The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-25
REPORTED ABSENT
WITH LEAVE.
Thirty Per Cent of Ruger's Of
fcers on Detached Duty.
A State Of Affairs Shown by the Department
-Poo-Bahism at the Mill
tary Posts.

An examination Of the roster of troops of
the Department of California for the month OF
October shows that 30 per cent, or seventy
nine of the 113 regimental field and line ON
GERS are not with their commands, but
absent on leave or detached duty. The de-
partmeut embraces the State of Nevada and
that portion of this State which is north OF
the 35th parallel of north latitude, which
takes in San Luis Obispo and Kern
counties. and a little less than the northern
half Of san Bernardino County. This system
Of detailing officers for duty away from
their regiments is one of the crying evils IN
the service.
BrICadfer-General Thomas II. Ruger COM
mands the department, and he has ior MS
aid-de-camp Lieutenant Leonard a. Low
prinr of the Fourth Infantry. which regi-
ment is not in this department. On the de-
partment staff are three gentlemen who are
detached from their regiments. Inc stan IS
as follows: Lieutenant-Colonels y. u,
Greene, A. 8. G., and George ID. burton, l.
G.: Major Edward Hunter, j. A.; LleEten-
ant-Colonel John g. Chandler, ID. Z. NJ u,
c. O: Captain Charles \. Booth, A. q NJ;
Lieutenant Colonel John 7. Hawkins, a.
c. G. S. {. C. S; Colonel Basil Norris, 3,
NJ. D.; Major Frank NJ. Coke, r, Z. I.
FIRST Lieutenant JdtllES L. lNHLlAtSf -
ARTILLERY, A L. O., A. c. S. O.; Major J Ohm
]. Rodgers, First Artillery, L A.; Major
Edward Moale. First Infantry, l. ,. a. T.,
besides Of the general staff, Major George
f. Robinson, ?.
TROOPS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
The troops in the department are four
troops of the Fourth Cavalry; b, l ana X at
the Preside aud at Fort Bidwell, with l
and expected almost daily to return from
detached service at Yosemite and Sequola
national parks. The Fifth Artillery. with
HEADQUARTERS at the Preside, has Batteries
A and l at Alcatraz Island, L, Z, u, +, II
and X at the PTeSidiC, NJ at Fort Mason, ID
and being the light batteries, and l. be.
ing at Fort CANDY, Wash, at the mouth OF
the Columbia, and q at Fort Monroe, Va
Headquarters of the First Infantry are at
Angel Island with Companies A, b, b, u,
Il and K also located there, c and ID al Be
nlcia Barracks, at FOrt Custom ana at
Fort BldWell, | being the s0-caled 4ldlah,
ana h the skeleton company.
B of the Fourth Cavalry has its Second
Lieutenant, Samuel Reber, absent on duty
with the international Railway Commission,
and C's First Lieutenant, John NJ. Neal, Is
on duty at the Nevada State University at
Reno The regiment, whose Otner troops
are in Washington and Idaho, Is now IN
command of Lieutenant Colonel Arson
Mills sin the court-martial sentence OF
Colonel Compton.
Colonel William NJ Graham is the only
field officer Of the Fifth Artillery at the Pre-
sidio, and also commands the post LIS u
tenant Colonel Francis L. Guenther has not
yet Joined, Major Abram {. Nlldrlck Is IN
command at AlcatraZ, Major Marcus T.
\. iller is with the battery IN Virginia and
Major fully McCrea is acting Engineer On
Ger Of the Department OF the Columbia.
ABSENT LINE OFFICERS.
Battery AS Second Lieutenant Avery D.
Andrews, is a. D. c. to the Major General
commanding the army, and Second Leuten-
ant A. H. Sydenham of the Fort Monroe
battery Is temporarily attached to A, Battery
BIS First Lieutenant is absent on leave,
Department OF the East, and one OF its Sec
Cs First Lieutenant on duty at headquarters
Ond Lieutenants absent on regmentil re-
eruiting tour Captain Joshua A. Fessen-
den of h Is absent on SICK leave, and First
Leuteuants Sawyer on leave for one month
and Newcomb on duty at the military
academy. First Lieutenants Hills Of | IS
on duty at the University Ut Illinois, and
Adams on detached service at Fort Monroe
under orders to join his battery. Captain
Beaverton of X Is temporarily at head
quarters Department OF the East. First Lieu
tenants Carbaugh, Acting Judge Advocate
OF the Department of Texas and Wake on
duty at the artillery school in Virginia.
Battery Ms First Lieutenant is at the Pur-
due University in Indiana.
