The record-union., 1898-03-17

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officers all found that there We're COM
plants Of insufficiency, but, as I pre-
dicted, this dissatisfaction greatly de-
creased, and before the expiration of
the eight days camp rations as issued
were very nearly sufficient.
The companies being now provided
with Buzzacott ovens and individual
mess outfits, prepared their own meals
their first cook being, generally, hired
man, assisted by an enlisted man
There was some dissatisfaction with
the Buzzacott oven, which / believe
from my own experience with the oven,
results largely from the lack of knowl
edge of its use. This was largely over
come by securing the services of en-
listed men from the regular army for
two of the encampments. Under their
instructions the results We're quite sat
isfactory.
DRILLS AND CEREMONIES.
Companies are required to have three
drills month, except in Decembc~.
Battalion drills have been held in all
the regiments The First Infantry, sta
toned entirely in San Francisco, has
had great advantages in this particu-
lar over other regiments, none Of which
| have more than two or three compan-
les located together, though the en-
campment brought them all together
ana very considerable progress was
made in battalion and regimental drills
All companies have made great inn
| provement IN close order drill, and with
the exception of two or three are en-
tirely proficient many drilling quite as
Well as companies of regular troops.
In extended order there has likewise
been great Improvement during the
year, and a greater number of com
panies have attained proficiency. The
encampments held during the year
have given the opportunity to begin
the work Of field exercises and in each
camp l tried to have some part Of the
eight days devoted to this class of
drill. This was necessarily limited.
owing, first. to the necessity of having
close order drills for the scattered regi-
ments; and. second to the misfortune
of having located two of the encamp-
ments in a town where it was absolute
ly impossible to obtain suitable ground
for maneuvering.
However, something new was under
taken, even in these latter. and the re-
suits in all were most satisfactory. Fol-
lowing the scheme determined upon be
fore the encampments. the greater part
of the drill was devoted to extended
order, forming for attack. patrols ad-
vance, and rear guards. and practical
problems illustrating the attack and
defense of positions and the contact
of advanced guards and opposing
forces. In all these exercises the endeav-
or was to show just how the forma-
ton should be made. the proper man
ner of marching troops, the necessity
of taking advantage OF cover and how
TO correctly dispose OF various ele-
ments Of command in combat Each
exercise was explained 10 all the Off
GERS before being undertaken Written
reports We're required from command
ing officers and umpires of problems.
which reports were thoroughly dis
cussed and commented upon before all
the officers.
The intelligent manner in which the
field maneuvers We're executed ana sub
sequently reported anc ~scussed was
highly satisfactorily, and showed that
great interest was taken by officers
and men: and from expressions heard
since the encampments [ am led to be-
Ieve that the National Guard camps
this year were the most successful ever
held
AS result Of the interest awakened.
some Of the regiment commanders are
! now arranging to assemble their com
mands for the bivouac over Saturday
night for an exercise in minor tactics
on the following Sunday l have Of
/ fered my services for all such occa-
sions, and viii endeavor to make them
both instructive and interesting. To
show the nature of the work done in
/ this direction, I inclose a few reports
and sketches of the patrol parties com
manded by non commissioned officers
/ and all Papers relating to the solution
/ OF problem in minor tactics.
GUARD DUTY.
recommended to regimental COM
/ manders the practice of guard duty
! while in barracks, so that upon going
/ into camp their men would have some
1 knowledge OF their duty on guard. The
camps are Of such short duration that
/ II IS impossible to make good sentines
/ OF green men, when they do only one
! tour Of guard duty during the encamp-
lnent. / devoted considerable time. es-
/ pecially al night, to the guards of the
/ various camps and found that very
/ 1eW officers and men were we'll in
! stfucted, though all were duly i'm
I pressed with the Importance of guard
/ duty, and quite willing to accept in
/ structions so that before the expira-
ton OF the camp much progress had
! been made in the performance of guard
/ duty
/ l am now endeavoring to introduce
! the custom of assuming the armory
/ TO be military post at all times when
( a company is on duty there. and hope
! that much good will result in the way
/ o. learning guard duty, the enforce
/ ment OF discipline, etc Only limited
amount of outpost duty was done in
/ connection with the field exercises in
two of the camps
TARGET PRACTICE.
Since my last report the scope of
target practice has been extended. This
! practice is all held at home stations
/ During the encampment considera BILE
practice was held, especially in the
! seventh Infantry In addition to this.
/ all the infantry companies held a COM
! peutlVe firing at the silhouette targets.
+ The scheme of firing having been ar
ranged by the Inspector General of Ri
| lie Practice, and consisted of firing at
! the target at known distances,
! twenty shots being fired between eco
| and 200 yards