Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18

HE2kAW traordinary attention
nnCGA to drill, and especially
WN-S "a such drill as will be of
&M NN value for parade work,
<1@MkiB,N ought to be evident to
every officer and en-
listed man ir the brigade. Here is the docu-
ment,
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA MILITIA.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. February Is, 1898.
Memoranda relative to parade Of March 4,
1898:
By reason Of the large number Of recruits in
the National Guard, constant drill and careful
instruction will be necessary to enable the COM
mand to maintain its reputation, or even to
make a creditable display in the inaugural pro-
cession on March 4. The commanding general
desires that officers will, during the short time
now intervening, devote themselves with I'M
firing industry to tho duties Of their positions
Special attention should be given to the in
struction Of recruits in such parts OF the drill
as are essential for parade. This instruction
must necessarily be superficial and irregular,
and, therefore, after the parade the instruction
OF recruits must begin anew and proceed in the
regular way prescribed by the published
drill cards. Recruits that do not acquire suf-
fcient knowledge to make a creditable show
ing should not be allowed to parade-one igno-
rant man will destroy the appearance and repu-
tatior of the best drilled company.
Special attention should be given to instruc-
ton in marching in double rank and changing
direction. Nothing can look worse, nor cause
more unfavorabe comment from spectators,
than q turn" badly executed The changes
Of direction on the line Of march Of the inang-
ural procession are specially difficult Of execu-
ton, most Of them being quarter. half or three
quarter turns" and at one point double re-
verse curve has to be traversed. To execute
these changes Of direction creditably would be
difficult for the most experienced troops A
ragged and struggling execution Of them will
be fatal to your reputation for drill. Officers
should study the ground carefully and drill
their commands persistently.
All commanding officers will at once hold
special schools for the instruction Of their off,
GERS and non-commissioned staff officers in the
manual Of the sword, and in passing in review
Commanding officers Of organizations that
expect to appear in regulation full-dress uni
form should at once order waist belts and cart
ridge boxes to be backened, waist belt plates to
be polished and bayonet scabbards to be
cleaned.
Recruits, in addition to being taught the
most essential parts Of the drill, must be
taught how to wear their uniforms and equip
ments. On the manner in which the belt and
cap are worn depends the soldierly appearance
Of the man.
When time and place Of assembly are de-
termined necessary orders will be promulgated,
accompanied by such further memoranda OF
instructions as may be deemed desirable.
THEODORE MosHER. Adjutant General
THE REASONS WHY.
Quite reasonably it was expected that long
before this the sharpshooters' crosses and
marksmen's buttons won in 1892 would have
been ready for distribution, but an error in the
War Department is responsible for the delay,
which may continue for several days longer.
But the delay as to these emblems Of skill is a
very small affair when compared with that OBJ
struction which prevents the completion Of the
report OF the inspector general of rife practice.
November 80 is the date on which company
commanders are required to turn in their re-
ports, and quite a large number Of the officers
were commercially prompt. All but two of the
reports-company ID, first battalion, and COM
pany G, second battalion-were at brigade
headquarters on or before December Is. A
little more than week ago Capt. Miller settled
up the account Of company D, but Capt
Domer has not vet been heard from. Until his
papers are in there can be no complete repor,
for the battalion; regimental and brigade
figure Of merit should not be computed with
company C's figures absent. But for this negli.
gence the statistics Of last years work in the
gallery and on the range would have beer
made public nearly three months ago.
THESE ARE AT THE TOP.
Interesting, especially to the experts, will b.
the scores made by sharpshooters who while
only required to make 800 succeeded in beating
$50. OF these there were 81, led by Capt
James L. Bell inspector Of rife practice, sec
ond regiment, who has 1872, or less than the
highest possible, to his credit. Next come
Lieut.. James NJ. Stewart, inspector of rife
practice. third battalion, and Corp. G. B. Young
engineer corps, with 800 each. The others are
Col. Cecil Clay, commanding second regiment
1856; Pvt. F. l.. Graham, engineer corps, 1856
Sergt Chas. A. Russell. company D, third bat
talon. 3s5; Lieut.. c. Ii. Laird, inspector rifle
practice, second battalion. 1884; Q. NJ. Sergt. s
ID. Rotramel fourth battalion, 1888; Lieut. T. s
Tomlinson, company b, sixth battalion. 1872
Corp. Maurice Appleby, company B. third bat
TALON, 3S1; Pvt. ]. A. Kirk, company b, sixth
battalion, 3S1; Capt W. L. Cash, inspector o.
rifle practice, first regiment, $50; Maj. Geo. H
Hairless inspector general of rifle practice. 379
Sergt. &. W. Dickey. engineer corps, 379; Pvt
A. s. McClain, company b, sixth battalion, 379
Corp. s. b. Rollins, company D, third batta
ion, 1878; Pvt. j. NJ. Pollard, engineer corps. 373
Pvt. S. /. Scott, engineer corps, 1913; Corp. W
E. Lombard, light battery A, 1913; Pvt. c. l.
Hinebaugh, company C, first battalion, 371
Lieut.. L. s. King, inspector of rifle practice
fifth battalion, $40; Pvt. 8. B. Wetherald, en-
gineer corps, 1868; Corp. W. S. Davenport com
pany b, sixth battalion 1868; Sergt Maj. p. w.
Smith, sixth battalion, 365; Sergt. A. o. Hut
terly, engineer corps, 365; Corp. W. G. Stew
ard, engineer corps, 1884, Corp. T. I. Page
company A, sixth battalion, 1863; Corp. r. b
Smythe, engineer corps. 1868; Pvt. H. H. Lei
zear, engineer corps, 1858; Pvt. P II. Devine
engineer corps, 1853; Corp. G. w. Alberto, en-
gineer corps, 361; Lieut.. L. T. Farabee, in
spector of rifle practice, fourth battalion, $50
Pvt. W. f. Colladay. engineer corps, $50; Lieut.
F. W. Holt, engineer corps, 35S; Capt. H. B
Cilley, adjutant second regiment, 355; Maj
Gilbert Thompson, engineer corps, 1858; Pvt.
p. Carleton, engineer corps, 1852.
now AS TO FULL DRESS.
The customary inaugural parade order will
soon be issued from brigade headquarters. L
will call for turnout in full-dress uniform
but where companies are not provided with tina
luxury they will, Of course, wear fatigue. Blu
neither the general staff nor the stats Of regi
| ments are to appear in full dress, nor the stat
| OF any battalion which is not equipped entirely
with full dress, all of which means that the field
and staff Of the sixth battalion will be the only
officers Of the brigade who will turn out in theil
best and most beautiful garments on the 4th o.
March. 1t would never do for the regimenta
stats to turn out in the glitter of full dres
| while part Of the regiment was in its ia
| tigue clothes, and for tho same reason sucl
action would be improper as to battalions
| OF course the weather may upset the plans o
| those who now await with a trifle Of impatienc
i the coming Of that day when thew hone to b,