Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-05
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Gen. Ordway's Circular Relating to the
Encanpment.

EuCdI1pIlenls
REGULATIONS THAT WILL BE CARRIED oUr-THE
CHARACTER OF INSTRUCTION TO BE GIvES-THE
RIFLE PRACTICE AT THE E4RRACKs-AN ORDER
FROM INSPECTOR POLLARD.
There have been great many contributions
to the literature Of the District National Guard.
but none more interesting than the following
circular which has Just been issued from head
quarters and from which brief extracts were
given In Saturdays STAR. 1t deals with mat
tiers that are OF current interest to every man
in the brigade and should be read carefully.
Regulations as to who shall be permitted to go
into camp, suggestions as to preparatory drill
intimatiOns to rapid assembly" which will
be called for next month (as in case Of n riot),
criticisms to carelessness in the instruction
OF recruits and reprimand for fle-closers and
guides are worthy of more than a passing
glance. The circular which is numbered 2, Is
as follows:
The annual encampment will be held from
July p to July .. The time in camp will be
wholly devoted to instruction that cannot be
given in the armOries or streets, such as guard
duty. skirmish drill school of battalion, evOlu-
tions of a regiment, and possibly of a brigade.
In this view il would be a useless expense to
take into camp men who have not been
IOIOUbUlY instructor III tuc sCHOOl VI lut
soldier and the school of the company, and
therefore commanding officers of companies
Will be prohibited from allowing any man to go
to camp who Is not enlisted before June /, or,
if enlisted after that date, shall be thoroughly
drilled soldier at the time of enlistment.
1t will be equally useless to take into camp
men whose terms of service will expire during
camp, soon thereafter. unless such men
intend TO remain In the National Guard. Com
mandlng officers of companies will. therefore,
he prOhI bItpl frOm allowing m IN CO nj N
camp whose term of service expires before
August l, 1880. unless such man shall, before
going. declare his intention to re-enlist on the
expiration of his existing enlistment.
Commanding officers of companies who issue
clothing. arms and equipments TO any man not
regularly enlisted into the National Guard and
permit him to go into camp will subject them
selves TO trial by coUrt-martial.
THE RIGHT KIND OF PRELIMINARY WORK.
prior to the encampment every company
commander should practice his company in the
ceremony of guard mounting and thoroughly
instruct his men in the duties of sentinels All
officers should carefully study and prepare
themselves to instruct their commands practi-
cally in skIrmish drill
"A rifle range will be constructed on the
camp ground. and regular practice will be or
dered IN fuliilment OF the plan for rifle prae-
tlce for the year. u to this time the inspectors
OF rifle practice have acted as instructors rather
than inspectors. Sufficient time has elapsed
since rifle practice was instituted for officers to
lit themselves to be instructors. and. therefore,
no man viii be permitted to shoot ON the
range who has not been thoroughly instructed
IN the sighting, position and aiming drill As
such exclusion would lower the figure of merit
of company for the year 1t is expected that
officers Will devote themselves to giving their
men the necessary preliminary instruction to
qualify them to shoot the prescribed scores on
this range.
CALI. FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
Commanding officers should make and
forward before May 20 acquisitions for all
articles necessary to completely arm and equip
their respective commands for field service.
Including IN such acquisitions manuals of
guard duty for each enlisted man and whistle
signals for skirmish drill for each commits
stoned officer and sergeant"
get THERE IN A HURRY"
During the month of June the brigade will
be exercised IN rapid assembly by being called
out for duty by verbal orders and by a pre-
seribed signal on the fire alarm bells. In prep
aratlon for this commanding officers should
See that the regulations prescribed by general
orders No. 9. series of 1887 are Immediately
Carried into effect.
SOME ARE GOOD, SOME ARE BAD
VERY satisfactory progress has been made
In the command, but there are faults existing
that require earnest and prompt attention OH
the part of commanding officers. The per-
sonnet OF the guard has greatly changed dur
Ing the past year. and the number been
very largely increased. Ii Is apparent. how
ever, that neither sufficient time nor attention
has been gwen by company commanders to the
instruction of recruits. Men are evidently
allowed 10 drill in the school os the company
before they have become proficient in the SET
flng-up drill and foot movements and while
almost entirely ignorant of the school of the
soldier. company commanders should realize
that the standing of their companies mainly
depends on the care and time given to the in
structlon Of recruits. Another very serious
fault requiring correction Is the apparent ig-
nOrance OF sergeants respecting their duties as
guides and file clOsers. File closers
ARE SOr ORNAMENTAL APPENDICES,
but are charged with important duties, on
which the discipline and military appearance
OF the company largely depends. They should
be particular to keep their own alignment.
dress accurately and preserve their proper dis
tance. Ii is their duty to rectify mistakes and
TO insure steadlness and promptness Silence
IN the ranks should be preserved at all times
on duty. and unnecessary raising OF hands or
gazing about not permitted Instruction i'm
parted cannot be promptly received if men are
lnattentIve. 1t Is the duty of file closers to
promptly report such cases to their COMPANY
commanders. Careful attention to these essen
tlal points will greatly add to the effectiveness
aud appearance Of the entire brigade"
INSPECTION.
Those officers and enlisted men of the
national guard who think the inspection which
Is to take place this month will be a mere
formal affair had better disabuse themselves of
that idea as rapidly and as thoroughly as posi-
Die. good deal OF attention will be paid TO
arms and accOUtTements. but fully as much
time Will be spent III thorough inspection of
clothing. 10 the most casual observer it is
evident that mutual exchanges of garments
even within the narrow limits OF a companv
would cOnduce to a better appearance. A 80
inch leg In a 33-Inch pair of trousers looks inst
as bad as a 33-lnch Lex III a 30-inch bfurcated
casing. Caps. too. have been issued by COM
pany commanders without any apparent iudg-
ment and the results have been more or les
dlscredltable III numerous instances On the
question OF buttons there seems 10 be MANY
opinions and all of them have the kuack of be-
Ing as nearly incorrect possible. Line OH
GERS have their uniforms adorned with staff
buttons despite the fact that attention has ire
quently been directed 10 this extremely palpa-
BE error.
offIcERs 10 FAC FRONT AND CENTER.
In company with these minor but extremely
numerous military solecislns are one or two
glsring misrepresentation that will certainly
attract the attention Of the inspecting officer
haSR are sSNi.a