Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-13


are all obsolete; but for the necessities
| OF the volunteers are adequate
The arms OF the cavalry are In good
| condition. The property formerly in pos
| session of the troops now disbanded Is
suffering FOR proper attention, and should
F! a, once be put IN the State Armory for
! care and protection against further DAM
| age.
pIssENsIoNs AMONG THE MEN.
| part OF the First Regiment Infantry
I made a bad showing. Companies "A, Is,
| and + are In good condition. Company
| c slightly below the minimum required
| by law. Company II fairly good The
general appearance of the regiment was
very much marred by limiting, much
worn. and soied clothing; by the imper-
feet drilling, set UP, and appearance OF
the recruits, and the lack OF snap and
precision in manual movements.
Companies ID and G presented very
bid appearance. as may be seen by re-
ference to the notes of inspection. IL Is
understood that there are dissensiohs
among the men In these companies, anu
Il was suggested that some OF their snort
comings could be traced to that cause
Perhaps this is so, but the personnel
The drllj discipline, dress, general ap-
insnection were all satisfactory. III Is
true that the presence with these com
NAMES of several men not with arms,
being detailed as musicians and as hos
initial CORPS. and being formed without
regard TO tactics and not instructed,
added largely 10 the bad appearance;
hut. regardless of this, there were so
MANY evidences Of inefficiency, 1t Is I'M
possible TO avoid recommending that
these two companies be inspected with
reference to disarmament.
CONDITION OF THE SECOND.
The Second Regiment has been reduced
by the DISARMAMENT of companies IN the
southwestern part OF the state, 10 eisht
companies and in special report, here
tofore made. the disarmament of Com
pany II. at Salem was recommended with
the sanction of the captain commanding
under the circumstances mentioned there
In. Since this report, however, the Com
mander-in-Ch.ef having requested that
an effort be made TO reorganze the com
pany. il has been undertaken. Much
will have TO be done TO raise that COM
pany to the standard.
IL Is TO be regretted that the health OF
the colonel commanding has been very
bad. Although he has given his regiment
alive to the performance OF
his duties, as are also the other field Of
ficers. there has been little or no assist
ance from the staff. None of the latter |
appeared at inspection. The companies |
comprising the regiment. with the eX-
ception above mentioned are in good con-
dillon. efficient, with serviceable equip |
ment. clothing, etc. The Virginia Zouaves |
at L.ynchburg, recently assigned to this |
regiment, is a fine company In some |
of the companies a few men are carried |
ON the rolls who ought to be discharged ]
They are absent from home and cannot |
be counted upon for service.
The Third Regiment is composed of ten |
but Company A, at Danviile,
was not inspected nor mustered. the
having extended the
time for its reorganization 1t having
been In a state of dsntegration for two
Or three years.
The other nine companies are in good
condition. Companies b, at Lynchburg,
md X. at Fredericksburg, are specially
Several men in Company r and a few
n Companies b, d, and l, should be dis
charged. The colonel commanding, by his
own labor, and to a certain extent at his
own expense, has had all the books at
written up, and the records
ire now complete.
The Fourth Regiment Of Infantry Is
with ten companies. Most of
hese are in very fine condition, and the
,thers are improving. The percentage
PRESENT at inspection in this was higher
han in any other regiment.
With the exception OF the major, the
ield staff and non-commissioned staff all
,eing In Norfolk, where there is a good
conveniently arranged, with COM
,etent clerks and office force, combine TO
dive this regiment advantages over the
second and Third Regiments, and all
hese advantages are promptly turned to
account by officers and men, the result
icing a most satisfactory condition of the
Norfolk companies. The interest and
extend to the other COM
,anies in the regiment all of them being
lose to headquarters, and the good effect
S very perceptibe
CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY.
The cavalry has been reduced to two
roops-the Stuart Horse Guard, Of Rich
nond, and the Surry Cavalry, of Surry-
till designated in these reports as
'roops A and b. respectively. Both troops
re small Troop Il slightly below the
minimum required by law, but the cap
ain commanding reported that he ex-
ected to recruit up to the minimum with