Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-09-11
BATTALION INSPECTION.
First Battalion Shows the Result of theil
Training-Ool 10. Lane Stern In
spsctor-The Features.

The feeling Of apprehension pervad
ing the minds of both officers and men
in military circles has been allayed to
great extent by the annual iDspec
ton of the Ist Battalion Infantry, Vir-
ginia Volunteers, Major ]. b. Johnson
commanding. last Tuesday evening
sep ember z, 1897 at their armory
corner Leigh and st. Peter SITS.
The near approach of inspection laid
like u horrible incubus upon the minds
Of many of the privates, while some oi
the officers were not free from this
feeling.
However this may be, the inspe ctior
in many respects was ert ditabls
one, and viewed from an unpre1udicia
stand point, it reflected credit upor
the black troops of this state There
were mistakes it is true, and in many
instances were inexcusable; but il
comparing our troops with some of th'
companies composing the 1st Nirgini,
Regiment, the difference IN point o
superior drilling and discipline would
be vastly in favor of the Coiored Bat
TALON.
THE INSPECTION.
Shortly after o'clock, the Inspec-
tor General, Colonel Jo Lane SterI
stepped from the Armory Building a
which time the voice of Major johnson
was heard giving the command Bat
TALON prepare for inspection" Th,
| three companies having marched from
their respe ctive company rooms to th'
spacious yard, began to dress the line
for inspection.
| Company b, the first company in
spected at the command from Captain
Nicholas, moved forward to its posi-
i tion and at the necessary commands
assumed the position for inspection
| Many of the men who we presume,
had been staying away from drills be
haved little badly and the result wa
that it gained marks against them
lCompany 3 had 30 men in line wit
four absent, including one lieutenant
We must congratulate Captain Cow
an of Company c, whose company mex
moved forward and prepare d to be in
spected. This company moved fol
ward in we'll dressed line Ever
man felt that he must sustain the rel
utation of his company and did the
best. Colonel Stern called the ro
with the result that out of a total Ell
rollment of 81 men, men were al
sent leaving 58 men for inspection.
COMPANY A.
When company G.. marched to I'll
{ company room, Company A under I'll
command of Captain Hankins move
forward in a well regulated line sr
lpassed q creditaLle inspection I'll
behaviour of both officers and me
with a few exceptions mast be con
a mended. The roster revealed the IA
that out of total enrolment of 4
l 3 men were absent.
:, Second Lieutenant John Parham T
. Gently promoted, showed that q
though a commissioned officer of on
J., two weeks standing, he was full
: equipped in his natty uniform NJ
: could hold his own.
j. First Lieutenant Smith was assign
I. his duties while those of Lieutena
II Parham will be assigned later T.
uniform pieces caps, etc, were nice
J cleaned. The staff officers and ba
l. were inspected with partial satisfa
tion.
d Major Johnson deserves esp c
n praise for the strenuous efforts q
J. unu- ual energy he has displayed
II bringing the Battalion up TO its pr
ent excellent standard.
Many visitors we're present and be
said to the sincere regret of the co
st mandiHg officers, many behaved ra
as er badly.