The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-18
ABOUT THE SOLDIER BOYS.
Adjulant-C General Sends His Annual Re-
port 10 The Governor.
MORE APPROPRIATIONS ASKED FOR.
Colonel 10. Lane Stern MIKES inte'"s'"'
Criticism Upon the Volunteer oo'"'e'''
HIS Comment Upon the First


The report Of Acknowledgement McDona'u
for the year 1891 came from tne hands o' 'n'
nrinter Yesterday and the following extracts
are taken from the interesting pamphlet
General Mcdonald in his letter 70 'He
Governor says.
The report of the assistant inspector-gen-
era shows that while number OF companies
are in unexceptonable condition AS 10 EQUIP
mrnt. drill and discipline, there IRE oeis-5 a.
/ which there has been deterioration not oul5
/ in dress and arms. which IA 70 some extent
4 the unavoidable effect OF time. but also ~
s,l,lierly spirit and fidelity 10 duty, tor Wnlcu
! time is no excuse. 1t IS hoped that 'he MAJ
/ madyersioDs of tie inspector Will nave 'he
effect Of Quickening the sense OF guy u
/ officers and men. and ar using IN them
a manly determination 10 remove al JUST
ground for reproach. We are yet TOO near TO
the time when Virginia sOldiershlp trieu III
tue feriest furnace OF wal. came oui pure lou,
for our young men VINO nave lHhon upou
themselves the honorable Obligation % serve
tbe state az soldiers 10 be willing 10 seem 20
be indifferent.to duty or regardless OF Iepula-
tion. For feel well assured tins IS seeming
only, and that there IS not company troop
or battery in the whole service thas "ou"
not respond with alacrity 20 any cal ok tAe
State and face any emergency with efficiency
and courage.
EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
When il is remembered that the volunteers
e the country constitute the immediate aud
ready reserves of tho small standing army
which can be safely kept small only because
OF the existence or such reserves and tndt
they are not only the fr5t mlnta 10 DO or
dered into service in ca Of war but also the
power relied on 10 compel obedience 10 tie
civil authority when resisted, 10 give pr9iec-
ton TO person and property when menaced
with violence and 10 MAINTAIN the puDllc
trauquillty.it must be felt tat such force IS
vital part of the Government. Federal anu
State and that both Justice and eXpedlency
demand that it shall be amply sustained
But except in some OF the Northern states,
where very large annual appropriations are
made for the purpose, It cannot be claimed
that this IS done.
ymGNINs SHARE.
Theentire strength ofthe organized anduni-
formed militia OF the country as reported bY
the Secretary OF War. February 3, 1871, was
6.2G9. Tor arming and 90 tipping tins force
Congress makes an annual appropriation ot
3 500 o %. 10 DO expended 10y the War Depart
mpnt ne manufa tnre OF purchas Oimi thy
supplies which are -ued 10 the Statesand EEL
ritOries on the reQuisltiOn OF their Governors
From these figures 70 VIII he seen That the
share Of each so der in these supplies is less
than = in value Nirginlas quota oil tho
appropriation. dependent on her relative re-
presentation in Congress Is Tor the current
wear. Sll.051 l6. The arms aud equipments
that come TO the State under the Law "a Con-
gress remain the proper 81 Ot the nlted
States. aud are 20 be accounted tor IN the
same manner as similar issues TO tie army
are.
The provision made by Virginia In aid of
her volunteers Is the dedication of one-bat
of one per cent. of al her revenue derived
from regular sources OF income, ex ept tho
school fund. Inc amount So derived was f0r
the fiscal year ending September 3D.. 1874,
SfO70ISl The disbursement OF this fund IS
directed by the military board. which Is COM
posed Of the Governor. the Acknowledgement,
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth, the as
sistant inspector general and the senior Of
fcer Of volunteers. This fund Is charged
with the cost Of the entire administration OF
the military department. incu lnz the salary
of the Adiutant-G General 4 statement OF the
disbursements in detail accompanies this
paper.
Az ARSENAL WANTED.
There is great need OF a suitable and sufi-
cient place in this city for the storage OF mill
tary property. Formerly the State was well
supplied in this respect by the armory. ust
below the Tredegar works. which with lfs
State guard and ia gunsmlths and ITS arti-
sans. afforded all the space and protection
needed and all the mechanical skill 10 ulred
for the proper care OF ordnance md quarter
master stores and camp uipage. Ihe ar
inory buildings were destroyed Dy the great
fire that attended the evacuation Of the city
by the Confederate forces and the property
has passed rom the ownership of the tate.
Now We have only the small building on the
Capitol grounds known rs the Dollhouse.
which barely suihcos for the small stock of
infantry arms and ammunition Kept IN store.
For batteries of art iery, cavalry elu pments,
tents. dc. the State as 40 place OF storage, /
when. as is now the case with two batteries,
they are not in Use by cOmpanie-
COLONEL sTERN SPEAKS.
Colonel 10. Lane Stern assistant inspector.
general has the following 10 say IN reference /
o. the regiment
The accompanying muster rolls and re-
port Of the annual inspection iOr the year
1891, which have the honor 10 submit. show
the gratifying increase ot > Per cent. present
at the inspectl0 over last year, and ID per
cent increase over tine year ~.
There has been quite a general disposition
on the part OF cOmmandlng officers 90 drop, ,
discharge or otherwise dispose OF worthless
men on their rolls 10 which commendahle
action the increased percentage is d0u tess
due.
The Second and Third reg ments Of infan-
try and the regiment of cavalry have not mad
the same attention paid TO err rolls and the 7
very low percentage oil Attendance IN those ,
regiments II the result. a more watchfui )
care in this particu ar by the commandants ,
OF these three regiment. IS rec mmended.
aud II the needs aud condition OF the COM
panes be q little more looked after by the
commandants much good will probably
result thererom.
Il will be observed that several companies
have been reduced below the minimum mum
Ter OF men re uired by law This has been
done IN most cases 10 make room for more ;
acceptable material and X is suggested that
reasonable tune should be alOg cd these COM q
panies 20 recruit before any steps be taken q
looking towards their disarmament.
LACE or DILIGENCE. y
The company roll-books adopted and sent
to the cOmmandants Of regiments last g.
cember have pr ven OF great value in giving
information concerning the attendance Of
officers aud men
t is TO be regretted that in the Second regi- y
ment OF infantry these rOll-bOO6s were not
forwarded TO the company commandauts IN
time TOT them 70 be properly prepared, hence 2
there IS 10 seni-alHual percentage report [
from this regiment
10 great degree the same Lack Of dill Q
gence heretofore reported on tho part OF q
officers t. prepare and return their muster
rolls according 10 directions obtains. and in
future reports from this Office those wnO neg
lect TO make prompt reports will DO men 7
toned. !
The zeal and ability generally displayed by s
commanding officers may be said 20 be salts n
factory but IN Jew instances. which have &
been referred to in special reports. such is not :