring inspections.
LIEUTENANT W. T. ENGLISH has regained
the use of his voice, after hard struggle OF
three weeks with the Capital grip" and Is
once more charming his friends by his vocal
efforts.
ALL Of the regiments of the First Brigade
made arrangements to go to New York next
month. From the outlook at present, they viii
be the only representatives of the National
Guard from this State present.
ASSISTANT SURGEON s. o. BRUMBAUGH de-
livered very able lecture yesterday afternoon
at the Institute Hall, Sixth street, entitled
"A1cohol and Tobacco" The doctor handled
the subject in a most familiar manner.
ORDINANCE SERGEANT ]. B. JOHNSTON, Of
the battery, distributed % marksmen's badges
at the last meeting, as result Of last seasons
practice. Two Of the number were sharp
shooters, Private Lydic and Sergeant Miller.
Four members of local companies are re-
ported seriously ill with pneumonia, resulting
from the exposure at Washington, and there
are probably many others who have had at
tacks of the same kind. A number of sick men
are also reported in the other two brigades.
SPECIAL orders No. 8, from the Adjutant
Generals office. grants leave of absence to
Lieutenant Colonel Hale, of the Fifth Regi-
ment. for go days, and honorably discharges
Lieutenant F. A. Lee, of Company d, Second
Regiment. and Lieutenant John 3. Rhodes, Of
Company E, Ninth Regiment.
Ex-MAYoR JOSEPH T. SPEER, of this city, is
in Washington at present hustling for the ap-
pointment as Consul to Antwerp. He leaves
for Europe on the 1st of May, with the inten-
tion of remaining there for several years, and
has concluded that the Consulship to Antwerp
will be right in his line. His chances for the
appointment are good.
IT is suggested that as tie local regiments
will probably not be able to attend the big
parade in New York on April 30, in honor Of
the one hundredth anniversary of the inaugu-
ration of Washington as President, they
should have turnout in the city and let the
people see what kind of material they are made
Of The suggestion is good one and should
be carried out.
AT the meeting of Battery B last Monday
night a set of resolutions were unanimously
adopted rendering a vote of thanks to W. H.
Yerkes, of Washington, D. C., for his kind at
tentions to the battery while attending the in
auguration. A gold-headed cane was also for
warded to him as token of the feelings of the
boys on the subject. Mr. Yerkes is the super
intendent of the Independent Ice Company,
whose buildings were used as barracks by
the battery.
The question has been asked several times
as to different names under which the militia
is known in the different States. The term
National Guard is now used in most of the
States and territories the exceptions being
in Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia as
Volunteer Militia;' in Florida they are known
as Especial Militia Force;" in South Carolina
as itia in ss Aisbama Michigan e and Ken
tucky as state Guards" and in Indiana as
Indiana Legion"
SINCE the appearance in this column two
weeks ago of an article about the probability
of the Eigh ieenth Regiment being allowed a
tenth company, numerous applications have
been made to Colonel Smith for the vacancy.
Among the number is one from prominent
Grand Army man of Verona, who has raised
squad of 40 men for that purpose. and can fill
out the number to go should the vacancy be
given him. He has also gone SO far as to lay
the matter before Adjutant General Hastings
through Representative Stewart at Harrisburg.
1t is safe to say, however that If the Eighteenth
does get Company *, it will be recruited
in the city proper or Allegheny, as there is any
amount of available material.
The election for Second Lieutenant in Com
pany II of the Eighteenth, which was to have
again on account of majority of members not
being present. This makes the second time this
election has been adjourned for various causes.
and Captain Penny, the election officer, is of
the impression that the Governor of the State
now has the privilege of making an appoint
ment to fill the vacancy. While the new mill
tary code is somewhat vague on the subject,
the old law very distinctly states that an cleo
ton shall not be postponed more than twice.
There is a slight lack OF harmony between the
present officers of the company, which certain
ly does Dot tend toward keeping the standing
of the organization at the level it occupied.
ADJUTANT GENERAL DRUM, in q letter to
the Secretary OF War, makes point that will
be of interest to guardsmen all over the
country. He says: las an encouragement to
young men of character aD6 capacity to enter
the militia Of the States. beg to recommend
that appointments in the regular army from
civil life be exclusively reserved to the officers
of the National Guard of the States, who can
successfully pass the prescribed mental and
physical examination, this examination to be
confined in each case to the officers for any one
State. In my first report had the honor to
point out briefly the many advantages that
would necessarily flow from perfect uniformity
in the rules and forms governing both the
regular army and militia, and the steadily in
creasing advance that militias, with the active
announcement of the War Department, have
made in military knowledge and efficiency.
cannot, therefore, resist the conviction that
the measure I propose will prove Of great
hon f,h