The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-01-13
THE STATE GUARD.


encourage the friends Of that very
u:ciu! and efficient body-the "strong
arm Of The law In his letter to the
Governor transmitting the report,
Gen. Cowles says:
Upon assuming the Office of the adj
jutant general | was gratltied TO note
the care and system which prevailed in
the office owing to the efficient admin
istratiOn of my predecessor, whose
long service with the Guard. added to
his previous military training and ex-
perIence, peculiarly fitted him for the
position. The Guard was also found
in very good condition, both as TO
its equipment and efficiency, with a
personnel of officers and men co ual to
that of any other State.
1t has been the constant aim and
effort Of this Office to not only maintain
the same efficiency throughout the
Guard, but to steadily improve it in
every possible way, and it is pleas
ure to report that these efforts have
been even more than realized III the
fact Of a notable advance throughout
every department Of the Guard during
the past year; aud it is to-day
thoroughly equipped, efficient aud loyal
body OF troops, non partisan, nOnpOiltl-
cal and prompt and reliable III Ie-
spouse to the call Of the authorities in
maintaining law and order. and the
peace and dignity Of the State
FIn l. b.. Il, Z 4.
civil authorities have been frequent
this year, and on no less than eight
different occasions have they promptly
preserved order d.prevented riot such
"a might have caused considerable loss
OF life and property. The prompt re-
Spouse to these calls and the thorough
aud competent manner i'll which these
services were rendered in every i'll
stance Is well known 10 your Excellency.
These calls have included every re.i-
ment of the Guard and the naval re-
serve
1t is greatly TO be regretted that the
last Leg stature did not see fit to con-
tinue the appropriation for annual en-
campment of the troops, for it is con-
coded by every competent, authority.
that these general camps of instruc-
ton are not only necessary but indis-
pensable III promoting the highest
efficiency Of the soldier in military
drill and discipline. Most of the COM
panles, however, realizing the need Of
this special, instruction, have held
| company encampments at various
points in the State during the year.
The expenses of these camps have
been borne entirely by the separate
companies, with the exception of
! little arl extended to them from the
regular State Guard fund. The entire
Fourth Regiment was in camp at
| Charlotte for nearly a week during the
celebration of the Mecklenburg Dec
Iaratlon of Independence last May.
The regiment was the specially invited
| guest of the city Oh that occasion, and
| the whole expenses of the encamp-
ment, including railroad transporta-
| ton, quarters and subsistence were
cheertuIly met by the liberal spirited
and patriotic citizens of Charlotte.
| Two of the companies have made
very successful practice marches of 40
to 60 miles, thus adding to the routine
| duties of a soldier greater efficiency by
the very essential knowledge of tent
/ ing. camping and active service in the
| field. These practice marches and en-
can.pments establish an esprit de
corps among officers and men which is
| Invaluable in military guard of the
| State.
The State Guard now comprises %
companies OF Infantry, one negro com
| pany, one artillery detachment, one
drum aud signal corps, three bands
and five Division Naval Reserves,
| numbering Il total of ,794 officers and
men. Not a single company has been
| dIsbanded during the year, but there
have been many additions to the ranks,
| showing an increase of 1913 men over
the year 1896. There have been fewer
designations and discharges than ever
before. n large number of applicants
have been received for admission into
| the Guard by new companies, but none
| could be considered favorably as the
limit is complete as allowed by law
and entitled to the State appropriation.
Two new Divisions of Naval Reserves
have been organized and accepted into
the Guard, they being equipped by
special appropriation from the United
States Navy Department..
The Inspector General in addition to
the inspections heretofore required of
him was directed to include all staff de-
| partments responsible for the receipts
and disbursement of public funds on
property.
While this is an innovation not pro-
vlded in the usual duties of the iu-
spector general heretofore in this State,
1t is deemed wise that all the transac-
tons of each department of the Guard
should be fully set forth, for the infor-
nation OF the commander-in- chief, this
office, and the Guard III general. This
inspection is also due to the chiefs of
the various departments for their pro-
| lection.
Herewith accompanying are the an
nual reports of the inspector general,
| quartermaster general, paymaster gen
I eral, surgeon, the commanding officer
| of each regiment, and commander of
! the Naval Battalion, and copies of all
| orders issued during the year. both
| general and special. also special re-
ports OF the troops called .out for
service are herewith appended
Thanks are due and are hereby ten
! dered TO both officers and men of the
Guard and specially TO the chiefs of the
| various departments. and the officers Of
| general headquarters for their uniform
courtesy to me and valuable aid in con-
Quoting the affairs of this department.
Old Rip Van Wrinkle went up in the
CatSklll mountains to take a little nap of
twenty years or so. and when he Weakened.
he found that The cruel war was over"
the monthly magazines had fought it
: over the second time and blown up"
all the officers that had participated in it.
| This much is history, and it is also an his