Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30

j. NJ. Ke11, AdJt. Gen. Georgia Vol.
pressed that in this single organization the
country has a practical fighting army al
ways serviceable for an emergency In
Washington on less than a days notice.
The entire guard forms a division Of three
brigades. OF its members 6,5O7 are qualified
marksmen and sharpshooters The finest
cavalry in the division is the celebrated
City Troop" Of Philadelpha-a swell or
ganization with magnificent record of
service In several wars. dating back to the
revolution. 1t costs each member over
thousand dollars a year to belong to 1t, and
each finds 1t necessary to keep three or four
spirited chargers for his personal mounts
The dress uniform is gorgeous beyond de-
sGription. and the horse caparisons are daz-
cling.
North and South.
The Massachusetts volunteer militia,
ranking third in strength. is distinguished
for thorough organization, excellent leader
ship and administration, good material in
the ranks and a high morale and esprit de
corps as well as for superiority of arms,
equipment, ordnance and all needful para
phernalia Of war. 1t Is an exceptionally
fine looking body and its arms and equip
ments are always kept in prime condition
Its maximum strength Is 44S officers and
6,o07 enlisted men, but the number now on
the rolls is Az officers and 5,4S7 men, or
$500 in all. segregated into two brigades,
with two unattached corps Of cadets Ex-
ciusNe OF staII tne infantry arm numbers
4.747. the artillery 1888, cavalry 252, signal
corps 81 and ambulance corps 80. Eighty
eight per cent can be relied upon for sery-
ice outside the state for sixty days.
Surprising to note, the South Carolina
forces rank fourth in point of numbers
when the palmetto state itself ranks only
twenty-third in population. Nevertheless
It's forces are not only numerically strong
but high-spirited as well, and made I'D of
the very best people. The cavalry arm is
abnormally large, numbering 1870 out of
the total 5,286. AS elsewhere in the south.
the palmetto troops prefer distinctive
names for companies instead of alpha
betical letters. conducting to local pride and
emulation between companies and perpet-
uating memories Of men and places Thus
we find at Charleston the Palmetto"
"Moultr.e," Sumter and Lincoln Repub-
lcan" Guards; likewise at other points
such titled companies as "Marions Men of
Winyah." the Columbia Zouaves" the
sars' and the "Santee Cavalry" Every
man in the cavalry is a brilliant rider and
dead shot.
But the most unique feature Of the pal
metto chivalry is its uniform, which is not
uniform, but on the contrary varies in
style according to the will of individual
companies, with the result that while gray
Is predominant, as many as six or eight
companies can be seen in a single regiment
each with different garb. They run
largely to gaudy tints. such as bright blues,
yellows, reds and green's. with a profusion
of gold lace and waving plumes, and on
this account II is jocularly said that the
entire militia II spread out on a plain in
solid phalanx would appear to a bird's-eye
view like a gigantic Joseph's coat.
In the West.
The Illinois National Guard, closely fol-
lowing that of Ohio. is not so extensive as
those Of some more sasterly states. but It's