Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-23
AT CAMP ONWARD.
MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MATTER OF MARKsMANsHIP
REVIEW OF The FIRST DIVISION.
The New Rifles Will BE Received
with PIeasure-The Prog mme for
Thanksgiving-Day- Mascot DEAD.
Personal Notes.
Correspondence Of the Dispatch.)

CAMP ONWARD, SAVANNAH, GA,
November H.-The Second and Third bat
tallons Of the Fourth Virginia, including
the two companies OF the Blues, took
their turn at the Avondale Rifle Range
to-day. The shooting was very good
throughout and the men show marked
Improvement since their first trial In tar
get practice. There was a good deal OF
timidity on the part of the men at their
first practice last summer, In conse-
quence of the wonderful tales of the kick
ing capacity of the Springfields told by
those who had used them before, some
saying that they would do more damage
at the butt end than at the muzzle. The
result was, that, although this did not
make the green ones reverse the rifle,
putting the muzze at the shoulder,
they made some wonderfully bad shots,
striking almost everywhere except on the
bulrs-eye. The worst shooting the men
do is while lying down. They very rarely
make scores In that posture. Thls ls'
however a very necessary practice, as II
Is very desirable to shoot the enemy with
out letting him shoot you. Now, the
r have come to know their rifles, and
= 4ynold the reputation of the Amerl-
can soldiers for being the best marKsmen
in the world.
The First Division of the corps, under
command of General j. w. Kiefer, made
an excellent showing in their review TINS
afternoon. General Lee and part OF MS
staff were present. The review over, the
whole division marched through town.
The -Jorgensen rifles Will reach
Savannah to-day. Colonel ,. II. BRINE
chief ordnance officer OF the corps mas
issued a circular ordering all the DIVISION
and separate battalion ordnance oiiicels
of the corps to draw the ri1es cohsisneu
to them as soon as they receive holieo
OF their arrival, and on the same day 10
draw from the ordnance storehouse the
new cartridge belts and ammunition COM
nrising 100 hall and five blank cartridges
per rifle. ,.,,,,.roa
All of the equipment will be Delivered
at once to the companies, except ninety
rounds of the ball cartridges lot edcil
rifle. which will be retained for the pres
emit. All of the old Springfield rifles peits'
and bayonets are 10 be turned IN "ltnin
two DAYS after the receipt Oh the HS"
equipments. The First Texas VIII De tlie
first regiment to receive the ne" equ'p
ments. oa 90 aach
regiment will be as follows: First Texas
aA0. Second Louisiana, $40; Fourth III,
nois 1000: Third Nebraska, $50; Seconu
south Carolina. 700; Ninth Illinois, l,l0o'
First North Carolina, 1,lSO; Fourth VIZ
ginia. loo; Forty-ninth Iowa, l'zV', SiAtn
Missouri. 1.lS0; Battalion Second OnlIeu
States Volunteer Engineers, $40, ana BAT
TALON First Maine volunteer Artlilery'
4SQ.
The rifles are 30 calibre, and are about
five pounds lighter than the Sprlhsnelus'
The boys are looking forward 70 Receiving
them with as much pleasure as d spur ihs
man would towards the receipt OF iih0
English doube-barrelled breech-ioader'
The Seventh Army Corps VIII ENJOY
Thanksgiving also. Inc ieatuies
for that day will be:
No drills.
a great game of football between the
Fourth virginia and the First Texas.
The rifle match between the Georgia
team. which holds the championship OF
the United States, and the Seventh Army
Corps team.
Then. too, the soldiers will enjoy a
genuine Thanksgiving dinner, for which
the churches and the Young Mems Chris
tan Association of Savannah are pre-
pairing Besides this, great many men
have been boasting OF a special invitation
from families in the city for that day.
Colonel Taylor received a large batch
OF discharges this afternoon, which VIII
make considerable room for recruits all
over the regiment. They will be turned
over TO the men tomorrow.
Company NJ, of the Fourth Virginia, is
mourning the loss Of It's mascot, for poor
CUBA" Vanishing for want Of something
better than salt pork, has stole his last
piece OF army meat, run his last chase
after the regimental pigs, and raised his
last midnight howl.
He was buried with military honors,
and the devoted Blues have enclosed his
grave with a fence to keep and l.
companies pigs from wreaking vengeance
on him by roofing up his remains. Trust
this is no evil omen 70 Company NJ. They
will soon get another Cuba on larger
scale.
Private Allen Stokes, Of Company NJ,
has been detailed at corps headquarters
as clerk in the adjutant-generals depart
ment.
The following men. who have been home
on furloughs, reported to their companies
for duty today
Corporal James McGraw, of Company
H. who has been spending a thirty-day
sick furlough in Richmond.
Private j. u. Holland, of Company /
Hranklin)
Private George Lathrop, of Company NJ
(Richmond.
Sergeant J. j. Ward and Corporal r. c.
Noteworthy, of Company G, left yester-
day to spend ten-day furloughs in New
port News and Hampton.
Corporal Bunsford, Of Company II, was
taken TO the regimental hospital to-day.
He is suffering from acute rheumatism.
Privates Luther Brothers and Charles
Massenburg, OF Company ID, received their
discharges yesterday.
Mr.. Epes Thinks He VIII Accept the
Result in the Fourth.