The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-07
CIVILIAN SOLDIERS.
Lieutenant HamiltOn's Article on
CALIFORNIA; Guard.
The Governors Military Escort Resignation
OF Lieutenant Morris-A Scheme of Reor-
observation-disclosures of Col. Barry.

lalns tDe CLOSING lnstallment of the Illus
trated article on the National Guard of Cali
fornia. written evidently more than one
year ago, by Lietenant w. r. Hamilton of
Battery c, Fifth Artillery, stationed at the
Preside. Ii is always interesting to read
or know what others say or think of you.
1t is news, however, that ''the camping
grounds of the National Guard of California
lave been located in different parts of the
State, seemingly with view of accustOm-
ing the people of the State TO It's militia"
and that thus San Diego. Santa Rosa.
Santa Cruz, Sisson, Campton Park,
Monterey, Ukiah and Healdsburg have all
had encampments within the past two
years" 1t might have been truthiully
stated that "the hanging out of the red
auction flag" as a Santa Cruz paper once
put it, has been the most important factor
in the final choice of the location. of the
site.
Nor are the following statements strictly
in accord with the facts:
Ii has been the custom TO order an encamp-
meut by division one year. by brigades the
neXt, and by regiments or batIaliouS The next.
On account OF lie great extent of the State.
north and SOUTH II IS impossible with limited
appropriations 10 have yearly camp by hattal-
Ion or regiments each year. TIE difficulty of
traversng the great length of the State by those
companies al distance from The camp ground,
owing 10 the great amount of time Quired. is
into camp yearly. The question Is al present
being seriously agitated OF the States purcbas
ing and hItlng up, permanent camp ground
similar to Peeksktll and Mantle. II would SEEM
however, that a better plan would b TO put
cLase aud equip Two camp-grouuds one Tor the
northern and one for the southern half OF the
STATE each. AS the only real, thorough camp ln-
suuction can be given In IeCimental or bat
talon camp, with TWO camp grounds every com
pany could be ordered 10 camp for TWO years IN
succession, ana The third year be given up TO
brigade or division encamument. The eXperi-
menl OF encampiug with regular troops seems to
have met Win greater success IL California than
elsewhere.
In the matter of armories." says the
writer, California is far behind other
States. Outside tie State Arsenal a Sacra-
mento the State does not possess sin
gle aTmory or arsenal, The accommoda-
tons for quarters are, with the exception OF
few city organizations, of the scautlest
description, anu Il surely speaks well for
the California Guard that, notwithstanding
such outward acknowledgements and doleful
suTrOur diugS, it has enthusiasm sufficient
TO drill and present tue splendid appear
ance it does"
SUPPORT BY THE STATE.
The general reader, who is ignorant Of
these things, nay be interested from the
following to know what money support the
State gives, remembering, however, that
fifty per cent of the companys allowances
goes for rent, lighting and armOrer's pay for
quarters which furnish only temporary ac-
modatiGns:
For armOry rent, care Of arms and proper in
cidentals OF the company there is allowed By law
monthly lie sum OF 500 10 each commanding
officer of an infantry company, 8 80 TO The coin
maUding oflicr OF each cavalry company and
$500 20 the commanding officer OF each Light
battery. For clerical expenses, stationery, priut-
ing and postage, The sum Of 81 90 a month for
each company III bis command IS allowed TO each
Commander OF a regiment or battalion, and If
such regiment or battalion has more than four
companies, and has attached to il 4 regularly
organized band Of not less than we've pieces,
an additional sum OF $50 Is allowed for the band;
10 each b lgadler-General the sum of So per
month for each company In his command, and to
The MaiOr-GeDei al commanding the sum OF 5000
year. Tie Adiutant General is given a sum of
$500 year. 10 be eXleudt d by him in pro-
noting target practice \ recent act also Dro-
yidrs that for gene al military purposes sum of
$3.50 must be audi ed aud paid by The Military
Boaid TO lie commander OF every company of
fifty members or over.
