New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
KNAPsACK AND RIFLE
pRooKIYps MAGNIFICENT QUOTA OF MA.
T1oNAL GUARD MEN.


TIoNAL GUARD MEN.
,,rv v,rr NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF WHICH
NC o,ry ia PROUD - CHANCES IN THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES "oRAcK" 2sD'
One of the things in which Brooklyn taxes
,,sat nride Is her National Guard organization.
And this is not unnatural for collectively the hve
regiments Of this city are not second 70 any
similar body in the State, or even in the whole
,country. s Considered separately the regiments
are seen 70 be worthy objects of pride. Carefully
drilled. every man taking jealous interest In sus-
tanning the good name of the organization OF which
he is a member, the regiments Of this city are
ALWAYS pleasant and interesting sights, whether on
narade in the streets or drilling in the armory
That general interest in the military organizations
Is ON the increase is shown by the way in which
an the regiments arc recruiting and the number OF
SPECTATORS to be seen in the srmories on all 90.
easons. whether it be only n working drill by
one or two companies or full dress parade
and review of the entire command. Two Of the
regiments are well provided with first class armor
ies, and bills are pending in the Legislature pro.
viding new homes for the other three. With more
utetentious and more commodions quarters better
results can, as matter Of course, be obtained
thus greater inducements can be held out to those
proposing to become recruits Then, again, 1n-
creased facilities for rife practice in the various
arnories will have q tendency to increase the
interest of the gu8rdsmen in their work, to the
great gain Of the organization. Two OF the reSi.
ments will, IN all probability, do tour OF duty
az the State Camp at Peeksldn this summer, in
anticipation Of which trip number OF men have
enlisted recently. Another organization mey es-
cort Governor Hill to Minneapolis, and this propo
sltion has added new impetus 70 recruiting.
Naturally the occurrence that is looked forward
10 most eagerly by the guardsmen is the coming
Washington centennial celebration. A source of
great regret is of course, the Adjutsnt-General's
e:der in regard TO the uniform TO be worn
that occasion. To be deprived Of the liberty to
don their handsomest uniforms and to parade in
the unembellished State service uniform seems
much like hardship. But nevertheless, the
citizen soldiers of Brooklyn win make their usual
excellent showing, and what is lacking in snowy
dress will be made up in the conduct and pre-
else movement of the troops. The great improve
ment in the regiments viii be seen then and an
opportunity will be afforded TO compare the soldiers
Of this city with those of other cities and States,
,rsl judg ed by their recent work. the comparison
will not be unfavorable to Brooklyn's organiza.
lions. At this time something concerning tho
present condiiion and prespects of the regiments
Of Brooklyn would NOT be inappropriate.
; For obvious reasons the Esd Re giment must be
placed at the head of the list. Not only is it so
on the records at headquarters but it is the largest
organization in the city. Marked Improvement is
10 be observed in all the branches, but more espe-
cially in regard to rifle practice. There quail
flied as msrksmen at Creedmoor last season about
% per cent more men than in the previous season.
This is due to great extent to the compulsory
IL. - nkoua
Armory Another circumstance 10 which it can
be attributed is the matches shot in the gallery
during the drill SEASON, now virtually at an end.
The Adjutant-Generals order respecting the uni
form to be worn on the centennial parade affects
the 23d more seriously than any otEer Brooklyn
regiment, as it is the only one that had adopted
o distinctive uniform for dress occasions. But
the order is received philosophically, and while
the pretty gray uniform is left at home the organ
ization will turn out with full ranks and acquit
itself in its well-lInown style.
Colonel Partridge WAS asked few days ago TO
what he ascribed the marked activity in recruiting
In his command and also in regard to the proposed
new armory for the regiment To the first ques
ton ne replied: Active and thoroughly efficient
officers are in my opinion largely responsible for
the increase in our numbers. Other reasons to be
considered are the armory and the class of men
one will meet in an organization A natural taste
for military duty 10 also necessary. The officers
Of the 23d are without exception men who fully
understand lat is required Of them and are capa-
BILE Of performing that duty. Then the men one
meets in my regiment are of genial disposition
and well connected socially, and are desirable
scqnaintances. We may 90 to the State Camp this
summer, and although some people think that
many recruits are gathered In anticipation of this
duty, such is not the ease, in my opinion
NEED OF A NEW ARMoRY.
In regard TO the new armory which we hope
TO get and which, may say, have no doubt
VIII De ouih Tor us IT is absolutely necessary that
we should have 1t. Seventeen years ago the Cler-
mont-aye. Armory was as large as we required,
but it does not answer now. Company rooms that
were only intended for fifty men are NOT larre
enough to accommodate ninety or 100. What ve
want is much larger building, 50 that we can
have q larger area for drilling and better accon.
modations for the comfort Of the troops in other
ways Our idea is to follow in the march oy i'm
provement and acquire lands somewhere between
the two elevated railroads, but below Tompldns.
ave. II possible. We must eventually move in
that direction, and IT seems advisable TO 90 now
when land is comparatively cheap, and could be
purchased with less trouble than would be possible
several years hence. During the last season the
attendance at drills averaged about 80 per cent.
This Is an excellent showing and is about as good
Is could be expected from any organization"
These are the officers Of the cad: Field and
Stat, John N. Partridge, colonel; Alexis @.
Ssaith heutenant-colonel; Charles e, Waters,
Asjer: Theodore W. SilleoclS adiutant: Arthur A.
Thompson quartermsster; Richard oliNcs, CON-
2 niissary; William T.. Spencer, surgeon Henry L.
Cochran. assstantsurgeon; Haywood G. Brown,
Inspector Of riie-practicc: Robert r Meredith,
Chaplain; Company A, Henry c. Evcrdell cap.
lain !; William IL b. Smith, Arst-heutenant;
Edwsfd Morris, second-lieutenant; Company B,
willard L. Candee captain; William P, Pickett
irztlieutenant: Thomas NJ. Close, second-lieu,