Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-27

| anu tiidt VI y. H. ioiaNh'hStoi -
not rs.
good except for one or two unfortunate
mistakes such as are likely to creep in
at any time The details from the 2d
Regiment We're sent back to quarters
once and were made to make a second
attempt to set onto the line properly.
The right detail moved onto the line
in double time and the succeeding de
tails came on in common time. The
march in review Of this regiment guard
detail lacked the snap and brace 10
give it the proper fine appearance, but
the ceremony on the whole was better
than the day before
In the LIST Regiment, the first detail
"a arrive attempted To mark the point
of rest the width Of the detail past the
sergeant major. and was compelled to
side step to the left to position. In the
march in review by this guard, the
hand was slow in getting out of the
way Of the first platoon and the com
mandcr of the guard was forced TO halt
the platoon in front of the reviewing
officer At the command march" the
men brought their pieces to a right
shoulder, part of them returning to a
h.
ing past the reviewing officer with the
pieces at right shoulder" The mis-
take was natural one. for the men
hahitually are required to come to the
right when at a carry and at a halt.
It was not a case where the comman-
der or any of his subordinates were
negligent.
1t should also be borne in mind that
when a detail is sent back to quarters
t. return again, it is not always that
it is because the officers or men are
negligent. but because the men being
in camp for instruction, the comman-
der may take notion to try to i'm
prove on what is already a good per
Torrance of a ceremony.
AS | have said. the guard mounting
on the whole was an Improvement over
the day before. The adjutants were
very critical in their inspection of the
aims, equipments and uniforms.
Two hours of the forenoon were de-
voted to battalion and company drill
by both regiments, with the exception
Of the first battalion of the I'd Regi-
ment. which. under Major New
combe. was sent across the valley to a
side hill nearly a mile away to parti
cipate in a sham battle Major New
cCmbe had been Informed that a party
of guerilas We're lurking among the
trees that cover the hillside, and it be
came his business to rout them.
The battalion when it arrived on the
field was divided. one part becoming
the enemy in position along road
le aiding into the woods. and with out
posts of sharpshooters scattered over
the field helter- SHELTER, behind trees,
rocks. knobs and anything that would
protect a man. The attacking party
formed in a piece of woods that eX
and sending out a line of skirmishers,
the main body began to advance. At
once the sharpshooters of the enemy
opened fire from their places of con-
cealment, but they We're pressed so
closely and holly by Major New
combe's skirmshers that they We're
forced to retire from one tree or rock
to another. The western skirmishers
pushed on rapidly firing at will until
df the guerillas, who We're well off
cered.
The enemy opened a volley that stag
gered Major Newcombe's men for a
moment, but they quickly rallied and
We're much encouraged by the presence
of their commanding officer, who was
constantly close to the line. Volley
after volley was exchanged in quick
succession, and the enemy's sharp
shooters who had retreated beyond the
main body of their friends, reformed
and opened a steady fire just as the
guerilla line wavered an instant and
then began to retreat in good order
Newcombe's men sprang forward with
hearty cheer and pressed so closely