Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-29
MAINE NATIONAL GUARDS.
Capt. c. B. Hall Makes Report Re-
garding His Visit Among Them.
Interesting Data in Reference TO Their Condi
ton and the Muller.

speeding ana lnstructlng the Name cOmpan-
les of the National Guard, has made
his report. He says: 1.-The law of
male citizens of the age of Is years and un-
der the age of As years, except idiots, luna
tics, paupers, common drunkards and per-
sons convicted of Infamous crimes. The
enrollmen. of 1893 shows 1872 persons
subject to military duty. Regarding the
State muster grounds he said 1t is beau.
tiful and practically level field, commanding
view for miles around. There are no shade
trees. Water has to be hauled. 1t is
very cool and healthy location. No regular
troops have ever camped with the State
troops.
Mobilization as follows :(a) Points of con-
centration for service in State. (b) Points
of concentration for service out of State.
(c) Time required for concentration for
service either in or out of the State. (d)
Plans for emergency. (e) Per cent. that
would probably turn out for GO days
service. (a) Portland, on account Of
its being great railroad center, and
its location on the sea coast, with great
harbor open for navigation at all seasons
of the year, also its being the winter port
of Canada. Lewiston, Auburn, Saco and
Biideford, on account of their large facto-
ries, and with a floating population, sub
ect to strikes and riots. Augusta, as be-
ing the capital of the State. Bangor, on
account of its being railroad center and
the key to railroad communication with the
East. Houlton, Vanceboro, Calais and
PASSPORT on account of their being located
on the eastern frontier, and the three
first commanding railroads entering this
State and Canada. (b) Portland, Ban
gor, and Vsnceboro, same reasons
as given under (a). Co., Twenty
four hours. (d) None that | know of.
No active duty performed by the troops
during the past year. (e) For duty in the
State, such as riot duty or to repel invasion,
| believe 80 per cent.
Article IA, State appropriation. A tax
Of one-twelfth of one mill upon all prop
erty in the State subject to taxation yielded
for 1894, S2G, 1856 81, expended for encamp
ment of troops, for tentage, clothing, etc.
Article 10, national appropriation. For 1894
s. ,229 ~, expended for ordnance and or
dance stores. Article 23, subsistence.
Rations, component parts Of How fur
nished? How prepared? There is no
fixed ration. Prior to 1894 the commissary
general purchased such articles as he
deemed sufficient, and turned the same over
to the companies through their commissary
sergeants. AT the encampment of 1894 the
commissary general was direc to prepare
and submit for approval list of the COM
ponents of a ration that could be supplied
for each day at a cost not to exceed so cents
ration. 1t was finally decided to allow
the colonies of the regiments through their
quartermasters to supply the rations for
their commands at a cost not to exceed 80
cents per ration, and the amount of money to
be allowed to each regiment was determined
by the number of men shown as present
on the morning report each day. This
plan worked admirably in practice, and re-
suited in the troops being abundantly fed.
Dat of over 100 men in camp not one case
of growing over short rations could be
found. As rule the rations were cooked
and served by cooks and walters hired and
paid by the companies.
article 81. Personnel and discipline.
As rule officers and men composing the
guards are working men, mechanics, factory
and mill men, woodsmen and farmers.
Some of the officers are professional
men. They are sober, industrious and
intelligent, with but few exceptions.
Physically they cannot be excelled. They
are anxious to learn, attentive, and try to
profit by instruction. Where companies
are foun nd to be poorly drilled and lacking
i n discipline, it is through the fault of the
officers, who from lack of ability or inter-
est DO not properly instruct, anu not Tue
fault of the men. Discipline in all that
the word implies, is fair. T.
ARTICLE 90. Guard duty. How per-
formed? Officers and non-commissioned
officers well instructed? Sentinels we'll in
structedr Any outpost duty? Very little
attention is paid to this subject in the
srmores. During the encampment OF
1894 the troops, therefore. knew
very little about guard duty, and had
to be instructed from the beginning. They
showed themselves willing and anxious to
learn and at the end of the five days en-
campment performed the duty in very
satisfactory manner" 1t. M. l.. Hersey,
9th Infantry, ordered by the war depart
ment to report to me as assistant at the en-
campment, was placed in charge of this
branch of instruction, and his report is as
follows:
Guard duty was on the whole well per-
formed. Not over % per cent of any one