Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-14
HARRY b. CILLRY,
Captain and Ajdutant.
HOW TIE FIRST BATTALION SHOWED UP.

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marked up against the battalions first to be in.
spected.
During this past week three battalions have
gone through the mill. and of course each OF
them was faulty in some one particular or other
nobody expected perfection, for perfection is
but rarely found even in the best commands OF
the highest-trained troops in the world.
The first battalion was generally satisfactory
in the showing il made while Inspector General
Macauley had his eye upon it. The attendance
was excellent. Company b had every man
present. This il the third annual inspection at
which this company has scored 100 per cent in
attendance, and Capt. Burton r. Ross is en-
titled to great deal Of credit for this excel
lent record. All the companies looked well and
had good ''set up" Uniforms fitted we'll
condition. The regimental staff was ten
minutes late, and it was eighteen minutes after
time when the battalion line was formed. The
battalion formed just as has always been its
CUSTOM the order being A, C., d, b.; this brings
the captains Of the several companies. seniority
being regarded, from left to right, the captain
OF company being the senior, and the captain
of company A the junior. As a general
thing the regulations as to white
collars and black neckties were regarded. but
there were few notable exceptions. The cap
| tain OF company did not give the command
right shoulder arms nor attention to
muster" at muster but started to call the roll
with his company at "order arms" One
member of company A who WAS not in uniform
stood ON the left Of the front rank dhring the
| inspection. lieutenant of company G had
the slide OF the long sling of his sword belt
around on his right side. over the hip. There
was talking in the front rank of COM
pany q during the inspection Of tho
rear rank. After inspection the lieutenants
OF company ID did not face about until the
command"attention to muster had been given,
when they faced about and brought their swords
| to a carry at the same time. The sergeant and
| private on the left of the front rank of COM
pany talked during the inspection of the rear
| rank. A few mistakes were made in each of
| the companies in not opening chambers at Gin
| spection arms. by lowering the hammer before
! closing the chamber, and by coming to an
order" after inspection, with the hammer
| either down or ut half cock. In the entire bat
TALON only two Or three thumbs were '.up'' at
right shoulder arms.
WHAT THE CoLoRED TROOPS LOOKED LIKE.
The first separate battalion (colored) was
inspected by Adjutant Gen. Long, Inspector
Gen. Macauley being sick. Owing to lack of
space each company was inspected and mus
tered separately, and this changed the tactics to
a certain extent. There was no color guard
and the colors were not properly held by the
color bearer. The major and staff drew swords
without unlocking the scabbards and did not
bring their swords to an order when their
names were called at muster. The non-com-
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swords when inspected. None of the captains
saluted the inspecting officer as he approached
to inspect their company-as prescribed by
paragraph 747 Of the drill regulations. In COM
pany when the captain gave the command
inspection arms several members of the COM
pany started to execute the command. There
was not enough distance between the ranks of
the company at open ranks.
When company marched in for inspection
| and the command 'halt'' was given several men
did not halt. There was too much distance be-
tween the ranks of company b at open ranks
When company appeared for inspection its
members struggled in. The captain gave the
command ''side step to the left instead of left
step" At the command "open rankS two men
on the right of the front rank marched back
ward with the rear rank and the front rank
failed to place the left hand above the left hip
| and dress to the right. At muster the captain
gave the command attention to muster" when
his company was at "order arms" He then
gave the command port arms" and kept the
company in that position for some little time
before bringing it to right shoulder At
the command close ranks, the second lieutenant
faced about and started to take his place in the
rear of the company without waiting for the
command march
Company Is was noisy in its movements and
was formed incorrectly. The company, ex-
Guiding sergeants, had fourteen men in the
front rank; there were fourteen men in the
rear rank. There was too much distance be-
| tween the ranks, and the sergeant gave the
command to dress for the rear rank. The
! shoulder straps of the first lieutenant were not
| properly placed or secured to the blouse and
! this same officer when his name was called ut
| muster first saluted and then came to the posi-
ton of ''order sword. At muster the captain
| ''ordered sword according to the old tactics.
1t was noticeable throughout the battalion
that the blOtIses were iii poor condition. Most
OF the sleeves were too short. 4 few of the
blouses were torn and others had one or more
buttons missing. Chevrons were. as a rule,
adjusted to the blouse in a poor manner.
large nu mber of the men did not execute port
arms correctly, nor did they take the position
of the soldier as prescribed in the drill regu-
lations.
THE WAY OF THE TRANsGREsSoR.
At a meeting OF company B. third battalion,
held May 10 Private William II. Grooms, by
the unanimous vote of the members, ex-
PEELED for apprOpriating to his own Use moneys
intrusted to his care belonging to the company.
These Stories Are Untrue.
From the Youths Companion.
A Persian paper relates the following story
Of a contest in Boosting which, it SAYS, took
place between three artists of Marseilles. 1t
should be explained that Partisan writer's always
put their tall talk into the mouths of Mar
settles people.
MY dear" said one of the artists. ''yester-
day l painted pine board in imitation of
marble, and did it with such fidelity that when
the board was put into pond of water it sunk
like stone.
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