Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-06


xMM Ian" have been q completely
ViHlAFW successful occasion had
IUNm there been present three
UT1 who were absent, viz,
~ " Mai. George Henderson,
surgeon general; Maj Smithmeyer. chief Of
engineers, and Hospital Steward Weller. Maj.
Smithmeyer had been duly excused Maj.
Henderson had an important case to attend to;
Hospital Steward Weller forgot all about the
ceremony until it was all over. When the
brigade staff had been disposed of Inspector
General Macauley, Capt W. E. Horton and
Lieut.. Alexander journeyed to the third bat
talon armory, in the old Globe building,
to how many faults they could find
in Maj. Harrison's command. Col. Theo-
dore Mosher, adjutant general. and Maj.
Frank Aldrich, quartermaster general. also
moved in that direction for the purpose OF in
specting the battalion books and property.
Taking the examination a whole it was quite
gratifying and decided improvement upon
prior inspections. There were. of course,
weaknesses. many OF the men displaying a lack
of intimacy in their acquaintance with the
manual of arms, but the good predominated,
and the officers and men of the battalion have
every reason to feel encouraged at their pro-
gress. Instruction as to steadiness in ranks
and drill. enough to result in that snappy style
Of movement which gives evidence of a true
iiCSOooAeASSy
appears to be on sound basis there
is no reason why that instruction should not
soon be impaired The rifles, uniforms and
equipments were, almost without exception. in
excellent condition. The battalion suffered
somewhat by reason of the limited floor space
at its command. but the fact that things were a
trife crowded didn't excuse those men who
scattered tobacco juice on the floor before and
during the inspection There was lack of uni
formity as to collars, and in several instances
IN mi W N
ut all.
THE ERRORS WERE NOT VERY SERIOUS.
Among the minor errors noted-and they
will be Of interest to other battalions soon to
be inspected-were three in which Maj. Harri-
son figured, for he returned to the head OF the
column after the preliminary inspection before
giving the command rest" he did not wear
the regulation sword, and when the time came
| to place that weapon in its scabbard the move
ment was no. in accord with the authorities.
| Some Of the members of his staff drew and
| turned swords without unlocking the scabbards.
| Then the non-commissioned staff had their
swords at an order at muster. One member
brought his sword to a carry when his name
was called. while another responded and kept
the blade at an order. SO they were both wrong.
Had the color guard been in single rank when
at the head of the column during inspection
there would have been one black mark less.
HOW THE COMPANIES DID.
In company A flannel shirt broke the har-
mony Of white collars; two OF the sergeants
and one private did not resume the position Of
| sport" before closing chambers; one sergeant
| and one private insisted on letting the hammers
| down after the pieces had been inspected. The
manual was also fractured little in the matter
| OF coming to an order.
Company B-The captain returned sword
without unlocking the scnbbard. The
geants on the right and left OF the front rank
| did not resume the position Of port before
closing chambers. One man In the front rank
wore russell shoes and one man in the rear rank
had dirty shoes. A corporal and two men not
in uniform answered to their names at muster,
| while one man in the rear rank neglected to
come to an order when his name called
| Three men in the rear rank had improper posi-
tons at shoulder arms. Here. too. i'll the rear
rank one man wore dark flannel shirt; the
other members of the company wore white
Several men in the rear rank did not trail arms
at ''close ranks, and there was present one COM
pany musician not authorized by law.
Company C-The front rank was not well
| aligned and there were displays Of unsteadi-
ness by two or three men. The captain re-
turned sword without unlocking the scabbard
| and he did not wear the skirmish whistle In
the front rank a blue outing shirt was con-
spicuous and SO were a pair OF russell and two
pairs of dirty shoes, but none Of them were
| more noticeable than was the man in the rear
iahh WIZ Sh0"S" Si'OA 'oo".N VI BUM q"
though 'hs contrary peloen."se uepenueu
81 the front rank lowered the hammer Of his
piece before closing the chamber. One man
| in the rear rank held his piece improperly at
inspection arms" came to an order without
| lowering the hammer and was corrected by the
captain for so doing. A sergeant in the rear
| rank did not have the prescribed letters on his
| blouse collar. While at right shoulder arms
four men in the front rank and two in the rear
rank made the same mistake as was made in
company B-they had the thumbs of their right
hands up. One man wore mis- cap on the back
of his head, while another one had the breast Of
his blouse decorated with an unauthorized
| medal.
Company D-Three men in the front rank
| did not have their shoes blacked, and the same
condition prevailed as to one man in the rear
| rank who wore a black outing shirt A number
| of the guns were not held properly at "port
arms;' one man took the piece with the right
hand when it was returned to him at inspec-
| ton; one mans blouse was improperly but
| toned and four men brought their pieces to an
order with the hammer down. A sergeant in
the rear rank had disarranged blouse, and in
| hat ayiIepcaa Of nm