Evening star., 1895-03-20
G GOlN G TO MEM HIS
Preparing for the Interstate Drill and En-
oampment in May.
Three Local Companies Will Compete
With Crack Drills From the
SOuth-Active Work.

Col. I. F. Peters. general manager of the
interstate drill and encampment to be held
at Memphis. Tenn, May IL to 21. inclusive.
today reached this city and called on the
commanding officers of the local companies
who contemplate participating in the drill.
The event has occasioned more than ordi-
nary interest in ard out of the District of
Columbia National Guard, ani already the
National Fencibles, the Morton Cadets and
the Hibernian Rifles have begun prepara-
tions for visit to the Tennessee city. 1t
is possible that a section Of battery A,
light artillery, will enter the artillery drill.
According to Col. Peters, this interstate
drill and encampment is intended to cover
a wider range than any former competi-
tion that has taken place in the United
States. 1t Is proposed to illustrate the diff
ferent tactics that have been in vogue in
this country for the last thirty years, and
in formulating the rules governing the en-
campment it was deemed necessary that
the event should extend through ten days,
as less than that period was considered too
short a time in which to carry out the ex-
tended program provided. Ordinarily one
week would be ample time in which to af-
ford opportunity for all companies to COM
pete, but the introduction of three obsolete
classes, Upton, Hardee and Casey, render
ed it necessary to extend the time, for it is
expected that there will be large attend
ance Of companies who will compete in
these three classes, and the management
thinks such competitions will not only add
greatly to the interest in the enterprise,
but will attract large numbers of people to
witness the drills
Col. Peters believes that the lessons pro-
vided in the Memphis competition will be
men to the best features of all the tactics
heretofore in use and may result i'll bring
ing about much valuable improvement in
military scierce.
Not WalkOver.
That the local companies will not have
what is termed ''walkover," is evidenced
by statement of Col. Peters in regard to
the number of companies who are expected
to attend the encampment ''Since l left
Memphis, two weeks ago." said Col. Peters
to Star reporter, Il have passed through
several southern cities, and have received
personal assurances that we will have with
US in May six companies from New Or
leans and possibly two more. The Cont
mental Veterans, the Gulf City Guards and
while Montgomery will send the Montgom-
cry Greys. The Macon Volunteers and the
Macon Huzzars mean to enter the drill, as
do the Birmingham Rifles. Two compa-
nies of the Gate City Guard and the Gov
ernor's Horse Guard are going from At
lanta, and Augusta will send the Richmond
Huzzars and the German Guard The
Savannah Cadets. the Charleston Rifles,
folk folk city Guard, the Lee Rifles of
Norfolk, the Richmond Howitzers and the
Richmond Light Infantry Blues have also
made up their minds to be present at our
encampment. In addition to those men-
toned, it is almost a certainty that COM
panies will be sent to Memphis from Oma-
ha, Lincoln, Kansas City, st. Louis Cleve-
land, Columbus. Dayton, Cincinnati, De-
troit, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul. Madi-
son, Dubuque. Galveston, San Antonio, Aus
tin, Houston, Waco and Dallas
"Of course, two companies OF the Chlcka-
saw Guards, the Governors Guards ana
the Neeley Zouaves of Memphis will en-
gage in the competition, as will the NC
Carthy Light Guard, the Fletcher Zouaves
and the Eagle Battery of Little Rock, and
companies from Chattanooga, Knoxville
and Nashville. and also Mississippi. and
several cities in Arkansas. l also hope TO
secure entries from Baltimore, Phlladel-
phia, New York, Boston and Buffalo.
The Rules.
1.-THE rules governing the actual drill to
take place after the companies have en-
tered the field will be formulated by United
States army officers, who are to be detailed
to act as judges and this order of drill, it
is proposed, shall be handed to each COM
manding officer one hour before the time
assigned to his company to begin its drill
Your Morton Cadets and Hibernian Rifles
I understand, have never entered an inter-
state drill, and therefore both may engage
in three classes at Memphis-the free-for-
all infantry, the class for companies that
have never won or been awarded prize in
interstate drill and the class for companies
that have never drilled in interstate drills.
Memphis will be more than glad to well
come the Washington companies espe-
cially the champion Fencibles, and will be
greatly disappointed If, for any reason
Whatsoever, the Fencibles, Morton Cadets.
Hibernian Rifles and Battery A should fail
to enter the competition. The Washington
mans are assured the best treatment dur
ing their stay in our city, and nothing will
be done to mar their pleasure in so far as
it may be within the control of those at the
head of the enterprise. Our chief object in
holding the encampment is to show the
citizen soldiery of the United States at it's
best both now and in the past, covering a
period n which there has been displayed
more martial spirit than in any other SIM
liar period in the history of the country"
Col. Peters announces that the sponsors
will be feature at the Memphis drill, and
ILL.,