Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-10-19
TROOP n lMUsTERED OCT
Initiation of u Movement Tuesday for
Complete Adjustment of the National
Guard of Delaware.

Initiation OF Movement Tuesday for |
Complete Adjustment of the National |
Guard of Delaware.
According to the implied, II not the
direct edicts Of the Legislature, the
delegated authorities proceeded Tuesday
In the initiation of the movement, which
in q very few weeks will establish the
fact of the entire extinction of the
National Guard of the State of Delaware.
This was commenced Tuesday night at
Troop B armory when at O'Clock the
last merry bugle call sounded aud the
troopers gathered in the big assembly
hall, but all without uniform, to answer
the roll-call for the last time and tlen
get what is called their honorable dis
charges.
The Adjutant-G General of the State,
Garrett j. Hart, and also Major Edmund
Mitchell, Jr., the latter the mastering
out officer, were present in full uniform.
The only other officer present in SOL
dier's attire was Captain b. l.. Rice, Jr.,
the commanding officer of the troop.
The big gray walls of the spacious
drill hall were bare of ornament from
floor to ceiling. There was no indication
of its martial purposes to be seen
around. 1t was anything but an inspir-
| ing spectacle. Some of the younger SOL
| dier troopers affected q certain merri-
ment. But it was forced gaiety. 1t
only made the melancholy of the occa-
sion still more apparent.
| Whatever causes may have led TO the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the National Guard
| there is no doubt that the function of
| Tuesday is one anything but compli-
mentary to the State, and ii will always
be memory which the citizens of
Delaware cannot recall without some
genuine feelings of regret II not slightly
of shame.
1t is the breaking up of an institution
which American communities elsewhere
cherish with an emphatic degree of
pride.
The ceremonies Of Tuesday were
simple and savored of certain degree
of solemnity not inappropriate to the
mastering out OF a martial organization.
MUsTERING-oUT CEREMONIES.
First Sergeant Hoiton formed com
pany Immediately after bugle call
When Captain Rice took charge of the
parade First Lieutenant H. Y. Niemann
was to the right of the line and Second
Lieutenant B. Frank Handy to the left
Captain Rice saluted the mustering-ou
officer and then Major Mitchell stepped
forward.
"You will read the order for the mus
tering out Of Troop B." Major Mitchell
said.
: Captain Rice pulled from his belt tn,
official document, signed by the Cover
nor of the State, (who is commander-in
chief, and handed 1t to Sergeant Hol
ton, who read headquarters orders
, This finished, the sergeant saluted hi
superior officer and stepped to the rea
:. of the line.
"Show your muster roll p was tn,
) next command from Major Mitchell
This was produced by Captain Rice
The latter then turned around AM
:. Major Mitchell used the captains bacl
as q desk for lack of better to mark OF
!. the mems names as they answered.
A total of 80 officers and men replie
to the roll call, the last that Troop
will ever hear
The list of those present and of thos
o who received honorable discharges is a
follows:
FOR HONORABLE DISCHARGE.
!. Captain e. l.. Rice, Jr.
First Lieutenant II. q. Niemann.
J. Second Lieutenant B. Frank Handy
First sergeant, w. B. Holton; secon
A sergeant, W. w. Newton; third sergean
Wilbur Collins; fourth sergeant, jaime
Il r. Field; fifth sergeant, L. B. Smiti
!, sixth sergeant, Bobert Mel, Jr.; seyent
sergeant, Thomas r. Mechem; quarter
!. master, L. D. @. Bayne; color sergean
Tilghman Roe; trumpeter, Charlie
7, Black.
First corporal, L. G. McNif; secon
'' corporal, James W. Dewey; third col
\, poral, Daniel McClintock; fourth col
poral, H. B. Carter; fifth corporal, D.
!, McClintock, Jr.; sixth corporal, NJ.
Richardson.
!. Privates, Frank Bosam, Samuel Bal
Gus, @. NJ. Dillin, Preston L. Dewey
I' Richard Harrigan, William M. Kelle,
n James L. Kelley, w. ]. Mcmahon,
- Frank Obold, Harry Palmer.
l., The last mentioned is a police oflc,
and appeared in his patrol uniform.
j. Troop B has been in existence sine
1887. The opinion of the rank and fl
81 Tuesday is that the cause of the mu
a tering out of the troop is the act of II
4 Legislature and nothing else.
The men have been meeting ever
ID Thursday night for drill until the la
few weeks, when the mastering out
the troop was plainly indicated as ia
=, to be accomplished. Last summer u
f. troop numbered 60 men. The re
40 would have easily increased had Il
49, troop continued its existence.
R. Following are some of the remarl
overheard Tuesday from among Il
men. eve are all satisfied 10
9. mustered out. We are sick of the trea
ment we have had from the Legisl
D. ture."
U "Of course if man does not wa
- you to work for him it would be fooli
an for you to continue"
The clerical work of preparing Il
lei discharges for the troop occupied lit
time. When all the papers had be-
le, completed the men were paraded
Il, line again and each in turn handed ;
''' honorable discharge. Captain Rice ma
R. brief address and then the order
"break ranks" was given. This was t
". final order and Troop B had then ceas
existence.
Organizing n Conclave.