The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-13
VIRGINIA'S VOLUNTEERS.
ANNUAL REPORr OFISsPECTOR 10
LANE SrERN,
The Good aud Bad Points In tile Service
Carefully Reported 10 Adjutant'
General Anderson

accompanied by lengthy paper entitled
Notes Of Inspection" giving in detail the
condition Of the volunteers. also tabulated
statements Of Inspections:
Office Of Assistant Inspector-General.
Richmond Va, October Z, 1897
70 General Charles J. Anderson, Adtutant
General, Richmond, Va:
Sir'-Ihe annual inspection and muster
Of the volunteers having been completed
on the 5th instant. / have the honor 10
submit herewith the following report
which is accompanied by the usual muster
rolls OF the several commands, with a
tabulated statement showing numbers
present and absent with percentage Of at
tendance at inspection.
II is gratifying TO be able to report that
the percentage present this year, $50, IS
larger than IL was last year, and as here
tofore reported has continually increased
from 1854. the year this Office was
established and The first inspections made.
The entire force consists Of two hun
dred and twenty-scven officers. and two
thousand. five hundred and eighteen men,
comprising forty-six companies of infan-
try. two troops OF cavalry and three bat
teries Of artillery. OF the infantry eight
companies are colored.
The force is nineteen officers and three
men less than at last inspection. which is
accounted for by the DISARMAMENT OF the
first regiment Of cavalry.
This report does not include Company
H" Second Regiment. at Salem. nor
Company a" Third Regiment. at Dan
Vile. for reasons given IN special reports
heretofore made. and with these two com
~ cot.
force would be about two thousand eight
hundred and thirty-fve, an increase over
last year.
MADE DNE HUNDRED PER CENT.
The following companies made 100 per
cent. present at inspections:
Company "B, First Regiment Infantry,
Richmond.
Company "F." First Regiment Infantry,
Richmond
Company "E." Second Regiment In
fantry Lynchburg.
Company "E. Third Regiment Infan-
try Lynchburg.
Company *. Third Regiment Infan-
Try Fredericksburg.
Company a. Fourth Regiment 1nfan-
try. Norfolk.
Company b Fourth Regiment In
fantry Norfolk.
Company "A. Fourth CBlues) Battalion
Infantry. Richmond
Battery a." First Battalion Artillery.
Richmond.
Battery b First Battalion Artillery,
Norfolk.
Company "E." Second Battalion In
fantry Colored). Norfolk.
This is a considerable increase i'm the
number Of companies having 100 per cent.
mandants Of companies are giving their
attention TO the matter OF discharging
or dropping useless men from their rolls
and If the example were followed by
other captains much good would result
therefrom.
The general condition Of the volunteers
continues to improve Officers are better
informed year by year. Few tactical
errors are made now in the ceremonies
of inspection and muster. and in the
limited opportunities for Judging Of the
drill evidences of the improvement on the
part Of both officers and men are appa-
rent.
The quantity Of clothing issued IS not
sufficient to meet the wants Of tho SER
vice and whereas all uniforms were FUR
nishcd by the men before the allowance
Of quartermaster's stores was provided
for by the general government, IL is very
rarely the case now that a company
spends any money for that purpose. The
quantity issued not being enough. old
and untidy uniforms are kept and used.
not only initiating very much against
the appearance of the men, but even as
satisfying them and. to a great extent.
diminishing their pride i'm the organiza-
ton 90 which they belong.
hos IgI "a inUff-
ference on the part of the men. and they
are not as diligent I'm the performance OF
their duties as they probaJY would be
under different circumstances. This dis
satisfaction with the clothing and the
unattractiveness Of the uniform have IN
some instances affected very materially
the personnel Of the volunteers. Some OF
the captains report that their enlistments
are not from the same class OF men as
formerly.
Officers are almost unanimous In the
ODinion that State or reglmental dress
uniform would greatly revive the interest
of all concerned.
AS heretofore reported from this oihce'
those COMPANIES that have had some eN-
nerience I'm camp. however limited, show
Improvement i'm discipline and an adj
vancement I'm the knowledge OF the uu-
ties OF soldier Several OF the com
panies I'm different parts or the state
during the past summer al ther own eN-
pense. had the benefit Of "a few days III
camp .,s
Nothing short Of actual service would
60 much benefit the volunteers as an en-
compment under strict discipline.
ARMS AN EQUIPMENT
Ae directed bv General order No. O..
nor, IL herewith submitted "of all arms.
equipment and other property showing
number and condition Of each
II viii be observed that many OF me
commands have not yet leen fuppheu
win the woven cartridge belt. ana some
of the belts already supplied nave l'ot
the necessary fastenings Tor al'achihb
the bayonets and sabres
Ouite a large number OF the FORAGE caps
furnished lack I'm stiffness. and atter De
ing wet. lose their shape and become uh-
slightly ....,...-
There IS a very large number OF useless
leecins on hand being out OF repair, pul
they could be put in order at but h'ue
cost. Lie
The old leather cartridge boxes. belts
and belt plates are not longer used' anu
should be called i'm. ..,.,o
4 few rifles IN each company, agsteEd'ihs
some three or four hundred. are unser-
viceable. and should he called In ana re-
paired By the state armorer.
Many of the companies are armed WIN
rifles of older models. and after so many
years Of hard service most OF them need
ro-bronzing. wind-gauge sights, and other
more modern Improvements
The guns i'm possession OF the artillery
have so often been the subjects OF reports
and Of consideration at headquarters. it is
not deemed necessary TO make further
comment on them al this time. They
are an obsolete; but for the necessities of
tho volunteers are ADEQUATE