The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-19
INSTRUCTIONS BY A REGULAR.
GUARDS GIVEN POINTERS ON SOL
DER LIFE.

DER LIFE.
/ Corporal Feeny of the Fifth U. 8.
l. Infantry Teaches the Ncn-COmmis-
| stoned Officers the Latest Thing in
Folding Overcoats, PacI<ing KNAPP
sacks and Fitting Up shelter Tents.
Uncle Snm's Boys VIII Have Plenty
| of weight to Carry.
Some of the non-commisstoned officers
of the Savannah Volunteer Guards bat
| talon received instructions last night
from Corpl. Feeny of the Fifth Regi:
ment United States Infantry, in several
| important details relating to campaign
work. These instructions consisted chiefly
| of the latest approved methods of folding
overcoats and packing blanket bags, and
! also the erection of the new shelter tents.
Corpl. Feeny's regiment is stationed at
| Mcpherson barracks, Atlanta, but he has
been on duty here with the Carter court
martial for some time. He proves to be a
very competent instructor.
Instead of the old and somewhat awk-
ward way of folding overcoats by rolling
forward and fastening by means of a
button on the cape, Corporal Feeny showed
the non-coms much simpler method
The overcoat is folded over, one half upon
the other with the cape inside. The lower
ends are again folded over upon the body,
bringing The sides straight all the way
down, the width being about fourteen
inches. The lower or tail end is then
brought forward about nine inches. The
coat Is then tightly grasped at the neck
and rolled couple of times, bringing 1t
to the lap formed by bringing the rear end
forward. The sides of the coat having
been folded in at the bottom the lap forms
pocket into which the roll is pushed and
the result is a neat and compact roll. The
half of a shelter tent was then rolled
around the overcoat, making large white
roll which was strapped upon the blanket
bag. The blanket bag had been previously
packed by neatly folding the blanket
around the extra suit of underwear and
other contents which the sol
der is required to carry in
the bag while on the march. The
extra pair of shoes which are also requir-
ed to be carried. were damned in, one on
each side, at the top of the bag. Then the
two halves of the shelter tent stick were
pushed in one on each side. They project
ed like the horns of a big caterpillar.
When the overcoat and tent roll had been
strapped on top of the bag, however, this
effect was lost.
Sergt Dick Cubbedge of Company c then
shouldered the bag. His conclusion was
that it would not be the pleasantest bur
den in the world to carry. Corpl. Feeny
gave the comforting information that the
full weight carried by the soldier when In
heavy marching order, including 100 rounds
of ammunition and everything except the
gun and uniform, is 43 to A pounds. Zen
mics day is good marching with such a
load he said.
There was a feeling of relief when the
corporal illustrated the method of wrap
ping the blanket, extra clothing and other
necessaries carried in the half-tent and
forming the whole into a roll which can
be worn around the body. This Is the
manner in which the regulars prefer to
carry their baggage. he stated, and the
general verdict of those present was that
Il would be a much more satisfactory way
than the blanket bag method. The over
coat can also be included in this roll or
II can be worn in a separate roll, travers-
ing the tent roll across the body.
An interestin exhibition by Corpl
Feeny was that of erecting the shelter
tent. In campaigning two comrades divide
tent each carrying half. The two
sticks or uprights which support the tent
each consist of two pieces, which can be
separated and each man carries two of
these halves. Each man also carries five
tent pegs. When the tent is erected which
can be done very quickly by fastening the
two halves together and planting the
sticks and pegs in the ground in their
proper positions. the tent stands about
four feet high in the center and covers
a space about feet square In the shape
of a broad A. The front of the tent is
left open. 1t can be closed with the rub
Der ponehos carried by the soldiers or an
other tent can be erected joining it and
thus closing the front of both.
Col. Garrard and several members of the
staff witnessed the illustrations, and were
very much interested. Corpl. Feeny's
Instructions were very effective, and 1t is
safe to say that every member of the
Guards will be folding his overcoat in
the new style before very long,