Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-05-08
THE FIRST REGIMENT
Officers Attend School Of Military
Instruction at Lewiston.
Papers on Interesting Topics Rife Pfac-
tice," by Col. Harrington.


officers Of the LIST Regiment, Maine Ma
tional Guard. met at Lewiston, this after
noon, for military instruction. Col Ken
dali, Biddefurd :, Li.ut. Hersey. U. S. A :,
and Col. Harrington are present.
In the afternoon there was instruction
in battalion drill. In the evening Col.
Kendall presided. Papers were read on
"Rihe Practice" by Col. +. G. Earring
ton. Augusta; Riot Duty" Capt. X.
X. Ulmcr, Rockland; Camp Life, Capt.
Bal Bradbury Norway, followed by dis
cussion.
A committee was appointed to draft
resolutions congratulating Adjutant Gen
eral Common on his improved health.
After the session the officers were en-
tertained by the Frye Light Guards at the
arInory.
Col Harrington spoke in part as fol-
lows:
Officers OF the First Regiment: The
objects Of the "school Of officers" | sup
pose, Is to gain some additional knowledge
Of our duties, to be able by mutual inter
change OF thought, to comprehend and
carry back to our commands zeal and
understanding. which will aid us to i'm
prove the standing Of the companies.
Whatever may say will be intended to
help strengthen the National Guard Of the
State. 1t Is but fair to say that today
Maine has o good and efficient volunteer
guard as any state In tho Union. In fact
10 IL doubtful II any state has one as good
as that Of Maine. But 1t is not what it
ought to be nor what IL may be II you
gentlemen discharge your whole duty
with energy and forcthought In the first
place, you have The "tactics" Of war, as
prepared by the best military minds of the
day. Every duty is carefully defined. and
from the simplest to the most neetitd in.
struction, there has been no guess work.
Every movement from tho ordinary
duties Of camp to the most stupenGous
movements upon the field Of battle bears
relation to each other and the knowledge
or ignorance regarding thom will tell
favorably or unfavorably upon the strength
OF the organization, and Its success
You have your company, and the majors
their battalions, the colonies their rcgi-
ments. The company Is the foundation
of the military force. Its strength de-
ponds upon your ability to command, and
your efforts to impart or secure the re-
quisite instruction in the discharge Of the
duties of tho soldier. No commanding
officers, brigadier generals, coloncls or
minors can give the State OF Maine n ser
viceable guard, II you fail in your duty.
However much interest or effort Is made
by the commander n-chicf or his ad-
jutant general, however hard the inspec-
tor general or other officers above you
may work, 1t can count but small com
rnti xrit lob 70 IN IA in n
worthy organization. Tho great responsi-
bility rests upon you. The State Of Maine
has wisely, we believe, adopted tho policy
of maintaining small military force.
The experiences Of the past three years has
placed beyond question the Importance of
every state having q reasonable number
Of soldiers to protect the peace of the
state. Ours is a small force. but If it Is
what 1t may be, it would be of immense
value to the State in case of need The
companies you represent have from 80 to
so men upon your rolls, perhaps an aver
age Of so men would be as great as could
be reckoned upon to call to duty. You
have officers, captain two lieutcnants
several sergcants and corporals, each hav
ing his particular duty to perform. Now
It would seem, gentlemen, that II these
officers, commissioned and non commits
stoned, did their duty. that these 80 men
that compose company, could DO made,
every one of them, an effective soldier
Suppose this was n military school, and
In fact 1t Island this corps Of officers were
tho teachers selected to instruct this small
number, AMI that when they had become
familiar with their respective duties they
were allowed To graduate 1t would be u
small school and large number of in
struotors, and | think you will agree with
me, that Ii each instructor understood his
duty and did his lest to teach those he had
In charge. 1t would not be long before the
school would be an elticicut one The
captain must b, thoroughly Informed re
garding every required duty of every
soldier in his command and have the zeal
and desire to impart to those under him
a knowledge OF their duties. They in
turn, and SO ON down through the differ
ent grades of officers must be thoroughly
informed in their duties. This done and
1t seems to me that movements of n com
pany to o fair degree Of excellence can be
secured without much difficulty.
You say within yourselves, that do not
understand the difficulties that besct you,
Not rs well as you do, probably, but that
you have many ernbarrassments, de-
,nand upon your time and expense of 10
small burden, is apparent to me, still you
have accepted a commission rs captain and
lieutenants, you have assumed the respon-
sibiiity; the State has honored you with
trust important rs any bearing upon the
stability Of State government and these
hindrances must not be urged in defence
Of neglected duty.
am anxious about your ability to exc
cute the movements of war that the great
est achievement and knowledge soldier
can possess-that OF shooting rifle skill
fully--may DO made available. For after
all, 1t must be admitted that all the
Tactics or drill regulations. amount to
Is to place promptly and in proper condi-
tion, the force. that they may have a
chance to use their rifles with deadly
effect. War is destructive. and the mill
tary power which can kill and destroy
fastest must come OF victorious,
You urge that large per cent. of your
companies, each year change and there are
constantly new men coming into the
ranks This is drawback in securing
a high average Of strength. This, how
ever. can be reduced by care in enlist
ments. Suppose your committee on en-