Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-20


was decidedly saperio to that noted on pre-
vious occasions Uniforms fit much better; the
adjustment of belts and leggings is nearly
right as possible, and over all there is a neat
ness ruch as the brigade, good as it always has
been, never knew before.
Mai. Campbell mas every reason in the world
for being proud Of the fourth battalion 1t
made an admirable showing when Maj. Peixotto,
acting for Maj. Macaulsy, and assisted by Capt
W. E Horton and Lieut.. Winthrop Alexander
put Il through the annual inspection and muster
Surprise was expressed BY good many OF the
officers who were in the drill hall at the fact
that Col. CLAW had assumed that the inspection
vas for a regiment and not a battalion. 1t has
been definitely stated. and "a recently as some
time after the inspections FOR 1884, that inspec-
ton would be BY battaiions, but the colonel
had come to the conclusion that his own way
would be the better one. so he took the battalion
from the major, had it reformed by the regl-
mental adjutant, Capt Cllley. and received IL
~ q regiment. The ceremony Of inspection
was then carried out as prescribed for a regi-
ment, it being presumed that the absent bat
talon really there In the formation the
command guides posts" being omitted by the
regimental sdiutant. the command companies
right" was executed with tho guides in front
of the line The battalion staff. non-commis-
stoned staf AMI color guard were not able to
take their proper distances in front, owing TO
the space occupied By the regiInsntal staff. Both
tons. the rezlmental quarterrnaster sergeant
disagreeing with regulations as 90 the position
Of his sword at order" and one Of the bat
talon nOn-commissioned staff having his chew
rons improperly fastened
Company presented mos. excellent aP-
pearance. were steady as men possibly could
be. and this coupled with the careful sizing.
left little TO be desired The rank was u
triie faulty a to alignment on the left and the
file clOsers were not well aligned A few of
the men had their marksmen's buttons incor-
rectly placed Fourteen men were guilty OF
minor errors during The inspection of arms and
. corporal did not wear any chevrcns on his
blouse. Fifty-three men we're present and
every one of them was a credit to the company
and its commanding officer.
COmpany B-CTeneral appearance. good. but
the company was not very well sized There
was faulty alignment in the rear rank; the file
clOsers we're too tbs rear rank; the rear
rank men were not well instructed in opening
ranks; the file elosers did not step back at the
preparatory command for opening ranks: sew
eral men in the rear rank were Out of place at
rest; one man reported for duty after the COM
panv was formed for inspection; there was one
corporal in the rear rank ami several times
there were evidences of unsteadiness. and We.
this company deserves hearty commendatlOn.
II il a new organization, but It turned
out fifty-three men. carefully equipped
and armed with guns which we're in hrst-class
cO-di;ion- For tine sOldierly appearance of
OllCerS ana men Too much cOulu not easily DC
taid- The captains error WAS the saluting of
the inspecting party: the first lieutenant caught
II for facing about at the preliminary 1nspec-
tion: the second lieutenant sinned by wearing
hight lie. One man who had a handkerchief
prOIruding from the front OF his blouse was
somewhat conspicuous while five men in the
IF ont rank and one man in the rear rank in
sisted on keeping the thumbs of their right
hands up while at right shoulder. Nine men
we're guilty of minor errors at the inspection Of
arms.
Company C-This was fair in its general ap-
peararce. but il IVES incorrectly formed. Hav-
Ing sixteen cOrporals and privates, it should
have two fours. instead of three. OF the twenty
four mon VINO were present two wore dirty
shoes. three had dirty brasses. five concealed
their hands in dirty gloves. while ono wore a
pair much torn. Letters and numbers were
missing from, the collars of two men. the first
sergeant a light tie. the lieutenant at
''clcse ranks walked TO the rear with his sword
at Al order AMI clothing and belts were not
well adjusted Five men seemed to have in
correct ideas about the manual.
Company D-This command was a thorough
success and looked as finely any yet in
spected- 1t was extremely steady and the
Tors were confined entirely 20 those small
things. such failure to come to the port
after closing the chamber or TO steady the piece
with the left hand in coming from fright
shoulder" to order" OF these plumbers there
were nine. Oae qua had rusty chambers
smother was afflicted with defective lock. and
several butt phases were not clean. Forty-two
men were present and two were absent
HOW TIE ESGISEFRs- LOOKED.
The engineer corps got along very nicely
the appearance Of the command being good
but the large number OF absentees spoiled
what might have been a very fine showing. The
line was formed five minutes late by the adj
ju5ant alone. the battalion being without a SER
geant major; the nOn-conmlssioned staff and
color sergeant were incorrectly formed on the
same line and there color guard. Neither
the color sergeant nor the quartermaster ser
geant came 10 the front at prepare for inspec-
ton" until specially directed When company
& came on The line some OF the men brought
their swords to an order and some did not.
While at the cOrninar! companies right some
OF the men in company started to execute
Fright shoulder The ma Ors error Was salut-
ing on answering to muster; tho adjutant's
black mark comes from his prefxing the COM
mand Garry arms with the word 'battalion;
the surgeon failed to come to an order when his
name called az muster. and the whole staff
were scored point for no. accompanying the
inspector at preliminary inspection
Company A-The general appearance Of this
company was very good indeed, the men being
well set up and steady throughout The lieu
tenant commanding slipped up by ordering
''clOSe ranks before giving attention to mus
ter" The first sergeant sauted whom his nsrne
was called at muster; the sergeant on the right
did not appear TO be well instructed in in
spection arnls;'' one man failed to resume the
port after his piece had been inspected. and
two others committed minor faults
COMPANY B-ihe general appearance Of this
company was fair. IL was not well-siZed, and
there was u decided lack of steadiness during
both the Inspection and muster. The heuten-
ant did not bring his sword 10 order when
bis name called at muster: SIX men closed
boxes before the inspector passed in rear of
them. and two did not close them at all. The
captain ordered ''close ranks" before ''atten-
ton 10 MASTER the second lieutenant saluted
when mustered: the sergeant on the right and
two men did not resume the port at ''inspec-
ton, and there were ono or two other errors.
One corporal in the ranks had no chevrons on
his blouse
Company CAS- to general appearance, good,
but there was marked unsteadiness through
out the entire ceremony This company Is
armed with the cUtlsss. and after inspection
some Of the men came 20 an order, while
Others returned to = carry. Paragraph 497,
Infantry drill regulations, would seem to indi-
cate that me carry after inspection is the
proper thing in this case. but as two companies
In the battalion armed with rifles and they
are brought 10 an order after inspection it NAV
be argued that company q should bring the
swords TO an order. The first sergeant cost the
company few points BIZ wearing q nickel
plated scabbard with sings instead OF the one
issued
THE PATTFEy WAS AL RIGHT