Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-13
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
lieut.. C. G. Morton, U. S. A.,
Makes His Report.
-. g ,od Points keliced ard Rscsmmi ada
tjens Made for impl ovemenis.

c,o,d of Maine made by Chas. G. Morton,
~ Lieut.. 9Th United States Infantry, has
,,en made TO Adjutant-G eneral Selden
Cannon. He says that the military forces
have reason 10 congratulate themselves that
,be old name "mililia" las been changed
ND .yatenll Guard" substituted. The
.o,c, forces authorize under the new law,
,,mberiny some POO men, will be sufficient
g., anne wears to come. Out of this force
10 would advise stats organized as follows
Generals staff brigadier-general and staff
,xo regiments of infantry, three battalions
in each one battery Of light artillery; two
yoops Of cavalry; one ambulance corps;
one signal corps.
lie thinks this would be commendable
and in accordance with modern ideas. lie
think, battery of artillery would be ex-
oensive for Maine just now. If organized
tho two Calling and two Hotchkiss and two
and hslf FOUNDER rapid firing guns now
IN possession Of the companies would do
sery effective work and could be easily
handled without horses. The formation of
ssgnal corps in large city having few
other troops would be desirable addition.
He suggested Bangor as favorable loca-
tion for this signal corps. 1t would
be of advantage to have several
telegraph operators in this COM
pany The personnel of this corps
should be selected with great care. Such
company has proved very successful in
many states. The cost of fitting out this
corps in good style would probably amount
to $50.
The fo.ce of the guard On paper number,
abon. 300 men. The inspection showed
that IS per CEN. was the average att nd
snce at drills. This could be greatly i'm
proved and steps for larger attendance
shouli be taken. When men are absent
from drills they should present satisfac-
tory excuse. Definite steps in good drill
work should be in order. The present sys-
TEN Of elecing officers is good. Some
officers though, were not capable of per-
forming the duties required of them. The
life and soul of company is its commits
li,ned officers.
lie tbioks the State is amply repaid for
the expenditure in equipping the ambulance
corps He is favorably impressed with the
~ 10 h,,t ho Tho nnYf n
campment should be by regiment. He ad-
vocatel having the ambulance corps on
duty two weeks in place of only one. The
cost would be very small and the benefit
quite marked.
Each colonel should devote bis whole
time to his own regiment. The State camp
grounds are we'll adapted to the needs of
the troops. 1t would be better to have. a
vooden guardhouse than the guard tent, as
the tent affords many more possibilities for
escape than the WOO len house would.
The programme for the muster should be
thoroughly well planned in advance, so
that no time would be wasted after the
troops were on the field. There are few
companies in way to come to arms i'm
mediately, if a very sudden call for troops
was rendered. lie woull not advise the
uniform plan for Maize. 1t would be a
favorable feature to divide the companies
into squads AMI hold the ranking members
responsible for the no.ifica ton in case of a
sudden call, etc. In the cities the corporal
of the squad will notify his own men. Tne
captain will notify the lieutenants, the lieu
tenants the sergeants, and so on.
1t would be wise plan to have the feed
drums of the Calling guns increased from
four to r. The Springfield rifle will be
used by the infantry for some years to
come. With the exception of few
repairs these arms are in good
condition The captains should be vigilant
in seeing that the members of the infantry
keep tbci- guns in good order. He would
not reccome nd the aiming of officers with
new regulation revolvers as it would cost
oo much 1t might co TO make move in
this direction at some future date.
The infantry equipments. consisting Of
knapsacks, haversacks and canteens, should
be called in and laid away. Should it be-
come necessary for these to be used they
could be immed ately slipped from head
quarters rs fast the troops assembled at the
p'nts where they would be needed. The
Old soldiers who were active in the late war,
express themselves in favor of the blanket
roll in place of the knapsack; from this
TACT The blanket roll would be preferable to
the knapsack.
Hwould be advisable TO procure tin cups
OitAe uniform pattern for the troops, and
also meat cans as are used by the regulars.
These cans containing meat form hall
Plate or half-frying pan when opened, and
when closed cooked meat can be carried in
them, free from dirt, and will not soil their
clothes. 1t wouli be wise to add metal
FORKS, Knives and spoons to the equipment
and keep them in store.
Some of the uniforms need repsiring.
lney should conform strictly to the United