The San Francisco call., 1896-09-21

army rifle has been the main feature of
duty at the Preside. The absence of
smoke at the range strikes the army men
as something peculiar.
Baptain Benjamin K. Roberts, who has
made close observation of the target prac-
tice, speaks well of the new rife.
a general court-martial, composed of
the following officers, convened at the
Presidio last Wednesday:
Major John A. Darling, Fifth Artillery; Cap
tain Benjamin K. Roberts, Fifth Artillery
Captain Elbridge r. Hills Fifth Artillery
Captain John Mcclellan, Fifth Artillery; Cap
tain Oliver E. Wood, Fifth Artillery; First
Lieutenant Thomas R. Adams, Quartermaster
Fifth Artillery; Second Lieutenant Charles
r Summeraii. Filth Artillery; Second Lieu
tenant Louis K. Burgess, Fifth Artillery,
judge advocate.
Pursuant to authority from the major
general commanding the army, compa-
nles A, c, and @, First Infantry, will
upon their return to Angel Island from
the encam pment at Santa Cruz, CAL, take
stations as follows: Companies A and G,
Angel Island, CAL; companies C and D.
at Benicia Barracks, Cal.
The First Infantry, under command of
Colonel Evan Miles, broke camp at Santa
Cruz Septem Der IL. This encampment
has been one OF great benefit to the men
and OF satisfaction to the officers in COM
mand. The exercises known to the public
do UdLll6S demonstrated the per1ec-
tlon OF detail to which these men have
been trained, and that in the event of
being called upon for active service they
will uphold the glory of the regiment.
The First Infantry has the proud dis
tinction of being the first organized armed
body of the United Ststes service, its
formation dating from 1876. It has seen
distinguished service in the Mexican War
and the late Civil War, and since that
time has been stationed for the most part
on the northern plains in Indian warfare.
Alternating its presence in Arizona,
Texas and the Dakotas, performing ardu-
GUS services, it has ever lived up to its
motto, "Semper Primus ct. ParaIus"
always First and Always Ready. Upon
its roll of honor can be seen the names of
such men as Zachary Taylor, Sam Hous-
ton, jeff Davis, Generals Phil Sheridan,
Pike, Albert Sidney Johnson, Mower and
Buchanan. Its present commander, Colonel
Evan Miles, is known to his friends by the
sobriqnet of paddy Miles," He is a Jolly
good 1ellow-albeit strict tdisciplinarian-
and has seen excellent service during the
Civil War. OF his staff, CAPTAIN Maus has
seen probably as much arduous service in
Indian warfare as anv other officer now
living in the West. He was one of the
principal agents in the capture of
Geronimo IN the Sierra Madres in Mexico.
For long period he was on the staff
of General Miles. Captain O'ConnelI and
Captain Parker are the oldest officers with
the regiment in point of serv lce, they
having been thirty years in the First In
fantry. Captain O'Connell was inspector
OF National Guard under two Governors of
California, Markham and Waterman.
representing the War Department. Cap
tain Parker after the close of the war, in
1S67-6S, was adjutant of the First Infantry,
and he had the proud distinction of hav-
ing served with Mackenzie,s famous
Fourth Cavalry. The rest of the officers
of Colonel Miles staff passed through the
Pine Ridge campaign of 1891, and the field
exercises in camp here which Lieutenants
Ferris, Cro1Ion, DeIchmendy and Kirk
man commanded demonstrate the fact
that these young officers will prove worthy
of the service they so proudly represent.
First Lieutenant Louis P. Brant, adiu-
tant First Infantry. has been ordered to
report to the department commander for
special duty.
First Lieutenant George w. Korkman,
further duty with the First Infantry and
will reioin his regiment.
Leave OF absence for one month has
been granted TO Lieutenant ]. r. Binns.
First Infantry.
Furloughs have been granted to Musi-
clan Otto Kestner, First Infantry; Ser
geant Hiram Austin, Light Battery F.
Fifth Artillery; William H. Harris, Com
pany B, First Infantry; Isadore Plahis,
Company G, First Infantry; Frank J. Ho.
ban, Battery l, Fifth Artillery; Musician
James w. Bryant, Company 6. First In
fantry; Carl Schomburg, Company f.
First Infantry, and John z. Whaien. Bat.
terry E, Fifth Artillery.