Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-16
THE NATIONAL GUARD
Additional Reports Prom the Officers
Conducting Inspections.
ERRORS SIMPLE AND NUMEROUS
Best Showing in Its History for the
First Separate.
ONE GUARDSMAN OVERCOME

Major Ross command, the first battalion.
and the first separate battalion, composed
of the colored companies Of the District
National Guard, are both deserving Of con-
gratulations for their excellent showing at
Inspection, the details Of which are printed
below:
First regiment.-The colonel appeared In
full dress uniform, and the staff in un-
dress
First battalion.-General appearance mill
tary bearing and steadiness. excellent. 1t
would be manffestly unjust not to mention
the fact that the word excellent" fails to
express the almost perfect and faultless
appearance of this battalion during the
preliminary inspection. The set up and
bearing of the men were almost perfect,
while their steadiness in ranks could not
be surpassed. 1t was quite evident that
from the major down every man was de-
termined to make the inspection creditable
to the battalion. The few tactical errors
noted below seemed to be more the result of
nervousness or over-anxiety to do well than
a lack of knowledge of what was required.
Only five men were absent-one from COM
pany A and four from company ID. Com
panies B and C had every man present.
Commissioned staff-The quartermaster
and surgeon did not hold swords correctly
at an order, and did not return them prop
erly. The adjutant's aguillette was not
regulation.
Non-commissioned staff-Hospital steward
did not return sword correctly.
Company A.-One man had first two fin
gers of right hand under gun sling at the
order. Two men started to close their
cartridge boxes with left hand, correcting
themselves before executing the movement.
Two men came from right shoulder to order
improperly. The officers went through in
spection and muster correctly in every re-
spect One corporal had neither chevrons nor
stripes. One man had no figure on helmet.
One mans coat was partly unbuttoned.
Two men had cartridge box flaps unDut-
toned. Eleven men failed to port arms after
lowering hammer OF piece. One man wore
soiled gloves and one man wore torn gloves.
One man came to order arms without
steadying piece with left hand. Two men
wore patent leather shoes. The belts of
two men had slides missing. One man had
piece at half cock, and one man had ham,
mer down at the order
Company B.-The company commander
did not accompany inspecting officer. Three
pieces rested Incorrectly on the ground at
an order One man failed to open cartridge
box. Four men came incorrectly from right
shoulder to an order The commanding
officers back sling Of belt was not in center
of body. One man wore torn gloves. Nine
hammer Of piece at inspection arms. The
butt OF one piece was placed too far to rear
OF right toe at the order" One man had
hammer at half cock, and one man lad
hammer down. pieces at the order" Sew
eral belts looked rusty. and needed black
ing.
Company C.-The second lieutenant failed
to take position prescribed in drill rtgula-
tons during inspection of company. Four
pieces rested Incorrectly on the ground al
an order" The first lieutenant's back
sling OF belt was not In center of body One
man had coat unlocked at collar. The first
sergeant's coat did not fit well. Eight men
failed TO resume port arms after lowering
hammer at inspection of arms Two men
lowered hammer before closing chamber.
and one other man attempted to do the
same. The belt OF one man had a slide
| missing. One man wore torn gloves One
| man had no rifle, although he carried a
| cartridge box. One man kept left hand
| raised opposite the breast after piece was
| taken from him by the inspector. One man
placed butt of piece too far to right Of right
toe at the order" One man had hammer
| down, piece at the order" One man kept
moving piece and shifting feet during mus
ter.
Company D.-The captain forgot to give
the command Attention to muster" Both
lieutenants failed to take positions prascrib-
ed In drill regula tons during Inspection
No. / man of second four from the right Of
the company in the front rank insisted on
turning his head many times and watching
some spectators, and spoiled the otherwise
perfect steadiness of the company. Several
men did not come from a right shoulder to
an order" correctly. The first and second
lieutenants had back sling of belt out of
place and second lieutenant had no sword
knot. Three men had figures loose on
shield of helmet. Two men had coats part
iy unbuttoned. One corporal had no chew
rons or stripes on uniform. One man stood
with feet in improper position. One man
wore patent leather shoes. One man wore
torn gloves. Two men had hammers at
half cock. pieces at the order" The bar
rel of one rifle was very dirty under the
sight leaf. The belt of one man had a slide
missing. One rifle had rusty chamber and
| the hammer of another worked very hard.
One man raised piece for inspection with
barrel down instead of up. Two men lower
ed hammer before closing chamber and
three men failed to port arms after lower
ing hammer. One man took piece from in
spector with both hands instead of with the
left hand only.
First Separate Battalion.
Erfrcf re- hot FOL b,t