Evening star., 1897-03-13

dress. and preparations along that line
were made By all concerned. The night
of the Sd the order was changed to undress
uniform. and the morning of the 4th it was
stipulated by the powers that ',e that over
coats should not be worn.
why was it that expended over one
hundred dollars for a full-dress outfit"
said a well-known regimeatal staff officer
to Star reporter in complaining of the in
cident, ''if not for just such an occasion
as an inaugural parade, especially when
the weather was ideally perfect 1t was
not my intention in making that outlay to
furnish luxurious food for moths, but
nevertheless that seems the only to
which the uniform may be put. Undress
is all right for drills and camp, but when
the guard is ordered to participate in
grand pageant, pass before the eyes CT
thousands. of spectators and be compared
with the regular troops and the crack
militia organisations from the several
states, the situation is diam ct rically differ
ent. The regular troops were all attired
in full dress, and they constituted a sight
that will long remain pleasant memory
with citizens from every section of the
country. Immediately! in their rear march
ed the District National Guard and the
comparison, wholly due TO tile difference in
uniform, was by no means COMPLIMENTARY
to the citizen soldiery, 1 can assure you
A few persons versed in military matters
may have considered the District Guard
business like and soldiery. but no such
views were held by the multitudes as
whole that lined the route of the parade
Furthermore" continued this officer.
IF 1t was considered too cold to parade the
guard in full dress, l can see no plausible
reason for changing the order to undress
unifolm without overcoats. The blouse is
very much thinner than the padded dress
coat, and If colds or more serious illness
were contracted by any member the blame
may be ascribed to that fact l am mad
clear through over the matter, and l stand
by no means alone as regards such feel
ings. When 1 received and accepted my
a nfY1 ~
National Guard | considered 1t NV duty to
provide myself with the complete uniform
and equipment If certain officers have
failed to do likewise / consider it utterly
unjust that the entire brigade should be
compelled to appear on an occasion of
great pomp and ceremony in attire that
made the majority of the men ill at ease
and was not pleasing to the eye of the
spectator because OF such neglect"
Rebellion in the First.
The change from full dress to undress
at the last moment caused what may
truthfuly be described as small-sized re-
belllon In the 1st Battalion. Every effort
had been expended to have the 1st make
creditable showing on the 4th of March
and at drills during the few weeks preced-
ing that date each of the four companies
had reported with twenty files, double
rank. solid. Full dress uniforms had been
put in perfect condition, and when the
men reported at the armory on the morn
ing of the parade they were dismayed to
learn that undress was in order. The arm
ory had been rented to the list Regiment,
n. G S: N Y, and it was intrusion for
the local men to attempt to get to their
lockers. Almost a body they concluded
not to parade, and left the armory in
groups Of tens and twenties. Major Ross,
at the time specified in ORDERS reported to
the brigade commander but he was alone
After great effort and fEconven enience Cap
tain Shreve succeeded in banding together
suf11cient men to form a cofnpany, and, uni
forming them, he reported for duty and
was assigned to the I'd Battalion Captain
Lee, in the meantime, indulged in burst
OF energy. and just as the parade to the
Caplto1 was atoHtto start, he also reported
oh,aI on tne line with COMPANY CAPTAIN
Battalion paraded with tive companies in
stead of four. it would have done had
the uniform for the dag been what was
desired and expected.
Card Catalogue of the Engineers.
Maj Gilbert Thompson, commanding has
notified the members OF the Engneer
Corps that the parade on March will be
considered the battalion drill for the
month. The ordered rifle practice of the
corps is set for March Ii, and the corps
meeting for Saturday evening. March q,
at 8 O'Clock. when addresses on interesting
topics are to be delivered.
Sergt. Maj. Lanham of the Engineer
Corps has very nearly completed a card
catalogue giving the military record of
every man while he has been a member of
that organization. The names of a number
OF the charter members are still borne on
the rolls. Maj. Thompson states that such
list is invaluable for ready reference and
the labor and care required in it's prepara-
tion, he says, may easily be appreciated.
Notes.
First Lieut.. c. Fred Cook, quartermaster,
and for several months past acting adju-
tant Of the Sd Battalion, has rendered his
resignation.
The discipline committee of Company A.
4th Battalion, will meet tomorrow to dis
pose of five cases of absence from the in
augura! parade. Severe penalties were pro-
vided for all absentees, and the committee
Is to determine whether or not the excuses
of the men referred to are sufficient.