Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03
THEY ARE SOLDIERS.
President Harrison's Opinion Of the
Pennsylvania Guards.
CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
A Division Like Ours Would Have Pre-
vented Defeat at Bull Run.
PROCTOR AND sCHOFIELD PLEASED

Pennsylvania should be proud of her
National Guard. wish every State in the
Union had an equally effective force"
That was the exclamation OF President Har-
rison to his travelling companions as the
special train which conveyed his party to
the last encampment of the Guard moved
away from Mount Gretna, writes staff
correspondent of the Philadelphia Ledger.
Three years ago it was my privilege to ac-
company General Sheridan to Mount
Gretna. His high opinion of Pennsyl-
vania's soldiers was recorded at that time.
we'll remember his earnest look and tones
when replying to a criticism of member
of his staff as to the comparatively careless
manner in which guard duty was being per-
formed at the camp, a criticism which in
cluded officers as we'll as men.
Acknowledging the correctness of the
criticism from professional standpoint, the
General said, as now recall his words:
''The manner of saluting and of carrying
the musket, while important in the general
training necessary for discipline, graceful
performances of duty and that uniformity
of action which secures impressiveness, are
mere details that are soon acquired in actual
and continuous service. The men are not
only animated by the military spirit that
makes good soldiers, but are men possessing
greater degree of intelligence and patriot
ism than is found in any body of regular
soldiers.
CARING FOB THEMSELVES.
With 80 days in the field they would
equal regular troops in all the outward GER
emonies of the military service. The thing
that impressed me was the fact that these
men have learned how to take care of them
selves. That is to say, you can put that di-
vision in the field within "a hours, and the
men will make their camp, prepare and cook
their rations, and keen themselves ready for
any duty that may be required of them. 1t
is the men who keep themselves out Of the
hospitals and ready for emergencies, who
perform long marches and win battles.'
1t was my privilege to accompany the
President on his recent visit to Mt. Gretna,
on which occasion he was accompanied by
the Secretary of War, General Schofeld,
Commanding General of the Army, the
Postmaster General and the Attorney Gen.
eral. On the return trip I related to the
President my conversation of three years
ago with General Sheridan. President Har-
rison expressed approval of the judgment of
Sheridan.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
''If at the breaking out of the Rebellion"
said the President eve had possessed a
force in the principal Northern States equal
to this Pennsylvania Guard, the first dis
aster at Bull Run would not have occurred,
and no man can estimate the influence which
such force would have exerted on the
events of the war. I can appreciate the wis
dom and force of General Sheridan's obser-
vations of three years ago. We did not
know. when the war broke out, how to take
care of ourselves in the field, and this remark
applies to officers as well as men in the
ranks. Of course we we're not long in ac-
quiring knowledge. Necessity is great |
motive power and experience is a valuable |
teacher. But all suffered and many died |
while we were learning what the Pennsyl- |
vania Guardsmen have acquired-how to |
take care OF themselves in camp and on the !
march.
''The Pennsylvania Guardsmen are not
only accomplished in this particular. They |
give unmistakable evidence of being well |
drilled and under excellent discipline. The |
entire division, as I moved in front off |
lines, and saw its columns swing past the |
point of review with cadenced step, i'm |
pressed me as body of real soldiers that |
could be relied upon in any emergency. The |
division cannot be excelled saw this di-
vision at the Inauguration of Garfield and of |
and again at my own inaugura-
ton, and was very much impressed with it |
upon each of those occasions. But having |
seen it in camp and witnessed its maneuvers |
Oh the field. the judgment formed of it on
parade has been confirmed and strength. |
sned."
NO FANCY BUSINESS.
General Schofeld was unstinted in his
praise. "The entire encampment," said he,
sln every particular, is strictly military. |
The Pennsylvania Guard is splendid or
yanization. There is no fancy business
lbout it, either in action or in dress, and I |
would not hesitate to depend on that divis-
on in any emergency"
Secretary Proctor, who was distinguished
oldier during the Rebellion, said: "The
Material is no better than that of other
states, but Pennsylvania has managed her
Material much better than the others in
lnifying the division by these triennial en-
All that seems to be needed by
hat division for actual service is 40 rounds
f ammunition ana three days rations."
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