Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-23
THE BOYS AT MUSTER.
Inspector General Gales Annual Re-
port on the National Guard.
CRITICISING THE SOLDIERS.
Glad Tidings for some, for Others n Tale
OF woe-Entercstinu Reading for I'm.
'ercsted People - Companies That
stand Inspection Well.

o. HE District National Guard il now
VA strong enough to stand criticism and 1t
All Will lind enough criticism to satisfy any
~ unreasonable organization in the report of
GSSsp Inspector General Gale, recently sub
init;ed to Gen. Orlway. Since this report WIS
made the fifth battalion has been reinspected
but 1t Is understood that the showing was no
| better than on the occasion referred to with
some emphasis in the following document:
HEADQUARTERS Dish. OF COLUMBIA MILITIA.
WASHINoToN, August lG, 1890
Circular No. g.
The following report OF the inspector general
Is published for the information of the National
Guard:
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
WASHINGTON. DC. June 10. 1890
Brlgadier General Albert Ordway, command
Ing d. c. militia;
SIR have the honor to submit. the following
repofi OF the anuua! muster ANA inspection of
the troops Of the National Guard. made in COM
phahee with General Orders No. 10. current
series:
with but few exceptions | found a very
marked Improvement since the last annual in
| speetlon III General appearance soldiurIy bear
nS CONDITION c! uniforms. arms ami equip
nlelts and in knowledge ia tactics The most
Sea3raI and noticeable defects are the iguO-
raucG OF the uoa-conInssIoned OH GERS OF their
duties us guides aud Hla-citsers or their failure
TO perform those duties AID tie practice of ad-
'ahcihs recruits TOO rapidly III their primary
instruction. While the uoE-coElinssiOn OIL
GERS are required to pass an examination to
OBTAIN their warrants. and, a rule. appear to
be the best drilled men in thrir companies it
does NOS appear that commanding officers
sulhclently train them III the command
and handling of men Dy giving them Charge OF
IuAy tnpp
instruction III their duties ~ guides and iile-
closers. Ii Is also evident that the setung-up
drill is neglected. Loin liz the instruction OF
Recruits and III the regular uriils OF the COM
panies.
FIRST nEGIaEST.
The field and staff of the first regiment were
Inspected at the armory OF the first battalion
Wednesday, May 10, at pm.
FIRST BATTALION.
The battalion was formed in violation of tao
ties. The formation was made on the right
company instead of on the color company. Each
commanding officer dressed his COMPANY to
the night and took position IN front OF his COM
pany without. command. The adjutant did not
give the command. "Guides post D." The battalion
was turned over for Inspection twc;Itv minutes
late. None of the officers OF the field and staff
returned swords properly. The quartermaster
OF the battalion wore the shoulder straps Of
captain. There were no general guides. and
there were four privates in the color guard
, Three members of the color guard grasped
their pieces with thumbs around the barrel at
inspection arms; one had the figure | on left
side and letters d. OH right side OF blouse
collar, and one had a button missing from his
blouse.
The companies of the battalion looked we'll,
as usual. but the errors made in forming the
battalion and the violation OF regulations in
the matter OF general guides and color guard
are proper subjects of censure III a command
having the age and experience of this one
Company A. First Battalion Several men
talked IN ranks during inspection Several
men had letters D. g. OH blouse collar inve rted
One sergeant opened chamber of his rife and
one man failed to half-cock his rifle for inspec-
ton. One man did not bring hammer to safety
notch after Inspection.
Company b, First Battalion. captain did
not verify the position Of the guides at the
command, rear open order but gave the COM
mand. March, and then went to the right Of
the line established by his guides. He also gave
the comm and, Attention to muster" while the
company was at order arms The second lieu
tenant wore blouse not made according to
regulations. Several men had badly furnished
blouse buttons and cap ornaments One man
had letters ID. {. on wrong side of blouse coll
lar. One man had staff buttons on blouse
One man failed to half-cock his rifle for ,nspec.
ton and one man failed to bring hammer to
safety-notch after inspection. The company
mad every man on lts muster roll present at in
spection.
Company {, First Battalion. Captain did not
unhoOk scabbard in returning sword First
sergeant had his blouse unbutt0ned. One man
had the letters d. &. on blouse collar reversed
and one man had inverted. One man had
two empty shells in cartridge belt Four men
grasped their pieces with thumbs around the
barrel at inspection arms and one man failed
to bring hammer to safety notch after inspec-
ton.
Company d, First Battalion.-Three men had
badly tarnshed blouse buttons and cap orna-
ments. One man had staff buttons on blouse
ono man came to carry arms after receiving
his rifle from the inspector and one man failed
TO DrlEg hammer to safety-notch.
SECOND BATTALION
The battalion was turned over for inspection
thirty minutes late, but passed a very COM
mendable inspection, that showed very great
Improvement since its last annual inspection
The following errors were noted in the for
nation of the battalion: The captain of the first
company brought his company on the line too far
TO the right OF the second company. The captain
OF the second company brought his company to
support arms before the third company was
dressed. The adjutant preceded his command
Garry arms, by the word battalion
The officers OF the field and staff did not order
sword after answering to their names at mus
ter. The inspector Of rifle practice and the adj
lutant ala not return their swords properly
Two OF the corporals OF the color guard had
furnished blouse buttons and one had a greasy
rag lii the chamber OF his rifle
Company A. Second Battalon-Three mon
Drought hammers to fali-cOck and one man
failed to half-cock his piece for inspection.
Two men failed to bring hammers to safety
notch after inspection. Two men had dirty
rifles and three men very dirty gloves There
WAS some talking i'll the roar rank and several
men looked behind during the inspection. The
company has recently rid itself of an unsol-
dierly element that threatened its disorgauiza-
''on. and viii doubtless rapidly regain its ac-
customed numbers and discipline
Company H. Second BIttalion.-The CAPTAIN
did not give command. Front" after dressing
his company, and did not take his proper posi-.
tor after opening ranks. The second lieutenant
TOOK second position OF present swords instead
OF order after answering to his name at muster
Several men did not have numbers or letters ON
caps ana one did not have number and letters
On blouse collar. Two men brought their
pieces to a full-cock and three men failed TO
h"lf-cock their pieces for inspection. The COM
pany had every man on its muster roll present
for inspection.
Company c. Second Battalion.-The captain
gave the command, Attention to muster with
the company at carry arms. and IN correcting
TINS error gave the command, support arms"
with his sword i'll its scabbard. The lieutenants
did not face to the rear until after the second
ME had been inspected. One man had the
shoulder of his blouse torn One man had
cartridge shell in his rifle. Two men failed to
haif-cocx their pieces for inspection and
nve men failed to bring hammers to safety
notch after inspec ton.
Company ID, Second Battalion.-The second
lieutenant did not have his sword scabbard
properly hooked -Four men did not have mum.