The article gives short notices of three
men connected with the guard whose
efforts for Improvement nave been coutinu-
Gus and'of vast benefit" The first of the
trio is Northumberland r. Il. orion,
and of him the writer saws: In this latter
capacity he has been instrumental in doing
more good for the guard than has probably
been heretofore accomplished by any other
AdJutant- General All the recent reforms
III camp service, increase OF appropriations
and promulgations OF orders looking to
practical reforms have been greatly due to
him." OF his little red BOOK is said:
OF tie California National Guard Is The most
complete of any Of the States, without exception.
II cont aims not only the military code and all
laws relating 10 The guard passed each session
by tie Legislature, but also the regulation guard
duty. camp duties. police and fatigue duty, uni
tom. conference.-the target practice, mobs and
riots, articles Of war ana all lelating TO the reg
ulars IL common with the guard; in fact 1t Is
complete guide for the guardsmen In everything
connected with his military duties in The armOry,
the camp, the march or the field except drills
and tactics.
A sEND-OFF FOR THE FIRST.
After giving the military record Of the
Adjutant General the writer switches off
10 the First Infantry Regiment and says:
As The Seventh Regiment is to New York so is
tie First Infantry TO san Francisco The differ
eBt comrauies OF the regiment were the first reg
uldtly organized and enlisted companies OF Tie
guard. IN DIN and discipline ii stands al tile
mead Of The regiments. Its officers are n men
OF ugb standing 10 DOlh business ana social lie,
ard most OF them are men who have seen service
either IN the Of The rebellion or In one or
more OF the many scenes OF troubles that Cali
fO MA has had 80 much OF.
brief history of the organization Of the
regiment, on May 6, 1861, follows, conclud-
ing with the rather ELUSIVE statement:
The First Regiment Infantry, National Guard
of California, with Its sbe aud energetic leader.
is ever ready. and always has been, to 80 its
duly, regardless of trouble or expense. 1t has
maintained during long series Of years condi-
lion Of uniform discipline, strength and general
efficiency equal 10 any of the various National
Guard organizations Of the United States.
descriptive allusion is made to the
armory specially erected for its use on Mar
ket street, "a brick and stone building, en-
tirey fire-procf, easily defended, and con-
venient In all its appointments" and men,
ton that Companies c aud g Qhe NATIONAL
still remain in their own armory on Post
street, near Powell, the property being
owned by them, they having purchased the
land many years ago and erected the build
ing, which is a substantial brick structure,
having the appearance from the outside of
q ratification"
The second of the two is then taken up in
BrigadIer- General John II. Dickinson, of
whom il is said:
H. entered private in Company B. First
Infantry, and In 1877 was elected Captain. In
1880. although the junior, he was elected Colonel
OF the regiment, winch position he cas- held Till
his appointment to the command OF the brigade.
1t IS moi 100 much 10 say that while at the head
OF the First Regiment he did more than any sim
gle man to advance its Interests. Hs-men idol
lied him, ana II was taken as piece Of injustice
almost when lie was made brgadier. In mill
Iary matters lie Is man OF few words, but
always 10 the point II is a deep student OF
military affairs connected with the National
Guard and there are few men as well versed
East Oh West In ali pertaining to its best Inter-
ests.
The third man of the trio is the polished
gentleman and division commander, Major
General William II. DmOnd, who "in 1867
settled in California, since which time he
has become one of the most prominent
figures in the mercantile, social and politi-
cal life of San Francisco"
SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.
Lieutenant Hamilton's very interesting
article concludes with the follOwin sug-
gpsted improvements, the second of which
THE CALL has advocated in and out of
season:
Although the California National Guard, con-
sideIing tile youth Of the Stale, has progressed
so rapidly, here are now several WAYS in which
further progress is not only wise, bui, in order
TO KEEP the present state Of efficiency, Is abso-
lutely necessary.
First, ii Is necessary TO change the system
OF eleetlng omcefs, particularly Captains
and subalterns. AS at presen. carried out
field officers can only hold ONCE for four years
and company officers for TWO. This makes
the Office dependent on the pleasure of the
men. thing entirely suOversve OF all military
discipline No matter how thorough soldier an
officer may be-aud generally The more thorough
ones are The strictest-men unused to discipline
will not submit easily its restraints II follows,