The record-union., 1894-04-19
POINTS FOR NATIONAL GUARDSMEN.
Guard Mounting at the Armory or
tuesday Evening.
A Branch of Duty That Requires Close
Attention-Some Hints to the
Local Soldiery.

Az Lu6 ceremony OF SuaTu-lnOuuLluR dI
the Armory OH Tuesday evening. it was
clearly demonstrated that that part of the
tactics should receive closer attention
from the officers and enlisted men of the
National Guard than has been given to it
in the past.
1t is not necessary that a person to be
in position to observe errors in military
movements should be an expert in such
matters, tor the manner in which so inn
portant a part OF the tactics as guard
mounting was performed Tuesday even
ing attracted the attention not only of
those who are entirely familiar with the
| movements, but of those who possess but
the slightest knowledge of military
affairs as well.
The tactics provide that at assembly
the men selected for guard duty fall in on
their respective parade grounds and face
to the front. Each Sergeant is then re-
! quired to verify his detail, open ranks,
| inspect the dress and general appearance
of the men, and after replacing by SUI
pernumerary any man UNFIT to go on
guard, closes ranks.
| The Sergeants showed considerable
| lack of knowledge i'll that respect. 1t
may be said. however, that one or two OF
them did fairly we'll, but the majority
were exceedingly inefficient.
! In bringing on the details one of the
| Sergeants marched his detail up in the
rear of the preceding one. instead Of up
! to and on the left of the first.
| The formation of the guard was so un-
satisfactory that the Sergeants were
ordered to try it over again.
| AT the second attempt the forming of
| the guard was done much BETTER but not
as good as il should have been done.
Ii the ceremony was practiced ottener
| the guard would only need be formed
once. and the men would become better
acquainted with their duties.
In saluting the Sergeant Major and
announcing that the details were cor
rect the Sergeants showed much lack OF
| knowledge in the manner of saluting.
When the command, "Open ranks ~
was given after the last detail was formed
the rear rank should have stepped back
/ and halted three PAGES in rear OF the front
| rank, or such distance as the space in the
| present armory would allow. This part
of the tactics was also done in a manner
| that demonstrated the fact that consid-
erable practice should be given it.
| The inspection of the guard was done
! fairly we'll.
! At the command inspection arms !"
| the guard execute fix bayonets and opens
| OO46s3 DtiG lDO AISL SudIQ utS-
| day evening was so slow in obeying the
command that the spectators and others
| who were present were justified in be-
| lieving that such would not have been
! the case had the men been given more in
struction in that line.
! The commands of the Adjutant, Ser
geant-Major and other officers, were
/ given in good tone OF voice, but in some
! instances were nearly inaudible on ac-
count of the noise of the music, which in
| an inclosed area is heard above anything
| else.
! At the conclusion of the inspection the
guard was reviewed, marching in pla-
| toons past the officer of the day.
| The first attempt not being satisfactory
the guard was paraded in review again,
| when an improvement was noted.
| In one instance, as the new guard ap-
| preached the old guard the latter did not
execute carry arms" as it should have
done. At the second attempt the error
did not occur again.
| In posting the sentinels the corporals
manifested degree of inattention to de-
tails that showed they have not received
instruction enough to enable them TO per-
| form tnat part of the guard as they
| should.
At the conclusion Of guard mounting
a dress parade was had, which in some
respects was fair and in others bad.
NOGWltnSLanulnR the lnaueQuacy OF
room in the armory. the companies should
be marched past the reviewing officers in
company front, and not in columns of
fours and twos. By proper arrangement
of the companies it would not be neces-
sary TO diminish their front.
The Second Regiment of Infantry is
looked upon by the citizens of the State
and others who are familiar with its his
tory as being one of the best drilled regi-
ments in the State, but the ceremony of
guard-mounting is one part of the tactics
that the regiment could be materially ad-
vanced in, as it is in almost ali other
of the drill regulations for the infantry.
| Frequent battalion drills are necessary
factors for the proper performance of
military movements, especially where
there are two or more companies in one
locality.
1t is also necessary that for the men to
perform the various details in a proper
manner they should be given more indi-
yidual instruction. one thing which they
seem to be lacking in also.
The ceremonies of the evening were
concluded with short dance, the music
for which being furnished by the Second
Infantry Band.