Colonel Shafter is the only field officer Of
the First Infantry at headquarters at Angel
Island and be freq uently Is absent on tours
of inspe ton, leaving the post and battalion
in command IF the senior Captain, William
T. DJugheTty CT Is. Colonel
James :. Casey is in command at BinIcia
Barracks and the Major Is On the depart
ment staff.
The First Lieutenant of A is absent on
general recruiting service and the Second
is at Benica Barracks, temporarily de-
tailed with c. First Lieutenant Struther
Of B is at Fort Bidweu, C's First Lieu
tenant has not yet joined ard II has 10
second. DIS Second Lieutenant is absent
on Tegimental recruiting.
4 COMPANY WITHOUT OFFICERS.
E is without an OIL er, because Captain
O'Conuell Is supposed to be in Sacramento
ION duty IN connection with the y. q. C."
First Lieutenant r II. Noble Il at st.
Johns College, Annapolis, Md. and Sec
Ond Lieutenant kirkman at Fort Bdwell
G'5 Captain is on sick leave and its Second
Li-utenant on a recruiting tour. The Cap
tain Of the Indian Company, Marion L.
Maus, is aid-de-camp to General Miles,
First Lieutenant Phster is at the Infantry
and Artillery School, and there Is no Sec
Ond Lieutenant Captain William y. lis
da!l OF h, the skeleton company, IS absent
on general recruiting service at Philadel-
phia, Pa. Lieutenant Petit at West Point,
and Roach in arrest at Fort Monroe.
Thus with two cavalry, sixteen infantry
and fifteen artillery officers absent, neces-
Sarily much extra labor deyOlves upOn the
officers Drrseut for duty, not counting the
extra details for cOurts-martial and other
tours of duty. The only companies which
have their complement of officers are Troops
and X of the Fourth Cavalry, Ii ght Bat
teries ID and L of the Fifth Artillery and
Companies and II of the First Infantry,
six out Of % regular companies. Batteries
II and K are in command OF Second Lieu
tenants. First Lieutenant StrOther is re-
cruiting for the Indian company, and also
commanding the detachment at Fort Bid
well, and Of the infantry is commanded
by First Lieutenant.
The number Of military PoO-BahS created
is something amusing. At the Preside First
Lieutenant Granger Adams is r Q. M, A.
A. @. NJ, a. c. 5. and Post Treasurer;
Captain Zaiinski is with his battery, de-
tailed also to conduct the battery competi-
tons, and is moreover in charge Of the post
gardens; Lieutenant Blunt of his battery is
Range Officer Of Artillery Target Practice,
A. L. 0. and 4. 5. o., while the Second
Lieutenant. W. E. Ellis, is i'll charge OF tue
post canteen and is recruiting officer at the
post. Lieutenant Hamilton of Battery is
A. o. o. and also police officer at the post.
POO BAHs AT THE POSTS.
At Fort Mason BLACK P0inO Captain Day
Of Battery VI commands the post, and all
else is apparently in the hands OF Lieuten-
ant Ham, who is Post Adiutant, A. Z. O.,
A. O. O., a. 5. o., and Recruiting Officer:
Lieutenant Galley, temporarily at ached.
who was A. A. Q. NJ. a. c. S. in charge If
schools and post garden, aud also Range
Officer. and Captain Perley, A. s.. who is
Post Treasurer and in charge of canteen.
At Fort Bidwel, Captain Whit of Troop
c is in command and Lieutenant Kirkman,
under orders to join his company at Angel
Island, is A. a. O. NJ, A. c. S, A. o. o.
and A. S. o., with Captain Wakeman, a. s.,
Post Treasurer and in charge of garden
At AlcatraZ Lieutenant Hancock is Re
cruitlng OfnceT, A. o. 0. and A. ). o.. Ridg-
way is Range and Canteen Officer, and Gal
lup A. A. @. NJ, A c. S. and officer in
charge of prisoners. Chaplain Dunbar hay
ing charge of tie schools.
At Fort CASTOR there are four officers.
Captain Edmunds commands the post and
the company. Lieutenant Vogdes is A A.
Q. NJ, A. c. S., Post Treasurer, Recruiting
Officer and in charge of post canteen, while
Lieutenant Benj1min is Post Adjutant, A.
o. o., A. S. o. and in charge of the post
school. The fourth officer is Acting Assist
ant Surgeon Fisher.
At Benicla Barracks Lieutenant Brant is
A. A. Q. NJ, A. c. S., Post Treasurer, Re-
oruffiuU lffiapr and pbarpp Of tho