The record-union., 1899-03-05

| tory condition and among these G is
perhaps entitled to- precedence upon the
point of merit; this refers to relative
merit upon the field; there are fewer
Icauses for criticism among these COM
paries than in the others; but upon
| the whole the condition of the pieces in
| the regiment was very satisfactory.
In the matter Of keeping books. re-
| turns, records ETC., this regiment stands
very high This statement briefly sum-
married the ascertained condition Of
things.
In few cases did Captains or their
officers examine into the cases of can
didates for the doctors attention at
sick call and before sending the men
| to the doctor.
| The laundry work of this command is
carried on in manner highly satisfac-
tory. This is due to the enterprise or
iginating within the regiment itself.
The course here pursued in this vitality
important matter might well be taken
as a guide for others.
There are two exchanges styled Can
teens in this regiment, one for each
quartet where the batta1ions are To-
Gated. At present one exchange council
supervises both, and as a result the
Captains in one quartet are not repre-
scented thereon. It is believed that a
council organized SO as to secure this
would be more satisfactory The rules
governing exchanges at posts in time
of peace cannot be too strictly con-
strued and applied to troops in cam
paign.
| This regiment is prepared to take the
field now, although it would be at con-
Siderable disadvantage on account of
the shortage in full equipments men
| toned, a deficiency which the proper
reg mental officers, it is reported, have
| tried and are now laboring to remedy.
There is a true military spirit per-
vading the regiment through the COM
missioned ranks. the influence of which
| is highly salutary. It is genuine pleas
ure to See the effects of it; the decorous.
orderly, efficient and military manner
| in which the affairs of the regiment are
conducted.
| From the brigade report of December
31st, have made the following extracts
concerning the strength and condition
of the California volunteers:
| Present-(Oficers)- Special duty 8, on
duty SO, staff 8, sick l. Total 45. En-
/ IlSlGQ utuf-opSCldl uuly lZC, OI ouly
975, sick IA, arrest 80 Total 1,2O4
Absent and Present-(Oficers)-
tached services 2, on leave 2. Grand
total 40. enlisted Men)-On leave 2,
sick in San Francisco or en- route IL.
Grand total 1,223.
! Since last report Zone month"; eight
men discharged for disability; three on
order and one died of disease.
As to the question of returning home,
1 think that the officers and men would
at any time be glad to receive sum
mons, Their families, business interests
and natural desire to exchange the
| inconvenience which they meet with
here, for the pleasures Of home, would
/ explain this. / doubt if any interroga-
ton would elicit a request to this eff
| feet The health quarters and living,
at present, are as good as it is possible
to expect, and the prospect of winning
new glories and a chance to fight has
quelled all idea and talk of return
ing. However, the hot season is COM
/ ing on, and it will go hard with our
men in camp, or in the field, and there
/ fore, if any action is proposed in this
matter, it should be settled immedi-
ately, so as to avoid the unfavorable
conditions here, and the discomforts at
| tendant upon travel on the transports
! in hot weather and during the typhoon
season.
| These points, think, cover. every mat
ter of interest to your office, and I
shall be glad to give you any further in
formation or explanation that you may
require.
| With relation to the Battery of Heavy
Artillery, I have had less opportunity
of seeing it and thus obtaining infor-
nation concerning it. Most of it ar
rived late in November, and has since
! formed part of the guard of Cavite.
Everything is quiet and orderly there,
and the health of these troops, I be-
lieve, is good. It is an important po-
sition and easily defended, and no one
doubts but that these troops will give
splendid account of themselves when
the opportunity presents. Yours very
respectfully,
WALTER S. MARTIN,
| Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de- Camp
| ~