The Washington times., 1895-02-03
DISTRICT SOLDIER BOYS
One Weeks News and Gossip
Around Local ArmOTleS.

The event OF the week was the parade oil
the Second Regiment Wednesday night. 1t
was the last parade in the old armory, and
was a very good one in every respect. Tue
men aud officers were properly dressed and
equipped, and the steadiness In the ranks
was notably good. fully equaling the de-
mands of the colonel, who is particularly
strict upon this latter ro.nt. Col Cecil Clay
was in command, and the occasion was en-
livened and the ceremony much enhanced by
the Mount Pleasant Drum Corps who on
Grated as ''field music" The Fourth Bat
talon formed on its own parade ground. The
battalion color was present. but without its
guard. The color company came On the line
preceded by only one OF its guides, aud the
battalion was closed in column on its first
comlany and brought TO Il rest" when it
was noticed thai the staff was aligned on its
right with no reference to seniority OF
rank an acting first lieutenant being on the
right instead of on the left. The Fifth Bat
talon was formed on its parade ground with
its color and guard and closed in column. and
brought TO crest" The Sixth battalion,
owing TO want OF space, was marched into
the drill hall in column of fourS, and
promptly closed in columns on its first COM
panv. The battalion color was present, but
without any guard. The first two companies
were properly dressed TO the Lett at this FONT,
but the third and fourth companies were
dressed to the right. The captain OF the first
company gave the command right back
ward dress march, halt. front, instead OF
right backward dress, front" as prescribed.
Regimental line was formed in line oi mass
es, under the supervision Of the adjutant-
TIE guides of the leading company OF the
Fifth Ba talon were properly posted and
were verified in their positions by the major
and his adjutant who later placed himself
in front OF the right guide of the leading
company to see that the right guides
covered. The leading guides should at this
point be assured in their positions by the ser
geant major without the aid OF either major
or adiutant. The sergeant major stood at
double distance from the LETT Oi the leading
I company, as ii he were part OF the stan of
the Sixth Battalion. The sergeant major at
! no time presented sword correctly. Tae
I guides OF the Sixth Battalion were properly
posted by the sergeant ma or, but the ad =
/ jutant took position on the left Of the staff
instead of on its right. andth seinor mem
! Der OF this staff was on its left instead OF on
1 its right. The lieutenant colonel in march
/ ing its officers to the front and center gave
I the command, "officers forward. guide
4 right instead OF forward. guide center.
/ march," At the command ''ad utants front
/ and center" the battalion adjutants should
| advance to the front and face towards the
/ center. aud not wait for the command
| march before doing so.
: After the parade the Fourth and Fifth Bat
taions gave a battalion driu. A large mum
I ber CT citizens were present, and also the ad-
/ jutant general with several members OF tie
brigade staff
THE THIRD BATTALION DRILL.
The first regular battalion drill of the yea
was held in the Center Market drill hall OF
Monday last, when. owing TO the sickness o
Major Wilson, Capt. Shilling took command
of the battalion The men for duty numbered
( some sixty flies. three companies only report
! ing, with eight company officers absent. NJ
! members of the staff were on duty, no roll
| were called. nor were the companies inspected
prior to the formation for battalion parade
| The color was not with the battalion tn
color company was marched on the line iron
the front instead Ot from the rear or th'
flank and the captain of the same marched
on the side opposite the right guide in
stead of by his sds and on his left. Tn
| right guide of the third company in preced
ing his company on the line. should face t
right instead of to the left. The sergean
! major took post company distance to the lef
of the company instead OF one pace TO tn
| left of the front rank.
The adiutant having directed the f9rst cap
! tain 10 bring his company TO q parade rest
OF the right guide of the same. instead o
taking post three pares to the right of tn
battalion on a line with the captains. At th'
I command, battalion. attention. the adiu
tant proceeded 10 the rear of the line iron
whicn position he gave the command, 'opeI
ranks, which is incorrect. The lett guild,
OF the second company should not go to th,
rear at this command. The first ssrgeant
in making their reports should be instructeI
TO take their positions in rear of the line o
officers and in front of the center of the bat
talon. opposite the adjutant. In a three
company formation this would bring th
first sergeant OF the second company directly
in front of the adjutant. The distance be
tween the first and second companies wa
too slight. The execution of the manua
was remarkably good, and when it is takel
into consideration that this is the first tim
these three companies have been thrown TO
gether the parade was very good. Thre
meE in the first company wore no ieggings
and two men in the same company wore II
gloves. One man in the second compan
wore neither gloves nor leggings.
Battalion was formed for drill withou
equaliZIng the companies. thereby rendering
impossible OF proper execution almost ever
movement that Was attempted. The battaho
| broke into column of Tours to the left and i
executing con the left into line therefor
there was no sergeant major to post til
guides of the first company. and hence tn
whole line was thrown up against the wal
The company guides should be- cautione
that in ail successive formations the guide
invariably face TO the point of rest. ''Thi
rule is general
In giving the battalion a general alignmer
the major should order the guides OF the frs
company on the line. and not the guides {
A company, as A company is not the frs
company of necessity. Company commanG
ers should, in dressing their companies TO th
right alter the execution OF company right,
take position at least two PAGES in proiongI
, tion OF the rank. and not stand two PAGES
the front of their right file.
SOLDIERS make PEACE.
Part of an article which was published in
Harper's of 1852 is OF interest now. and th
statement made then is only emphasized /
the arms of to-day; 1T IS scarcely proper
: call the arms that are manufactured by ii
American government. and stored in the
various arseEals engines of carnage and d
/ struction. They ought to be considere
rather instruments OF security and peace; fC
? their destination is. as il would seem, net
) be employed in active service in the perform
T ance of the junction for which they are
4 carefully prepared but to be eonsigner
4 when once finished, to eternal quiescence an
repose.
{ "They protect by their existence. and m
5 by their action; but in order that this, the
1 simple existence should be efficient as pr(
: lection. il is necessary that the instrumeu
themselves should be fitted for their work
: the surest and most perfect manner Al
T | thus we have the very singular and exfrao