The morning call., 1891-11-09
STATE TROOPS.
An ArtilleriSt's Estimate of the
Guard Of California.
Unservieeable Property Condemned Captain
Levy Ketired-Field Officers of the Eighth
Is Now the Hancock Club.

-,
company, presumably or guard at Camp
Waterman. and the other BrigGjier-General
johnson and staff, with ex-Adjntant- Gen.
eTal Orion, but noticeable chiefly for the
sublime contempt of some of the photo
grabbed for the position of a soldier The
article is most friendly to the organization,
though not above criticism for its facts or
from historical standpoint
Lieutenant Hamilton is kind to say that
CALIFORNIA; National Guard bears the
same relation to the guards of the other Pa
cifc and Rocky Mountain States and Terri
tories as that Of the Empire State TO her sis
tiers east of the Mississippi" and that g to
the observing military student there can be
plainly seen going hand in hand with the
picturesque and romantic surroundings Of
the battalions of the Golden State a firm
and substantial military foundation"
A running aliusi0n is made to the pioneer
company First California Guard Q4ight Bat
terry A, Second Artillery, some forty mem
bers Of which IN 1884 organized the City
Guard, the oldest infantry company in the
State and still in existence as Company b,
First Infantry; then TO the organization in
1855 of the Nationals; in 1858 of the Light
Guard mustered out as Company +, First
Infantry, and in 1859 of the MacMahon
Grenadier Guard now Company A, First
Infantry of the Nationals C and &, First
Infantry, he says:
This latter company claims The proud dntinc-
ton OF being the iIst National Guard company
name at The time OF lis formation. when all
others in California and elsewhere were known
only as militia" II is to-day known rs the
company of Nationals"
MUCH PROGRESS WITH LITTLE HELP.
But 10 quote from the article:
The California Guard has had Its drawbacks IN
the past, aud in tie present IL is far from per.
fect. In some respects II is behind The standard
States; yet notwithstanding all this It can be
fTuthiuy said tnat the guard OF no State has
made such pIoglesS with Sucn little help In no
State Is The guard more loyal and obedient TO
prOper authority, more anxious 10 improve aud
deSiTOus OF progress IN all that constitutes the
real part OF tile soldiers pIoiessiOn-the practl-
cal carrying out Of marches and camps, ETC
aud mol the show OF parade or the social dlctinc-
lions, so often sought by the Older organizations
of lie East. 10 The delriment OF sOldielly quail
Ties With he exception OF one SGale-South
Carolina-the number OF guardsmeu in CallfOr-
MIA is greater IN proportion 10 the population
than In any other Stale.
The Second Artillery Regiment will no
doubt take 10 heart particularly the follow
ing, coming as ii does from an artlierst:
Several rather unusual conditions Will strike
the attention Of the military man. First, The des-
igDatiOn OF the artillery regiments as such. THIS
IS relic Of the times When during their organi-
Zation II was proposed TO arm and e4uiD the en-.
tire regiments as artillery. 10 each one of these
regiments IS one light battery OF artillery, and
without doubt that one In the Second Regiment,
commanded by Captain Hugh ]. Sine, was far
ahead of any IN The State OF New York In all
that pertains 10 excellence IN drIll aud discipline
ana practical knowledge of their duties ana
their arm Of service, the regiments OF in
fantTy OF New York, tax Il as whole. are ahead
OF tie California organizations. The Infantry
companies OF the TWO artillery regiments are
wrongly termed "balteries" They are armed,
equipped and drilled Infantry. and have no
knowledge whatever Of either heavy or light ar
tileTy. Should they be called out for active SER
vice, either In sta'e or United States service.
they must 90 as Infantry or be mustered into
service as recruits entirely ignorant OF their arm
CONSIDERED GENERALLY.
The Lieutenant hits the nail on the head
when he SAYS further: 1T will be noticed
also that the old fault-nOw pretty well
done away with in most Eastern States-of
a large, snowy and political general staff-is
followed 10 a great extent in California
Each division and brigade commander has a
staff as top-heavy in proportion as the Gov
ernors."
On the subject of arms and uniforms he
says:
As the State claims la allowance from the
genera. Government In arms and equipment and
obtains them from That source only, IL follows
that iof so large guard and with such small
allowance, by the time all the companies are
supplied. lie arms first issued are unsei yceable.
