The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-19
Montgomery Guards.

Captain Hartnett won the toss-up for choice,
and chose last
The hall, or that portion of it reserved for visit
ors was packed solid full of the admirers Of the
two companies, and admirers of the military in
general, while on the platform was gathered
representative group OF officers of the militia and
the regular army, including Adjutant General
Sprague, General John Harper, General Lynch,
Colonel Cram, Colonel Clarke, Colonel Pullen,
Colonel Kendall, Colonel Brett, Major Storah,
Major Plaisted, Major Dunn u. s. Az. Captain
White, Captain Goss, Captain Philbrook, Captain
Rogers, Lieutenant Frank Lie utenant Foley
Lieutenant Despeaux, Lieutenants Curtis and
Kinds u. S. Az, and many others.
AT $50 the judges, Captain G. C. Anderson, 9th
U. S. Cavalry. First Lieutenant II. II. Benham I'd
u. S. Infantry. and Second Lieutenant W. D.
Pierce, I'd U. S. Artillery, came on the floor and
the Cadets followed The programme to be fol-
lowed was unrolled by Captain Anderson and
handed to Captain Baker. The company was
drawn up in close order, IL files 'front.' The
ranks were opened first, and the ceremony of in
spection followed. This was searching inspec-
ton and consumed considerable time. Following
the Inspection came manual Of arms by numbers
loading and firing, making and breaking stacks,
and marching up and down, around and around,
Oblique, backward, double-quick, and the
like, IN endless variation. The Cadets were
not above criticism in the manual; loading and
firing was good, the making and breaking of
stacks was poor, but marching in company move
ments was their stronghold. The gray lines went
to and fro In excellent line and time, and called
forth thunders of applause. The company wheels
IN me rank were especially well done and called
forth CHEERS. Both clapping and cheering were
discouraged by those in authority, however, as
well as by considerable portion of the aildj-
ence.. AT the expiration of their hour the Cadets
marched off and at $40 the MontgOmerys
marched on A. wild shout greeted them aud II
was kept up at intervals throughout the entire
hour. The Guards went through the same move
ments that the Cadets did, and in the general
opinion of the critics on the stage oyerlaid them
at every point. The manual by numbers was
like clockwOrk with one or two exceptions the
loading and firing was excellent, the stacks were
able to stand alone. The marching was the weak
est point, but this was well done. Captain Hart.
nett used good judgment in calling halts before
his men were piled up in the spectators laps In
TACT he used good judgment throughout the entire
hour, and to this no small amount of the result is
due. The Montgomerys Outdrilled the Cadets i'm
almost every point and won a fair fight in fair
way. when the Montg0merys marched off the
moor the enthusiasm of the audience broke all
bounds and one and all rushed TO the stage upon
which the herculean form of Captain Anderson
was seen ebOwing through to the 'front.' When
quiet was restored he formally announced the
decision of the judges, that Company E. the Mont
gomerys, were the yicrors. At the close of the
exnlDltion the friends of the GUARDS had a grand
Jolldcation over the outcome