Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
Annual Inspections for This Year
Are Concluded.
INEXCUSABLEE ERRORS STILL NUMEROUS
Third Battalion. Separate Com
panies and Field Music.
CAVALRY TROOP CENsURED


lumbia National Guard for the year 1894 is a
thing of the past. 1t is hoped that a lesson
has been taught the officers and men of the
brigade, and that next spring SO many of
the minor errors. for which there is no ex-
cuse whatever, will be wholly eliminated
Below is published the official comments of
the inspecting officers as regards the third
battalion, the first and second separate
companies and the corps of field music.
Third Northumberland appearance,very
good; military bearing, fair; steadiness,
fair. For battalion SO lately organized the
third presented good appearance, although
1t is composed Of only two companies. I'm
fortunately, both companies exhibited be-
fore the inspection began the lack of train
ing and discipline by arriving at the drill
hall very late Company was thirty-thrse
minutes late and company B thirty-seyen
minutes late. The set up and bearing Of
the men indicated a neglect of and a neces-
sity for a thorough course of instruction in
the school of the soldier. The battalion is
| composed of excellent material and, with
proper handling. will rapidly improve.
Commissioned and non-commissioned staff
The major did not return sword properly
nor hook up scabbard properly. In prepar-
ing the non-commissioned staff for inspec-
ton 1t was not necessary for the adjutant
| to give command carry arms" The quar-
termaster came to carry sword" instead
OF remaining at the order" during prelim-
mary inspection, and neither he nor the
| surgeon returned sword correctly. Neither
the commissioned nor the non-commissioned
stan showed the proper familiarity with the
handling OF the sword. and require instruc-
| ton. The sergeant major returned to or
der sword" from inspection arms without
first resuming the carry" One man in the
color guard stood with feet unnecessarily
apart, and one man wore cartridge box in
center of back, instead of on the right hip.
Company A. Several men neglected to
raise their left arm and dress to the right
at command march" after open ranks"
The file ciosers were too close In the rear
OF the line Of guides. The rear rank was
not aligned. Several men did not take the
position of the soldier. one man especially
having no idea OF II. One man had the butt
of his gun resting unevenly on the ground
A number of the belt plates were very
dirty and several of the belts in very bad
condition. The belts showed long use and
wear, but in a number Of instances no eff
fort had been made to improve their APP
pearance. The men were not steady during
inspection. One man in fatigue uniform
with black belt and cartridge box in the
| line of file closers, did not seem to have
! the slightest idea that he should preserve
immobility during inspection. He seemed
unable to keep still, followed the move
ments Of the inspecting officer. raised his
movements Of the manual which were exc
cuted were gone through with in a careless,
hstless manner, without snap or life, and
instruction is much needed in the manual
Nearly every man in the company bent
his head to the left, presumably to get out
of the way of his piece, in coming from a
right shoulder" to an order arms" The
second lieutenant was dilatory in coming
to attention" carry sword" facing
about" and ordering sword" after inspec-
ton. The captain dropped his sword knot
after giving command attention to mus
ter" and also hooked up scabbard incor-
rectly. The first sergeant executed in
epection sword incorrectly, and returned
to the order from inspection sword"
without first resuming the carry" One
man raised hand to face during inspection
and one man did the same during muster
One man wore dirty shoes and one man
wore soiled gloves. One man wore helmet
on back Of head.
One mar had no number on shield of he'll
met The sleeves of two coats were badly
! ripped. One man kept turning head and
looking down and around. One man had
man carried a blank cartridge. Four men
had hammers down. pieces at the order"
One man wore cartridge box in center Of
back. One man failed to open chamber at
chamber with first finger. Eighteen men
| failed to port arms before closing cham
Der, and twenty-one men failed to port
arms after lowering hammer. One man
One rifle was minus a ramrod. One man at
| tempted to take piece from inspector by
grasping 1t at the lock plate. One rife was
very dirty, and one had too much oil
| One man closed chamber with side of hand.
| One man did not know how to execute
| order arms" from the position Of port"
| Company B-This company has been or
ganized only about three months and gives
promise Of developing into a frst-class COM
pany. The men are mostly very young Of
good physique. although some Of them have
the appearance Of being under age, The
] second lieutenant did not hold sword cor
| rectly at an order and faced about toward
| the company during the preliminary in
! spection. He also failed 10 come to a "car-
ry' at command inspection arms" and did
not take position prescribed in drill regula-
! lions during the inspection of the company
| The first lieutenant started to take an in
correct position, but quickly corrected him
self. The rear rank was not properly
! formed, and some of the brasses and belts
| were not in such good shape as they might
/ have been.
! Several men need setting up drill, and in
| struction is much needed in the school of
| the soldier and in the manual of arms Four
/ men did not have heels on the same line. A
considerable amount Of unsteadiness was
/ displayed. Several men raised their hands
/ to their faces, and one man played a tattoo
on his piece with his fingers during inspec-
| ton. The first lieutenant looked around
and bowed to an acquaintance during in
| spection. Several men had the butts of
their pieces resting improperly on the
ground, and five or six men came to the
fright shoulder" at the preparatory COM
mand. The captain gave several commands
with sword in the scabbard. The first SER
! geant wore chevronS that were not regula-
/ ton. One man wore helmet on side of head
/ Two men wore dirty trousers The white
I facing on cuff Of one mans coat was badly
/ stained. One man wore coat that did not
| fit One man wore torn gloves. One rifle
was badly scrat ched under the sling. One
man had hammer at half cock and two men
had hammers down, pieces being at the or
| der" Three men wore cartridge boxes in
correctly placed. One man was very round
! shouldered, showing the necessity of the
setting up drill Twenty-one men opened
| chamber of piece with first finger at in
spection of arms Two men failed to port
I arms before closing chamber, and ten men
| failed to port arms" after lowering ham,
mer. One man took piece from inspector
with both hands. One man used palm of
hand in closing chamber. One man failed
! to steady piece with left hand In coming to
the order" One man failed to close cart
ridge box until directed to do so by the ma
| jor commanding. One man was very slow
in coming to the order" One man in front
rank kept turning head and looking around
during the inspection ceremony. One man
had no rife. One man fell to the floor, evil
IDENTIFY overcome by the strain of standing
steady for so long time but soon recov-
| cred from the faint although not able to APP
pear again in the ranks.
| First Separate Company.
First separate company cavalry troop
| General appearance, excellent; military