The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-13
VIRGINIA'S VOLUNTEERS.
INTERESTING OBsERFaTJONS BY
IHE ADJUTdNT GENIR4L.
Tho Reduction in Members Not Affect
ed the Efficiency OF tho Service.
Tie Confederate Records.

son 10 the Commander-in-Chief Is accom-
panied by u report Of Colonel 10 Lane
Stern. the Assistant InsDector-Generai.
as TO the condition of tho virginia Vol
unteeTs. and their appearance at the last
annual inspection. 1t ALSO includes a
very interesting report OK Captain John
7. knight. u. >. a.. rs 10 the quarter
master md ordnance stores. and otacr
matters pertaining to the militia.
General Anderson. in his own report.
preiacing the other two, has the follow
INK to say:
In the beginning Of the last report
IL was respectfully submitted that. in
the opinion OF this office. the general
efficiency OF the Virginia Volunteers was
greater than az any previous tuae. wnlch
condition was due. not only 10 Tie se4t-
sacrifice TO duty OF the officers and men
composing the force. bat. m paft, to
your interest ana assistance ln fuftheilng
the same end. Despite the fact that tae
roster IS smaller by about three hundred
men. and that. az hereinafter noted.
recommendations viii be made looking
TO the -disbandment Of several other com
pauies, it will lie shown that the reduc-
ton Of the force WIFI result in good.
A. SMALLER FORCE.
The men who favo been discharged
rendered little or no service by reason OF
absence from their posts. or absence
from other causes. removal from the
state. or general worthiessness ass s9.-
d.ers.
A smalier fotce is a benefit. because
Of the fact that the State appropriation
is not large enough to support the mum
Der allowed by law. and Tor other rea-
sons. but il viii be shown further on
that the additions contemplated FOR which
orders have already been given Will, after
all. bring IL up 10 nearly tho same mum
bers. but with better material. Tho
commonplace fact that a small but well
disciplined force is better thar a iarse
and unwieldy one. IS worthy or ieoeti-
ton. To substitute this diminu..on. you
have directed that Circular No. J. or
date February !. 49, be suspended. $50
far az 70 allow a company OF infantry
20 DO formed az Petersours. and 90 be
known as the A. r.. Hil Rifles. u"u.
formed at Independence. Grayaou couH-
IS. IN tho southwest section OF tho state.
where there arc no troops west OF -"
lem. n which VIII be attached 10 tAe
Second Regiment 1t being SO 90"
geographically. and the company or VII
glnla Zouaves, an independent organizt-
ton, allowed by act OF tho General AS
semoly on November Is. 1889, a line body
~ young men. well Offered, and already
disciplined. 10 be mustered into the ser
vice OF the Commonwealth as a com
pahy OK 4fEiNl" 'olui''
d4tlohs' thoush a"sh'ly h"NiV'"-s -
Will lar onset any losa' as '"'y ""' N"''
very Attie IN equipment, ''e "oD"''' "
ing already armed ana u"'o'"I"' ''-
the TWO others unlio'u",u
custom, III lh'll wv"
ORIGINAL muster can ~ "'"'" WIN
caihte IHea'
The l5 10 no '""-
graduated on the Iact mat tn'i' n"s
been very niue expense 10 lNe 9t".e 'i
troops preserving order lh "lu OF inc
civil authority.
VIRGINIAS RECORD.
In tho last renort "a large part was
ro.sesarilv accounted with detailed ac-
,,Yrts If tho service rendered the civ.,
aufborities az -Pocahontas ana also
for service in n similar way 90 prevent
lvnching OF persons charged with helnous
crimes.
La the admirable article entitled. Ten
Years OF Riot Duty" in the July mum
Der OF the Journal Of the Military Ser
vice Institution, by Major winthrop
Alexander. 4. Gp -. &. y. Pr u az
pears from his classification az cases ny
States and years. where the state vol
untcers have been called on 10 assist
the civil authorities. that IN the Common
wealth OF virginia. from 1855 20 1875.
there have been the unusual number OK
q, ,ases-numeric4lv larger than any
80 ct. Do ronis qrnoar from
$50, v.-,f,.., If thi. qeeount thar
H.. . nm. M trs most dis.
,,,,
oD.', 60 ~ t
however l"eie nave "'."
"heie eve" minor '' nave
CURED 10 any OF lhe troops o' ""'y' ""'
In only about one c"7e "neio " oo"-
pauy came lu conflict with tne people
with the exception OF the strike at New
port News. January j.. 1857. and the an
@fic.Dltcd difficulty nj PO~cahonfas. May
been small in numbers. under orders.
@ 1895. th. expeditions OF the militia have
hr+ extremely .mnortant iu results. AND
,r tto two raeas cited while the cost
- 10, t,sro vas ma loss OF
No.. e., g.. ,ro,.r,v seyad from most
t4 ,-ot.r,..
pIoD'A'' "''1' ,,,.
amount I'D 7ef'''i "i'''"
so SERIOUS RIOTS.
We have been very fortunate in cscap-
ing the great mobs. which in the last four
wears. on notable occasions unnecessary
-. T',tion h.r. have DESTROYED lie and
rronsrtv under conditions dangerous %
tba fn+egritv and safety OF tho country.
have -endeavored 10 show that. first.