The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-04
CAPTAIN MORGAN
 REPORTS ON A. N. |, First Regiment Ready to Take
 Field Any Time OFFICERS NEED TO STUDY William Wise, Confederate Veteran, Has Bullets Removed From Body
 After Forty Years-other
 Montgomery News.
OFFICERS NEED TO STUDY
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

Alabama National Guard.
 There are many things that might be changed for the better. Captain Morgan thinks, but he has made, as a whole. good report for the Alabama boys. He says some of the officers are much be- hiEd In knowledge and regrets that the law In the state Is not such as to force them to get better acquainted with their duties. He also calls attention to made quate equipment of the artillery, and says the Third infantry could take about half force into active service.
 The full text of the letter from Assistant Adjutant General Guilfoyle to General Brandon is given here:
 Washington, June 1. 1904. To the Adjutant General, State of Ala bama, Montgomery, Ala.
 Sir-I have the honor to communicate to you the following remarks of Capt. l A. S. Morgan. artillery corps, of his re- cent inspection of the organized militia of | Ale bana
 General Appearance-Generally the | troops presented a very neat appearance at inspection Many however. wore rus set shoes, with the blue uniform. One com pany was a decided exception in that 1t presented anything but neat appearance. The conditions of the uniforms generally was very good They were but little worn and were generally neat and well kept
 "All rifles, carbires and most of the re- volvers are practically new, having been issued only since the last inspection. With tut very few @, captions they were found in excellent conditions. The exceptions noted were where In few instances the email amount of rust had been allowed to gather on arms.
 Equipment Deficiencies.
 "There are many deficiencies in equip ment No organization is completely equipped. The cavalry have no canteens or mess kits. In their horse equipment, they have no carbtnes, scabbards, sad dle bags, surcingles, watering brides, halters, lariats, lariat straps, picket pens, nose-bags horse brushes. or curry combs The artillery have no blanket roll straps or blanket bags, eanteens. haversacks. or mess kits.
 .The first regiment of infantry have no field mess kits, except one company, C. The second regiment of infantry have no blanket bags or blanket roll straps, hav- ersacks, cantens, or field mess kits. The third regiment of infantry have no blanket bags or blanket roll straps, hav- ersacks, canteens or field mess kits. None of the individual troops, batteries or companies have any tentage, camp or kitchen utensils on hand.
 System of Discipline.
 "The system of discipline and instruc- ton are meant to conform strictly to those in the United States army. There Is, of course, a different discipline, or rather I should say that the outward form of discipline as observed In the reg ular army Is somewhat lacking. Yet the men of the various commands, due prob ably to their own sense of orderlness and good sense generally. are quick to obey orders It was noticed that many com panies of infantry drilled in single rank. It was explained that this was done because of the small numbers that con- stitute the single companies. At inspec- ton, however, all companies were re- quired to be formed as provided for in the drill regulations. St1lcty speaking, none of the organizations are fully equipped for active duty in the field.
 First in Good Shape.
 Put the First infantry is practically able to take to the field at any time at a few hours notice. It may be said of this regiment that for any local duty that they would be called upon to per- form in their own or neighboring state, they are sufficiently equipped.
 'rhe Third infantry is probably able to send half its companies provided for about as would be the first regiment, except that there are no canteens or haversacks. was told that the other organizations on the occasion of their annual encampment either borrowed camp and kitchen uten- sils of the other organizations, or hired a caterer, and l should therefore say that they would be unable to take to the field without more or less extensive prepara- ton in the way of securing equipment etc.
 Officers Should Study. ''Fo the most part the Alabama Nat ional Guard Is composed of young men between the ages of IS and 30 years, in- tellgent and well-meaning They are gen. orally earnest and anxious to learn, are drawn from every grade of society but are mainly composed of the better ele- ment of their respective communities. The officers are generally men of education, but some few of them, show a lamentable lack of knowledge of their duties. which a reasonable effort on their part will ) familiarize them with. The state code provides that an examination may be or dered to determine the competency of officers The defect in this provision ap- pears to re that 1t does not absolutely : require such examination and as a re- suit it~ has heretofore been practically a dead letter IL Is believed that strict observance. of the provision in all cases would prove very beneficial to the whole guard
 Drill Halls.
 Except in the cities of Mobile Mont gomery and Birmingham the drill hall and armories are too small for inside , drills in most cases. As a consequence many of the companies meet but once a month during the winter season for mus ter. to comply with the law and to enable them to draw their share of the state ap- propriation which amounts to $50 per com pany per quarter. As result of this many of the companies were poorly in- structed. although there were several en- couraging exceptions to this. The zeal of the officers and men is generally high. notably so in many instances. and from this time on to the period of their en- campment instructions and drill will be generally frequent. There can be no ques- ton of the entire reliability of the guard , of Alabama. taken whole in domestic emergencies
 Poor Armament.
 In conclusion, I would invite attention , to the miscellaneous collection that does duty for the armament of the artillery of the state. Each battery has two or more styles of guns, both of them obso- lete, and In many cases rendering these organizations of little value in emergen- cies. The different batteries have their arms and equipment in excellent shape and are apparently very good organiza- tions. but are more or less discouraged because of their lack of effective arma- ment I am of the opinion that If their present armament could be turned in and two 32 B. l.. rifles issued to each