Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-21
CHAMPION DRILLER.
eeoox WIS coy coLoNEL-HoW he
GOES THROUGH HIS DRILL
co,o,., Nicholas Philip Hartman Returns
from His Foreign Tour Laden with Hon
ors and Covered with Medals.
Nnw Ycrk nerald.

/ and slender, with the hperinB WAIST VI
Young girl. The faint shadow OF dark
moustache is beginning to- cloud his
upper lip, but his square, p1otruding
chin is destitute even Of down.
His name might be Admiral Chrichton,
rediviyus. 1t is Nicholas Philip Hart
man.
He was born in Houston street, this
city. twenty-one years ag? last summer
and he bears the honorary title OF col
opel. When Colonel Hartman returned
from Europe q fortnight ago and was
escorted to the place of business OF his
/ steplatber in Bedford avenue, Brooklyn,
that part OF the City of Churches en-
/ loved a sensation the like Of which 1t
/ had not known for many long day.
In the first place the store WAS decked
out in bunting, flags. and gay streamers
/ that could be seen a block away. In the
front window was a large photograph OF
the youthful victor in full reglmentals,
and inside a showcase were the splendid
trophies that the Colonel won while
abroad-the great silver urn presented
} by Queen Victoria the gold medal given
by the Prince Of Wales the silver
headed cane. the gift of President Car
not the diamond-studded watch pre-
sented TO the Colonel 10y President
Harrison on behalf of the officers OF the
United States army the laurel wreath
that the Emperor Of Germany gave to
him. and the magnificent diamond, ruby,
and gold S., championship badge OF
the world.
STIRRING HISTORY.
The story of Colonel Hartman's life
reads like page from boys book OF
adventure. Briefly told, it runs as fol
lows: When the present chief OF stall
of the Presidents body-guard was five
wears old his father gave him a TIN
sword. a wooden musket, and friend
made him a soldiers suit of clothes.
This incident gave to his mind its mill
tarv inclination. Before he was SIX
wears old he had learned the movements
of the regular army sword and musket
drill. He was so apt a pupil that
the late Captain Pettigrew, OF the Forty
seventh regiment, took him In charge
/ and in time he became the best drilled
I bow OF his age in the country. When he
went to school, later on, he organized
company Of forty-fve boys and drilled
/ them in the manual OF arms OF the regu-
lar army. He did more ; he wrote three
lively war dramas, founded upon incl
dents in the Revolutionary war, and
presented them on the stage before the
admiring parents and friends OF his
school comrades.
AT WEST POINT.
After the future colonel left school he
was apprenticed to an upholsterer, and
spent four years in shop; but he did
not forget his military tactics, and in
| 1886 he was introduced TO Colonel
Frederick d. Grant by Mayor Seth Low.
Through Colonel Grants influence he
was invited by General Robert p. Barker,
the commandant Of the West Point
Military Academy, to appear before the
officers and exhibit hisprofciency, which
even then was regarded as wonderful The
result of this visit was an invitation to
the Young man TO visit West Point during
his leisure hours and perfect himself IN
his drill. At that time he would have re-
ceived the appointment rs a cadet to the
academy had his defective eyeslGht not
debarred him from a military career
In 1887 Colonel Hartman was chosen
captain of An independent company,
composed Of twenty-four cadets, select
cd on account of their proficiency in the
manual of arms. Soon after It's organi-
cation this company became the best
| drilled one of its class in the United
States. ii took part in tiity-six COM
petitlve drills and was not defeated once.
During his captaincy Colonel Hartman
arranged a bugle-drill, which has In part
been adopted by the army. 1t takes
more than ordinary practice to 90
through the manual OF arms by buele-
drill The spoken commands are done
away with, and notes on the bugle an
| nounce the order. There are fifty-four
such orders given by the bugle, and the
reader can form an idea from these
figures of the time and practice neces-
sary to memorize them.
When the Colonels soldiers were
graduated and separated for frontier
duty the following certificate was pre-
scented to the youthful commander:
AvALUED CERTIFICATE.
WEST POINT MILITARY Co., No. 4,
August 30, 1889.
This certifies that Captain Nicholas
Philip Hartman is entitled to the posi-
ton of drill-master and is capable OF
taking command of any company. he
has passed his examination on June %,
1889, with 105 per cent, the largest evel
made; 100 per cent. for the military
drill, and 5 per cent. for the bugle drill.
He has competed in fifty-eight drills.
of which he has won fifty.six, and il
the last drill he defeated the champion
drlller of the West in Baltimore. He
won tho championship of America by
six motions in Albany, n. Y, on July 4,
1889.
Captain Hartman was introduced bJ
Mr.. Seth Low to Colonel +. ID. Grant
on August %, 1886. He was invited to
attend the United States Military AGA.
DENY for the purpose OF studying mill.
tary movements perfectly in his leisure
hours.
On April 10, 1887, Captain Hartman
organized and introduced bugle drill,
which is to drill all manual OF arms by
the bugle.
On june 2, 1887, a company was form
ed of twenty-four officers of the army,
and unanimously elected Captain Hart
man captain.
With this certificate he is honorably
dismissed from this company as the cap
tain and champion driiler OF America,
as twenty of his comrades are drafted
for Texas.
Signed and sealed by
Gen. ROBERT j. BARRIER, u. s. M. A.,
Second-Lieut. S. SMITH, l.. 5. A.
THE COLONIES sPoms.
After this independent company wa
disbanded all the trophies that it hat
won were returned to the vanquisheC
| connections ayeaptipo cavan xpbiol