The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-06
COMPANY AS SQUAD DRILL.
Sergt. HuttOn's Men Won the Gold
Medal

Medal.
The competitive squad drill Of Company
A of the battalion of Volunteer Guards
was held last night at the Guards hall.
The squad Of Sergt. J. A. Hutton was
declared the winner.
The contest was for the handsome gold
medal presented the company by Mr.. r.
D. Guerard. The winner of the medal
was to have the honor of presenting 1t to
the company by which, in turn, it win
be presented to Private w. G. Austin,
who holds the record as the company 5
best shot.
The drill began at $50 o clock. The COM
pany was divided about three months ago
into five squads under the command OF
sergeants.
Those officers worked earnestly and we'll
in the effort to bring their men up to a
high standard of excellence in the school
of the soldier. The drilling of one or two
of the squads was such as to win their
drill masters the warmest compliments,
both from the men of the company and
the officers. The company formed in Ks
assembly room, the service uniform being
worn, and under command of Capt. w. w.
Williamson, was marched upstairs to the
hall.
Arms were stacked and the sergeants
called to the front and allowed to draw
lots for the order in which they would
drill their squads. The lots were drawn
in the order of their names by Sergts.
Screven, Hall, Hutton, Guerard and Free
man. AS soon as this point was settled,
the company was dismissed and the first
squad was called on the floor, Capt. Will
hanson having announced that Lieut.. ].
II. Anderson, Lieut.. j. Ferris Cam, and
himself would act as the judges.
The drill progressed smoothly, each
squad marcher putting his men through
the prescribed movements with success.
The list of movements to be executed by
the squads was calculated to consume 1t
the most twenty-five minutes, but each
squad finished in less time. The school of
the soldier was completely covered by the
programme, both in marching and the
manual There were, of course, degrees
of excellence in the performances of each
squad, but the work of Sergt. Hutton and
his men was evident to the onlookers as
well as the judges the best exhibition of
any made.
The men executed the commands, which
were given with an understanding that
greatly helped them, with snap and but
few mistakes were charged against them.
AS each squad finished the movements,
the spectators applauded, but Sergt. Hut
toms came in for the greatest share of
appreciation.
After the drill had been finished. the
judges retired to a corner of the hall, and
without any difference of opinion settled
upon the winners as announced. The COM
pany was ordered to fall in, and Capt.
Williamson then announced the result,
vybg
Capt Williamson then announced that
Sergt Hall. Corpl. Garden, Privates Bar
ton, Butler, Lyon, Reid, Robson and
Walsh had been perfect in their attend
ance at drills during the season, and were
entitled to the IS prizes. The men were or
dered to the front, and the captain pre-
scented the prizes.
A notable fact in the personnel of the
winners of the prizes was that four
of the eight were from Sergt.
Halls squad, and their good attendance
runs his squads average up high. The
names of those having been marked with
but one absence were announced. They
were Capt. Williamson, Sergt Guerard.
Sergt Freeman, Corpl. Gibbs, Privates
Sims and Seasons. Privates J. T. Charl-
ton. F. S. Hincks and Fl. r. Rawls were
announced as having been absentees but
twice, and Privates Carpenter Chisholm
and Woods were mentioned as new mem
bers who had not been absent since March
5, the date of their joining. The compa-
ny's average attendance during the season
was forty men, a percentage of 73h
When the announcements were finished,
the company was marched down to the
assembly room. Capt. Williamson
there invited it to a surprise in
the way Of spread he had prepared
for them, and, on being dismissed,
the members repaired TO Company C's
room, where the refreshments were serv-
ed. Before being dismissed some one
called for three cheers for Sergt Hutton
and his squad, and they were given with
will. The medal presented the com
pany by Sergt Huttons squad had been
suitably reinscribed as a trophy of Marks
manship. 1t was TO have been presented
the best drilled man In the command
but the individual contest was not held
Private Austin established his claim 10
It at the shoot on Feb. %.
The judges VIII make out q report ~
the drill and submit II to the companv a.
its meeting next Monday night.
Gone TO Meet other Chiefs.