Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-18
FIGHTING FORCE
EXTRACTS FROM THE AoJuTANT-
GENERALS ANNUAL REPORT.
Strength Of the Virginia volunteers--Con-
ditlon Of the oops-Encampmeuts,
New Regulations, Etc, Discussed.

The report of General James Mcdonald,
Adjutant- General Of the Virginia volun-
teers, has just been published. and APP
pears in the form Of a neatly-printed pam
phlet, which contains valuable information
concerning the Old Dominion soldiery.
The total strength Of the Virginia vol
unteers, officers and men, as shown by the
annual report, herewith forwarded, of the
Assistant Inspector General is 2, ,7s1, against
2.74s at the came period last year, says the
General. OF these 2,164 we're present az
inspection, against zoos last year. " the
whole number 2,270 ara white and BOZ colored
OF the white troops 1,7B5 are infantry, 3OJ cav
airy, and l91 artillery. The coiored are al IN
CONDITION OF THE TROOPS.
Referring 70 the condition Of the troops the
lie reuort Of the Assistant InspectOr-G General
shows that while a number Of companies are in
unexceptionsble condition az to equipment driH
and discipline, there arc others Ia which there
has been deterioration not only In dress ana
arms, which a 70 some extent the unavoidable
effect Of time, but also in soldierly spirit ana
fidelity 20 duty, Tor which nne Is no ,,ss e1-
sions OF tho Inspector viii have the ei.
fect Of quickening the sense q duty OF
officers and men, and zrousing IN them manly
determination tOremOye all Just ground Tor re-
prOach. We are yet too near 70 the time when
Virginia soliiership, tried I'm the fertost furnace
Of war cane out pure gold, for our Young men
who have taken upon themselves tho non
orable obligation 20 serve the State as soldiers
20 be willing 10 70 be Indifferent 70 duty or
regardless Of reputation. For l feel well as
sured this Is seeming only, and that thefe n nOt
O company, troop, OF battery In the whole ser
vice that would not respond with alacrity 70 any
call Of the State, and face any emergency Win
enlciency and courage.
CHANCES SINCE LAST REPORT.
Within twelve months past a battery OF arti-
Iefy az stanton and a con pauy Of colOfed In
fantry as Manchester have been disbauded, and
three companies Of infantry--to-W1tt, lie Toms
Brook Guard, the Washington Blnes, and the
Huntington Rihes--have been murtered tn. The
first two have been assigned TO the Second regi-
ment, the last not yet assigned. The organiza~
tion OF the cOlOred Infantry has been changed by
the assignment Of all tho separate companies 70
one or the other Of the two battalions'
KECANPHENTs.
For lack Of means, says the report, the virgil
MIA volunteers have never In whole or In part
beon ordered into enlampment but every year
some portions Of them have been permitted,
mainly at their own expense % 90 , INTO camp.
This was done Ia the month OF July last by the
First regiment Of infantry On the Invita-
ton Of tho Governor and military authorl-
ties Of North Carolina the encampment
was, in conjunction With troops OF that
State, at Wrightsyille, N. c. Tho detailed
and lucid report Of tho colonel commanding,
which Is filed with this report, shows that this
and that the teaching ana training wero OF the
most valuable sort. Tho agsduOus and skiful
supervision and assistance in every department
given by Lieutenant Hne, OF the army, entltle
him 10 the warm remembrance and thanks OF
tho regiment and Of the military authorities oi
Companies A and II (the Danville Grays and
DanYille Blues), VI the Third regiment, were IN
camp week at the Bedford Alum Springs.
Some eight or ten companies includlng al
arms, attended by invitation the Industrial Fair
at Lynchburg in October OF last year, ana par
ticipated In a Well-cOnducted sham battle. slmi-
lar events are TO occur during the present month
In LyuChbuTg and Richmond.
A number OF the c0lored companies assembled
in this city In the month Of July last, and among
other exercises engaged I'm a sham battle.
similar assent biage the present month, IN Whlch
colored companies from Baltimore ana WASH
ington city took part was enllVeneu Dy cOin-
petitiYo drill
NEW DRILL REGULATIONS.
"a new gvatero Of tactics says the General, sin
tho preparation Of which board OF army Officers
has been engaged several years, has been ap-
proved by the War Department, and is now pc
Ing put in print for distribution and use IN the
army As by our law II Is required that the
gystem Of discipline and exercise OF the VIZ
ginia volunteers shall conform 70 that
OF the army Of the United states, the newly
approved tactics viii become those OF this Stale'
Ofcourse nothing can be done until they are made
accessible by publication. had supposed LA
Il might DO in the power OF the War Department
that arms and egaiymehtB arc trhibi Uh,itL
the annual appropriation Of Congress- but
cOrrespondence with the department elected
tho information that this could not 90 done
without an amendment 70 the law, which u II
believed will DO made az the approaching session
| Of Congress In the moan time II the publication
shall be made at as early aday asis anticipated
| Il is recommended that SUFFICIENT copies, 70 De
paid for out OF the military fund, DO purchased
| TO supply commissioned officers. And inasmuch
as the law required that all comnlissloaea .
ofIcers elected or appointed under the tactcs
now about 70 be disused should appear before a
hoard OF examiners 30 DO examined az 70 thelf
qualification 10 perform the duties Of their re-
spectiye ofiices, Il would seem TO be necessary
mat provision shall DO made for Ie-o1amina-
fIon under the new tactics. This, II Is believed
may be done by general ORDER
| General Mcdonald makes a strong appeal TOT
moro liberal appropriations TO the support OF
fhe military, makes brief reference 70 the eight
ocoasIons on which the troops we're called out
during the year ia aid Of the civil authority ana
closes his report by calling attention TO the need
OF an arsenal IN this city. The usual papers,
| Including the Inspcctor-Genernls report Whlch
has been published In the DISPATCH, are en-
braced In the volume.