Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-10
NATIONAL GUARD.
MILITARY NOTES OF INTEREST TO THE
GUARDsMEN.
The Late Annual Review and DrilI-Tar-
get Practice, Parades, and
Minor Notes.

"a, ID, u anu u jOrmeu llue promptly anu
correctly, with the requisite number of
men, and they presented a very handsome
appearance. They were commanded by
Captain Glas, Lieutenant Kay. Captain Sey-
mour and Lieutenant Sheehan, respect.
lively. Lieutenant Lloyd acted as Adju-
tant, and Colonel Guthrie commanded the
battalion, assisted by Lieutenant Colonel
Mckee The knowledge of the company
commanders in battalion evolutons was
pretty thoroughly tested, and they acquitted
themselves most admirably. The errors
made were not glazing ones, and several OF
these were due to a misunderstanding of
the command given, or they were puzzled
by changes in the phraseology OF the or
ders, which were not in many instances
given as laid down in Upton's tactics.
This is serious fault in drill master,
as the substitution of one small word for
another places the company officers at a
disadvantage, they not quite knowing what
is intended The commands given should
be stated exactly in the prescribed form.
and if not understood, should be explained
at length before attempting to execute
movement. A merely superficial knowl-
edge OF tactics will always be troublesome.
This will apply to all officers having men
to instruct in military science, exactness in
detail being of first importance.
Majors Houghton and Sherburn of the
Brigade Staff were very active in taking
notes of the drill, the efficiency of the
guides, general conduct of the men, etc.
The former acted as reviewing officer and
when arms were presented, the battalion
commander, who ranked him, should have
allowed him to salute first The first error
noted was in the review, when instead OF
Prepare for, the words Pass in review,
rear open order, were given. The review
ing officer in his report criticises the Lieu
tenants of Company G for not saluting
when passing IN review, and Company AS
men for not wearing gloves. He unmerci-
fully scores the fle-closers for their
ragged appearance, and suggests that the
Adlutant or some other officer should look
after them. This is habitual complaint
against the fle-closers and has frequently
been pointed out. 1t is singular that these
officers (Lieutenants and Sergeants) should
not be able to keep better aligned, and it
must be attributed to pure carelessness
The general guides and color bearer were
prompt after the first few attempts, and
particularly the color bearer, Sergeant An
derson. His worst error was in having no
idea that he should return to the line
when the color company was about
to pass an obstacle, but one hint was suti-
cent. Sergeant Major Quinn understands his
duties well and is very neat and soldieriy
in his appearance. The guides of com.
panies were not as prompt in preceding
their companies on the line as they might
be, from which structure must be excepted
Sergeant Ross, the left guide of Company
E, who was noticeably effective. Majors
Sharh 81
"the soldierly bearing of the men, the
smoothness with which they executed the
manual of arms and the excellence of the
marching and wheeling, demands I'M
stiDted praise" The cadence of the 'side
step was entirely too rapid. The step
should be in the same time as the forward
or backward step, neither faster nor slower.
As prac.iced at present, it is almost as fast
as double time.n
The sklrmishing by members from bat
talon front was the most wretchediy exc
cuted of any of the evolutions. The men
seemed to have no conception of their
duties as skirmishers, and when Colonel
Mckee ordered them to commence firing
they stood as if paralyzed, with arms al
carry, looking from one 10 the other
along the lines. They have evidently had
no instruction in this most important and
fascinating drill. The matter of remedy.
ing this State of affairs should be taken in
hand by the officers without delay.
The firing by battalion was also bad, and
the skirmishers did not understand the
difference between assemble and rally
on the battalion. After the lapse of two
or three seconds the men were very steady
at parade rest, in which position they
were kept for some little time. The words
continue the march" are entirely super
fuous when "fours right or left or
right about is ordered. II should be
added only when companies wheel if the
intention is to move forward after the
wheel is completed.
AS usually happens, the companies move
too far to the rear at the command Right
of companies rear into column Captain
Seymour wheeled his tours to the right in
instead OF to the left about" when FORM
ing line from column faced to the rear.
The fours should wheel towards the point
OF rest. So, too, in closing column on rear
company, when those marching to the rear
have got to close column distance, they
should not be halted before giving the
command "fours right about" This is also
successive formation, and companies
should be brought to support" after
dressing, notwithstanding instructions to
the contrary.
The wheeling by divisions, right by COM
PohASo, ohu uiflSlOuS, anu Inc
formations of single rank by both wings
simultaneously, were not clearly under
stood at all. These are very simple move
ments, and 1t is perhaps on account of their
simplicity that the battalion has not prac-
tised them lately, hence the confusion.
The officers seem to understand the Diff
cult evolutions better than the simple ones.
Perhaps they should receive credit for this,
as going to show that they desired to solve
the most complex problems first, and leave
the easy ones for dessert, as it were, or on
the same principle that q man leaves his
pie for the final struggle. Taken as a
whole, the brigade officers were very well
pleased with the drill and the appearance
OF the men, and the spectators, who are
usually quick to see when thing is we'll
done, applauded literally. The exercises
occupied nearly two hours time, with
scarcely moments rest, but the time
could be shortened by getting the COM
panies into position quicker in passing
from one movement to another.
The regiment is making preparations to
go to camp this summer again, and Santa
Cruz seems to be the favorite ground.
Orders are ont for parade on Memorial
Day, May Goth. and also for the first an
nual target practice, which can be held any
time in May or June. The high stage of
the river prevents the men from practicing
at their ranges, and they will probably
have to shoot on some other grounds. as
the water will be over the firing points for
some time to come.
Company B is preparing for its outing at
Placerville on May 18th, and the people of
that enterprising town are making prepare
tons to receive them on grand scale.
Major Sherburn and Lieutenant ROBBIE,
signal officers on the brigade and regi-
mental stats, are going to create panic
on the Fourth of July by mounting them
selves and the Signal Corps on pure white
horses. Msjor Sherburn is feeding his
rosinante (which is partly white now on
milk and chalk, so as TO have the simon
pure article.
Company A is making rapid strides in
recruiting, with a very eligible class Of