Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-26

ton 20 the fact that the regiment Of cavalry bss
not ell been armed with the carbtne, although
they have been supplied, and $50 OF them are ~
regimentsl headquarters They should be Is
sued 10 the troops not now supplied Win then,
and commandanis OF troops should be dlrec.o.
10 see that they are properly cared Tor eno ins'
the troops use them In drill. IL 10 very mucn
tho custom to drill only with the sabre, and only
In the mounted drill.
BOOKS AND PAPERs.
"There is still considerable negligence on tne
part OF company commaniers In the prepare
ton aud keeping OF ell books and papers.
Many OF the officers have endeayorod 10 get Ine
descriptive roster-books In proper condluon, pus
previous commanders have left them so out OF
shape that II will bo necessary 10 have esch
com pany sond its books 70 the battalion OF resl-
mental headquarters and have them properly
prepared and returned. This Will enable tne
battalion, regimental, and brigade commanders
TO have proper rosters made at their heaaquar
tors OF their respective commando, sno si's, ss
this company commanders should pe pSis
strictly accountable for the manner In Vnl0n
these books, a. well as all others, are Kept
"The brigade stad Infantry Is not complete'
the position OF quArtermaster and OF commissA-
ry being vacant These should be nled.
THE FIRsT REGIMENT.
'There has been marked improvement IN
the condition OF this regiment With the excep-
ton Of Company all OF the companies are 10
good condition, and the officers appear 70 pe
much better informed on tactics and In military
matters generally than heretofore. Inc regl-
ment was inspected ~ whole. Ia fun atess.
and after the muster each company was ordorea
70 its company quarters TO exchange the Iuii
dress for the fatigue, and TO put on piapkoS
bags, hsversncks, and canteens, ana return W
the drill-room. The average time required ior
this was about thirteen minutes NO inHnsuon
had been given that this would bo done, and lne
short time consumed in these preparations
shows that the companies arc ready 10 EQUIP
themselves on very short notice and DO resdy ior
service.
after the equipments were inspected the
lieutenants Of the companies were each requires
10 take charge OF their respective comme enos anu
make certain company movements Inc IaiiuIe
Of several OF these lieutensns to understanu
tho commands is satisfactory evidence that tne
captains do not require the lieutenants olteh
enough TO take command.
"since the last inspection signal corps has
been formed attached 20 this regiment, enc on
the night of inspection messages we're Dictated
70 and sent by members OF the corps 70 men
stationed some distance away, and these mes.
sages we're properly received and wr,''en OUT
almost without error by any OF tho corps. ,
"Ths companieshave been drilled In the M skir-
mish movements and in bayonet eIercl.e Wltnln
the past year, and IL would DO well for al tno
companies In the service TO ol ow tho e1amp1o'
"a fun drum corps has been enlisted
"A readtng-room has also been establisned
In the Armory for the use OF the men.
TIE SECOND.
"The small percentage mRdo by this regi-
ment shows very clearly that the company rolIs
are encountered with many useless men;
steps should be taken at once 70 got rlo Oh
many Of the them and 10 enlist proper men IN
their places. ,,.,
ed, but the property Of the company IA sun
there could not nnd any person sutnorl.eu ,no ~
show 1t TO me, and IL was not, therefore, m
spected recommend that this property DO
Immediately brought to Richmond, turned into
the aresenai, and put In proper condition. Any
further delay IN this matter will doubtless lh-
crease its already suffering condition.
The Captain OF Company +. at Pocahontes,
desires to enlist twenty-five or thlrty Hlen NJ
Graham, a small town In tho same county, WIN
the OK pectaton that n lieutenant Will be elected
In the company who resides at Graham snd VINO
could drill this squad. In this part OF the state
the volunteers are very often called lnto Sertco'
and as several Of the towns are too sasli 70 Iur-
nish q complete company suggest thattnis plan
be adopted, and allow the Graham squad rs
part Of the Pocahontas company.
"a new company az Salem was mustered into
service, composed OF very good and promising
material, unusually well unliormed, anu aas
been attached TO this regiment
THE THIRD REGIMENT.
1As in the Second regimen. the percentage OF
st.f oflrers absent from inspection shows
want OF interest on their part which should az
once be corrected.
