Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-11-22
Vermont National Guard

Report Of Capt. II. I. TutherIy, Assist
ant Inspector General on Last En-
campment.
The report of Capt. II. L. Tutherly,
First United States cavalry, assistant in
spector general, concerning the encamp-
ment of the National Guard of Vermont
held at Fairlee last August, has just been
issued from the adjutant generals office.
Capt. Tutherly reviews the work of the en-
campment, which he says was performed in
highly creditabe manner. The person
mel of the command as a whole is excellent,
and has greatly improved during the past
two years.
Capt. Tutherlys recommendations are in
substance as follows
would advise that the state troops be
supplied with shelter tents and jointed
poles and pins therefor; that there be is
sued meat ration can, knife, fork and
spoon for each man to carry in his haver-
sack, and that each company keep in its
armory the United States army field allow
ance of camp kettles, mess pans, field
ovens, spades, axes, hatchets and frying
pans; that companies have occasional short
practice marches from their armories,
equipped in heavy marching order, and
that they proceed to the annual encamp-
ment equipped in this way-disembark
from the railroad trains at least three miles
from the camp ground, form by battalions
and march in to camp with advance and
rear guard and fiankeTs as though march
ing extensively through an enemys coun-
| Try, and that the quartermaster' depart
| ment cause the necessary wagon transpor-
tation to meet each command at its point
of Decentralization from the railroad.
n 81 1on
son in field service while en- route to camp,
which need delay their arrival only one
hour.
l would advise the state to own at least
one ambulance and organize a small hos
pital corps of II men, instead ofdetailing
this number of men from the companies
| which are now too small at their maxi
mum strength for extended order move
| ments.
| would advise that when the state gets
new tentage, the concal wall tents be pro-
cured, and | think enough Sibley stoves
and pipe should be kept on hand at the
arsenal to provide at least one battalion in
case winter field service should be required.
l think that the state should have at
least one small Gatling or Hotchkiss gun
and small mortar, and that firing be had
with these pieces at the encampmeut, that
| troops may see the effect. | also believe
that a good cavalry troop could be main
tanned in the state and that it would give
new spirit to the National Guard service,
and, in time, overcome the most noticeable
defect, namely, poor horsemanship.
In conclusion, l may add that the Ma
tional Guard of Vermont, though small in
numbers, may be considered as efficient
and available at short notice for field ser
vice. 1t is made up of an intelligent body
of officers and men and the military affairs
of the state are conducted with method,
without friction, and as nearly as practi-
cable according to the regulations and Gus
toms of the United States army. The
future possibilities are greatly enlarged by
locating permanent camp ground adjoin-
ing the military post of Fort Ethan Allen,
where not only the state can accumulate
property and extensive facilities, but where
the United States government can, with
out extra expense, offer facilities which
the state would never provide.
The early arrangement of this camp
ground is recommended so that it may be
used at next years muster