Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-24
MAINE SOLDIERS.
Report Of Inspecting Officer,
Lieut.. Morton, U. S. A.
Found Fine Body Of Men and Great
Interest Shown by All.
Recommends Mes uai!erms asd Equipments
-cempIimssts the Elective System.

| asesmmsass nsu uai!srms asd Equipments
-compIimssts the Elective System.
Maine people have known that, since the
latter part of August, q regular army officer
has been on IN of,ic.sI tour through the
S,ste, making a thorough inspection of each
company, and considerable interest has been
! manifested In regari TO the result of bis
inquiries.
The officer in question is frs, Lieutenant
Charles G. Morton of the Sixth United
States Infantry and whose regular station
is a. Fort Thomas, Kentucky.
Lieut.. Morton was stationed in Augusta
during the summer of 1890 on re-
cruiting service and " on general respect
He is Maine man by birth and is
one to refiec, credit upon his State and the
service. He belongs to the new school OF
officers, who regard the army as profess
sion and who are always studying up the
subjects connected with their chosen voca-
ton.
Lieut.. Morton is not only thoroughly
efficient, painstaking and popular officer but
he is also q scholar and has already done
some notable literary work.
A Journal man recently learned that
Lieut.. Morton was in town for the dsy 10
consult with Adjatsrt General Connor
The inspector was stopping with friends
AMI the reporter called upon bin.
Lieut.. Morton proved TO be quiet, un-
assuming young man, feet in height and
with figure TO match. His calmmanner, his
well modulsted voice and his g.rb were
those of any self-re.pecting gentleman in
private life but the way he carried bia.self,
his con versation and the ring that OCCASION
sliy marked his speech all combined to show
that be is well trsined soldier OF the type
that is born and rot made.
After mutual "reminiscences had been K
changed the officer and the reporter settled
down for long chat. in the course OF
which the former covered the entire field
Of bis operations this year.
What Lieu. Morton has Done.
II am inspecting the National Guard of
the State of Maine" was Lieut.. Mortons
open ming. He continued. Il reported 10 the
adju.ant general of the State on August
2gth. and was assigned TO duty az the rife
camp during the State shoot. | ss'is'ed
Col. f. c. harrington the general inspector
u. fu t,- h.
served the skill and behavior OF the com
petitors.
convened in Augusta and delivered serles
of three lectures to them on the duties CT an
officer.
"Soon. thereafter, began an inspection
of the companies of the First Regiment of
Infantry. being accompanied upon my tour
by Col. L. IL. Kendall, commanding that reg
iment.
II finished this inspection about October
st and then went to Eastport and Calais
aud inspected the companies Of the Heavy
Artillery Battalion, being accompanied by
Mai E. f. Newcomb, commanding the bat |
talon.
Col. George A. Pbibrook had then
qualified as colonel of the Second Regiment
of Infantry and inspected the companies of
this regiment with him. have just finished |
and will have made a complete Inspection |
of the entire National Guard wbeh1 inspect
the ambulance corps at Lewiston, October |
27th.
II have visited the headquarters of the
three commands as well as the companies. |
Wherever possible | have been accom-
panied by the field and staff of the respec-
tive commands or at least those who lived |
near the town | was at.
Method Of Inspection.
1.-The method of my inspection was the
same with each company and occupied, for
each. about three hours in the afternoon
and three hours in the evening.
1.-THE first thing done, upon reaching a
town. was TO hunt up the captain and with
him to make thorough inspection of the
rifle range That dore l would 90 to the
srmory and thoroughly look ii over. crit
cising any faults in its arrangement and
commenting ary good point. in its con
struetion.
THE books AMI p,pers anil Tho method
of keeping them was also thoroughly ex-
amiued as well as all property noe actually
in the hands of the men. This finished the
day work.
"At p. NJ. the company would be draw n
up for inspection ard thoroughly ipspt cted.
This included arms, uniform, equipments
appearance in general and the method of
executing the various movements incident
to the inspection.
The ranks were then closed and each off
Ger vas re quired to put the company through
such movements as might direct. Thcse
movements covered the entire school Of
the company drill and, after This. tire fret
sergeant was required TO Grill the men in
the manual of arms. This done tie com
pany breke ranks aud the men were directed
to pay strict att. ntion to the drill of squad
in xtenied order skirmisi drill under the
old tactics by the inspecting tncer.
This squad consisted of a corporal and
seven p,ivates and was put through all the
mo vements in extended order that are pre-
scrihed by regulations.
This was done to impress upon the mem
Der. of the company that extended order IS
not the difficult subject that it Is usually
considered and also TO show that every
armory in the State is large enough for tlia
drill
After thi. the privates of the company
were dismissed and the officers sni non
commissioned officers assembled in another
room for cateehism and instruction. The
questions asked we're Intended to leai up 10
the correction Of any faults thst had teen
observed as well as TO sford the irspsc;Dr
a chance to observe the INTEL geuee of the
men.
The non-commissipred officers vrre
then dismissed sud the officers were rs tsined
for few minutes TO corr ct sry faults that
had been observed in their y ok as we'll rs
ta discuss the state If their company and
the methods by which ii could b. improved
THE iaspertion vas eooclnfel by =
series Of questions, intended TO tricg on'
the exact condition Of the armpry The per
sorn mel Of the ,mpsny, the atti 'ude Of the
tos tow ard it AMI 50 f rth.
Reports Or .he Inspection.
II then male report to the a.ijutrnt
general Of the Stat. or esch compsny and
will mske septrsse report to him on the
" neral condition Of The guard.