About per cent oi ne rlnes In The qua d are IN
this stale; Willie To hi out all the companies at
the present rate VIII tequtre about three years
mOIe. -. The sum allowed dor lie purchase
OF unlo ms Is small but with Tie State clothing
IL Is Sufficient 10 clotue the entire guard and
keep them so for some years in a good condition
with the important exception OF oveIcOats.
The article treats generally of the organi-
Zation as follows:
In many respects the drill of the California
Guard, taken as whole. Is as satisfactory a. In
most OF the States. The same difference is OBJ
seTyable here as III New York, between the regi-
ments and The companies oreauZed in the coun-
Try and smaller towns. The latter invaIi-
ably composed OF the best material in their re-
spCctlv6 towns Tie single military company
Is not only military organization but is also
social club AMI The club o. he place. The meme
pers are men Of high standing IN business, poitI-
ca aud social Gil cies and they take a pride in
making the company the best military Organiza-
ton # the Stale and all Other issues sub
seryltnt 10 ths one condition. In the GILES,
with the exception OF one OF TWO companies The
regiments may be said TO be composed OF the
working classes, the Third Infantry correspond
ing 10 the Slxly-ninlh in New York City, It's
members being Of lush birth principally. The
TWO light batteries and the hussar company are
considered the "ciack" OF swell organizations.
SUPPORT Is INEFFICIENT.
On the subject of efficiency in the drill
Lieutenant Hamilton observes:
The light batteries are IN all that makes Them
practical artilleTists far ahead OF any OF The New
York batteries and equal 10 any in any OF The
Eastern States They do not pretend TO 60
through a simply perfect mechanical drill with
their guns on even dril floor, with every sur
rounding Of lights, heat, cOlors, large audience,
etc, conducive TO calling out every effort on the
part Of Tie members TO look pretty; but out in
the camp, n the field ana on the narcn thew
know how to handle their guns aud take care Of
them and themselves. with The execution OF
these two and several Of the separate companies
those organized ia tie smaller toWns-tne
drili, guard duty, camp duties, ETC., below
tile average Of those IN the East. Bui drill is a
question Of practice and knowledge, and Will
soon come 10 TIE Calfornians 10 the new line OF
progress they have lately taken up since they
have the first great requisite OF good soldiers 10
an equal extent With any OF their Eastern COM
patriots. 1t is only within year That dppropria-
tions and support anything Ike what IS neces-
sAry have been given them. AS IL Is they are
very little cUmpate ed TO what really required.
When the Slate shall erect and own It's armorirs
sufficient for all its guard, uniform, equip and
them alike and with the best armament
consistent with their service, lhe0, judging from
what has been accomplished IN the past Cali
TO MIA viii have another institution to which she
eau point with pride ana from which the East
can learn many lessons TO her advantage.
REPORTS OF BOARDS OF SURVEY.
Reports by the Boards of Survey having
been rendered, the unserviceabe property
examined of Battery" OF the Second Ar
tlllery and of Battery" c will be de-
stroyrd, twenty-five uniform coats Of the
Second Artillery boxed and shipped TO head
quarters as freight eight sets of artillery
harness.: one battery wagon, a forge and
one stock battery wagon, stored and held
subject to orders, because Government
property, and the rifles and bayonets of +
Of the First Infantry boxed and shipped,
and the other riff-raff destroyed.
As the allotment to the State is based on
the military rolls Of the County Assessors,
the Adlufant-General has called the atten-
ton OF Brigade Commanders to their i'm
portauce, with the request that they be for
warded promptly, and if necessary, to fur
theT call the attention of the county officials
to the matter
The Conmander-in-C Chief is working his
staff 10 death. A few more lightning
change acts in one night, such as first at the
Art Loan Exhibition and then at the cav
airy troop ball, will result in applications to
be placed on the retired list Tor disability
incurred in the line of service
Captain Huber and Li-utenants 1'bomp-
h IN
semble tonight as Board of Survey to dis
pose Of certain unservc- able property of
Battery" ID, Second Artillery.
Lieutenant-Colonel O'Conn0r, Third In
fantry. has made application for the bronze
medal for ten years Service-not continu-
Dus The vanity Of these menl
CAPTAIN LEVY RETIRED.
Captain Henry Levy, late of Company C,
Third Infantry, has been placed on the re-
tirnd Lit piih rank fInna A rril 1e 1900