COMPANY II, Of Dsnville. did not appear for
inspection. although properly notlned 70 40 80
and in ample time. This company has not
drilled or pAraded for many months except as
mall squad. No satisfactory explanation OF the
condition OF this company was made and II may
be considered as practically not In existence.
recommend, therefore. Its disbandment
"Company q, OF Fredericksburg. is In very
bad condition, owing, doubtless, 10 the Tact that
II has been without captain, duaiihed and
commissioned, for two or three years. i recon-
mend that Il De inspected with reference 70 dis
bandment'
THE FOURTH REGIMENT.
"No excuse was mads for the absence OF
four out OF Ave Of the non-commissioned
stan. With tho exception OF Companies
ID and ], at Hampton and Blackstone,
respectiyeiy, the regiment Is in good condition.
These two companies have changed Officers
seyeral times within the last year or two, and
this has doubtless caused a loss OF interest on
the part OF the men in the duties TO be per-
COMPANY @, OF Petersburg, Is greatly i'm
ait i. a pleasure again to note that the Rich
mond Light Infantry Blues had present 100 per
cent OF Its roll Company OF the first regi-
ment had the same.
THE CoLOBED INFANTRY.
"The field and sta1 we're all present. Com
many A showed bat a email percentage present,
and it's roll should receive immediate attention.
The condition OF Company G, Manchester, has
not improved. Il is far below the standard ot
the other com psnies in the service. It's peTSonNI
Ia inferior. | believe that any further retention
Of this company in the service will work hurt
rather than a benefit and an constrained,
therefore, 70 recommend that Il be disoanded.
"The two companies in Norfolk, and ID, oil
what was the Second battalion. are still treated
In this report as battalion, because II has been
my expectation thai some OF the new companies
endeavoriug 70 afiect form alton In Norfolk and
Portsmouth would do so and make the requisite
NUN Der of ccmpsnies ~ constitute q battalion
under the law. But as these efforts have failed
now for two or three years, either this oat-
TALON designation ought to cease, or other
com panies ought 70 be assigned 70 the battalion
10 make Il So / suggest therefore, that the
three companies at Petersburg be assigned 10
the Second battalion, and that the State Gueru
at Richmond and the Garfield Light Infantry et
Fredericksburg be assigned to tho First Dat
TALON.
attention at once.
"At tho Inspection Of the Garfield Light IN
fantry the lieutenans were required 70 drill the
companies and 10 explain the movements 70 the
mon, The second lieutenant was utterly unable
10 do so. He has been long In commission, was
examined under the old board Of Officers. has
never appeared before the new board, ana ID
reported for lneffioiency and recommended for
REORGANIZATION.
THE CAVALRY WAS BACKWARD.
"The percentage present In this regiment was
small particularly Troop A, at Richmond, and
Troop d, at Hanover, Evidently these two troops
have many useless names on their rolls. Troop
e..
was without oficers and no orders had been ID
suod 70 the troop 70 assemble although orders
had been sent from this once and from regl-
mental headuunrters. The vacancies in the Of
nces have now been filled and an inspection and
muster should be ordered for the troop. Troop
z, Of Prince George, was not inspected, the Cap
tain reporting that 1t was impossible 70 assem-
bic the troop al the time appointed on account
OF the business engagements OF the men. lie
reported tha. the troop could not be- inspected
until November which is after the time this re-
port Is 10 be made.
ARTILLERY TO BE DIsBANDED.
sAttention ia called 20 the low percentage OF
Battery b, at Norfolk, and OF Battery ID, az
Lynchburg. Battery c, at stsunton, was not In
spected. The battery practically does not exist,
and since the date lIed for inspection q resolu-
ton has been passed By the few surviving mem
bers asking for a disbAndment with the view,
however, 10 a reorganization. Irecommend fna'
an order for disbandment be made. Tho eondl-
ton OF Battery X, st Petersburg, has not I'M
proved. consider that tho good Of the service
requires that this battery be disbsndsd. as here
toforo recommended 10 former reports, and Tor
the reasons therein stated"
Marion Harland 10 Talk.
Marion Harland. the distinguished au-
thoress, will give tnlk on Z" Mary the Motner
OF Washington +" at half-past O'Clock TUESDAY
afternoon, March 10Th, in the parlors OF the k1-
ecutiye Mansion Arrangements for this en-
In fha ha nda nj Ona OF the OIfl-