The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-23
DRILLING FOR THE TROPHY.
Weekly Practice of the Guardsmen
Better Than for Years.
Great Enthusiasm Manifested at the
Armory-CompanyG In the Lead
The Encampment.

! ArUllery as TO which Shall nave the great
est number of men present at the weekly
drills. Not only this, but as to which
shall drill the BEST and this means also
the greatest attention on the part of every
officer and man while on the floor.
Majors Sherburn, Dillman, Gilchrist and
Houghton from the Brigade Staff are at
tending to the duties assigned them very
faithfully. Colonel Hubbard is on hand
almost every night together with several
others from the staff department.
GOOD DISCIPLINE.
1t must be great pleasure to the Off
GERS to witness the hearty good will with
which the companies have determined to
attend the drills during April, May and
June. The attendance SO far in each has
been large. There is less talking in the
ranks, in fact there is no time given to
! think of anything but the business in
| hand, as the company officers keep the
men ION the jump" from beginning to
end, allowing only an occasional short
breathing spell.
The large attendance puts officers and
men in the best of humor, and the attend
ance OF staff officers has an effect for good
also. Quite number of spectators wit
ness the movements from the gallery,
which also spurs on each company to do
Its best, and puts each man on his mettle.
COMPANY G.
This company, commanded by Captain
I. b. Hall, drills on Monday nights,
and so far seems TO be in the lead for the
! trophy. The attendance has been excel
lent for the last three drills, and if the in
terest is kept UP it will be difficult to
shake of the firm grasp it has on the
guidon.
There were forty-fve men present last
Monday evening out of total member
ship of fifty-two. The company formed
promptly at SIS, under command of
Captain I. B. Hall, who lost no time in
commencing active operations under the
regulation step, which means a long
swinging step and lively pace, and is a
sure preventive of carelessness on the
part of anyone in the ranks. The COM
pany has acquired fair knowledge of
the new drill, and Captain Hall is a good
instructor. His preparatory commands
might be given in more distinct tone,
and with more deliberation. His COM
mand OF execution is eXcellent-Short.
sharp and decisive. He pays consider
able attention to details, and cautions his
men frequently. This is very necessary,
and even Captain Hall does not watch
and caution as closely as might be done
with profit to the men. The matter of
intervals between men is not preserved
as well as it might be. This is very i'm
portant. and the men must be reminded
of 1t constantly. So, too with the turn"
which is more of a wheel than turn
with several of the companies.
G'comeS TO order with too great a
force altogether, and when starting on a
march every man seems to be carried
way with the idea that the first step
| with the left foot must make all the
noise possible when it comes in contact
with the floor. This is bad form, and
should be frowned down. The first step
should be as gentle as the subsequent
ones, and arms should be brought to the
order with as little noise as possible
The men in q are good-iooking lot, in
dlyldually and taken as whole. They
seem to be all young men, and when
sized up properly present handsome
appearance.
Monday night every man paid the
greatest attention, entered into the drill
seemingly with the determination to do
his level best, and if this interest is kept
up for the next three months the COM
pany will be better drilled than it has
been for years.
COMPANY A.
Company A drills on Tuesdays. Cap
tain p. j. elias commands the company.
which has held the palm as being the
best-drilled in the regiment for many
years. The company was not drilled as a
whole Tuesday evening, but was divided
into squads, which were placed in charge
of non commissioned officers. This is an
excellent plan for both the men and
''non-coms," if the latter are competent to
instruct. This could not be said from
what was witnessed on the evening re-
ferred to. The details of each movement
were not infinitely explained. The SER
geants and corporals gave the proper
| commands to be sure, but something more
than this is required in a squad drill
There was too much of the ISLAM bang"
style about the whole business and when
the march was taken up each squad should
be composed of at least four men, instead
of two in order to teach the principles of
| wheeling by tours, preserving the inter-
val between each man, etc.
The attendance was not as good as it
should be, there being only thirty-two
present out of a membership of fifty-two
AS boys should shake themselves to-
gether and work as one man, as was the
rule in old times when any contest was
on hand. There is plenty of time to win
the trophy yet, if the boys will resolve to
do it. 1t is a nicely-sized company, but
! the general appearance does not come up
to the standard of the other companies.
Its men are not so large, but of course
this counts for nothing except on a show
parade, as it has been demonstrated that
| the largest men do not make the best
soldiers by any means.
COMPANY B.
Company B, the battery, dropped the
rife drill some time since, and puts in it's
work at the heavy guns and saber drill
now altogether. Wednesday evenings it
has the exclusive use of the armorv.
when the twelve-pounders are hauled out
on the floor and manipulated. The hall
is not at all fitted for a heavy-gun drill.
The work is severe on the men, and they
need better footing than the smooth floor
can give. Neither can the carriage poles
be set up securely. The men are liable
to get seriously injured at any moment
by the falling of the poles, and the floor
is also liable to get battered up.
Last Wednesday night B had 43
present from a total membership of 60
The men are under good control and paw
strict attentioE,to Captain Cookies COM
mands, which are clear and deliberate
This officer also explains the details in a.
manner so as TO impress the men, but a
Captain cannot see everything, and the
petty officersshould lend all the assistance
tactics have not yet come to hand, so that
b still works under the old system.
COMPANY E.
This company has come to the front
within the past year-hoth in drilling and
as good marksmen- perhaps more than
any other company in the regiment.
Captain Seymour has the confidence of
his men fully, and is a good instructor.
The personnel of this company is first
class, as it always has been since its reor-
ganization under Captain, now Major.
Weinstock. The company did not drill
Thursday night for the trophy, owing to
the earthquake excitement prevailing,
but will make ii up i'll an extra drill next
week.
AS stated in the foregoing, G has the
call for the trophy at present, but any of