Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-10
NATIONAL GUARD OF STATE
Complete Resume of the Militia
for the Past Two Years.
GEN. HARRIS BIENNIAL REPORT
Request for Additional Aid from
the Legislature.
The Past Reviewed and Recommendations
Made for the Future, With u Suggestion
That Encampments and Rifle Practice be
Provided for.

the report of the State military for the
past two years, which has been re-
ferred by the governor TO the General
Assembly. The report contains the
following:
In my last report / called attention
to the fact that the mauy changes
which had taken place 10 the National
Guard OF our State, should bring them
to favorable consideration OF our Legis-
lature; such it did, but hardly on the
lines, nor to the extent. that we. who
have worked with pride to hold MP
and encourage such an organization,
expected. Those of US who, with
much interest, have watched the re.
suits of muster out OF troops from
the Spanish "a mericsn War, congratu
late ourselves IN the fact, that while o
general decay set in, we have suffered
as little as any other State; but we
have hold out to our soldiery the e2.
treme probability that the Legislature
would be more generous to them, and
SO amend the pretent laws, as to give
them an increased appropriation and
an enoampment of one week 10 each
year. The advisability of this, yes, the
necessity of such action, cannot longer
be questioned, If it is the desire OF the
State to have an efficient military
force. The neglect of thus schooling
the soldier was quickly realized 10
1893, when it was plain that call for
troops would shortly be made. Steps
were at onos taken to put them In the
field for tbat training Of which they
had so long been robled. MsyS.-it be
said to the credit OF this Legislature,
that it will no longer see this worthy
organization Of the State so poorly pro-
tected. Had our troots been ordered
at once to the front, the results would
have, no doubt, been appalling, from
| the fact they we're not permitted to
have any field practice. aud, in no in
stance, had they the information neces
sary to take care Of themselves In the
field. Officers and men alike were
totally unqualified for duty, further
than handling company or possibly a
battalion. For these reasons / hope
that the preset Legislature will adopt
measures Of relief that will bring suc-
cess to the organizations aud just
pride to those making this success
possible. They are a loyal, worthy set
Of men, and deserve your confidence.
The organization and strength of the
National Guard of the State as per
inspection Just completed, is as follows
General staff, commissioned, IL; general
staff, non commissioned, g.; field and
staff, commissioned, o; field and staff,
non-oommissioned 4; band, tenliated /,
%; 90. A, commissioned, warranted
and priyates. 45; Co. b, Oh; Go. @, As;
Co. L, -; Go. II, 40; Co. 6. As; Co.
H. so; %. K, 80; total strength, 372.
The guard is organized as follows
General statf-One regiment Of In.
fantry; seven companies and one band.
The law authorizes 10 companies,
which will. no doubt, soon be mustered
into the service. Since my last report
have mustered out of service Co. /.
Co. E failing to appear for inspection
was ordered mustered out Of the ssrs ice
on December 10th. since my last re.
port there have been 16 commissions
granted ard II resignations received
and accepted. Upon his own request
Col i. Pusey Wickersham was retired
from service by reason of &c neral
Orders No. 3, A. q. o., dated Feb.
ruary 18th, 1899, and in accordance
with Section "a Of the Rules and
Regulations governing the National
Guard OF the State. There has been
no duty performed other than parade,
target practice, battalion and c1mpany
drills. / desire TO again call attention
to the matter Of the armory roof. In
1897 an appropriation was passed for
payment of certain bills OF repair te
the arlnory. Attention was then called
TO the roof. 1t was decided with q
little patching up 1t would last for q
year. 1t is now in dep!orable Gun.
dition and some attention must bt
given 1t during this Legislature OIL
before another oonvenes it will have
fully gone. new boiler should 10
place the old one now in use US it il
quite too small land old to longer
supply necessary heat to the entire
building.
must again call attention to thu
Military Records of the State. This
has been done SO ofton without gooc
again taking the matter UP. Were il
not that am prompted, from o, sens,
OF duty to niv State, | would not. Thl
War Of 1861 to 1865, the Revolutionar,
War, the War of 1912, the MexicHr
War, should all BIS on file in this office
Such IL not the case, thereby causing
embarrassment many times not only T.
| thcf bdh " NY FREDERICKSBURG az WNil,
There is no better time to take this
matter up than the present. 81
In my last report | submitted my
views on an increase Of two infantry
companies, so that we might have /
proper regimsnta formation OF 10 com
panic, or three battaIions OF four com
panies each. This, when d ne. woult
allow US to conform to The regula
army. An increased appropriation O
$1,000, carrying with it permission FOL
the National Guard to have one week "A
encampment, in each year, is neces
sary. i cannot too strongly urge this
as IN the school of the soldier as pro
vided today under our law, the presen
appropriation is absolutely inadequat,
and 20 good results can be obtained
unless the field for information b,
broadened.
AS this closes my term of office al
adjutant general; most respectful,
ask for my, successor better compensa
tion for the many duties imposed OF
| him. 1t IS not right, nor is it just
that this officer, WITH his duties ant
responsibilities, should be paid les
than sl,000 per year. A contineen
fund should be set aside. subject Il
the draft OF the governor, for the pur
pose of paying legitimate and neosssar,
expenses incurred by him and his stat
when called upon to represent tb,
State away from home The yer,
humiliatIng position of thus represent
ing the State at your own expense i
not right and should not be allowed.
In view Of tho fact that the needs o
the National Guard Ito perfect it an,
make ii success) are many ant
varied, | would respectfully recon