USA > Pennsylvania > History of the First regiment infantry, National guard of Pennsylvania (Grey Reserves) 1861-1911, pt 2 > Part 6
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Critical observation as well as approving comment here fol- lows. extracted from the official report of Maj .- Gen. Samuel S. Sumner, U. S. A., who as colonel of the Sixth United States Cavalry, was detailed by the War Department as one of the inspecting officers :
The best evidence I saw of the efficiency in drill was on the day the major-general commanding paraded the division, including cavalry and artillery, and made a complete change of front in twenty minutes. All of Monday. Tuesday, and Wednesday were devoted to the inspection by regiment : the time devoted to each regiment was one hour and thirty minutes. The inspection was made by the adjutant-general and inspector-general. Each inspection was preceded by a review. The inspection was on general appear- ance (not of arms) and was very thorough. After inspection the regiment was drilled by the colonel. then by battalion by the majors, then by company by captains, and by platoon by the lieutenants: movements were made both in close and open order. The drill was carefully supervised by the several inspectors on duty, who are required to mark on efficiency. The inspection of arms takes place at an earlier date at the stations of the companies.
In conclusion, I wish to say that in my opinion the National Guard of Pennsylvania is a body of well-disciplined and efficient soldiers; active service would, of course, rub off some awkwardness and peculiarities that must always exist in men unaccustomed to daily military life, but in all essential matters they are prepared for any call made on them. The general tone and feeling is noticeably high. and the manly respect for rank and position shows a proper appreciation for obligations voluntarily a-sumed. The gradual promotion and the careful supervision over all appointments is perhaps the greatest factor in making this Guard proficient. and with such a system. it may be safely stated that the Guard is strongest as a unit under its own ofli- cers and when commanded by the generals they have learned to respect and obey.
Captain James A. Leyden. Fourth United States Infantry. another of the inspecting officers detailed from the line. thor- oughly and exhaustively speaks of the National Guard service in its minutest detail. the following brief extracts from his report give but slight indication of its completeness :
It has been shown that under the most adverse circumstances the Guard can be concentrated, fully equipped and supplied for service, in less than thirty-six hours.
In connection with the question of transporting troops it is not improper to record here a statement made by Mr. Frank Thomson, vice-president of the
1596
MARKSMANSHIP
427
Pennsylvania Railroad, in the presence of the major-general commanding the army, Governor Hastings. of Pennsylvania. Governor Lowndes, of Mary- land, and a number of staff officers. Mr. Thomson said : " In IS61 the railroad officials were happy when they succeeded in landing in Washington five or six thousand mien per day. To-day, the Pennsylvania Railroad, if it receives an order at midnight, can easily. without interfering with its regular traffic, land in Washington one hundred thousand men, from the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The same number could be transported to the lake frontier in the same time. . .
That service in the Guard is popular is evidenced by the remarkable pereentage (98.56) of men and officers present for duty at the Lewistown en- campment. There is no difficulty in recruiting. When a company becomes lax in its attention to duty. when its rating falls below a certain figure, it is promptly mustered out. Many applications are on tile for every place thus vacated. The discharge of an enlisted man for cause marks him unfavorably in the community from which he comes. .
So far as I had opportunity to observe there was unhesitating obedience to orders on the part of the enlisted men. Salutes were generally given in a soldierly manner. Blouses were not always kept buttoned when out of camp: salutes given in this condition were careless and slouchy. Some officers were observed who were as careless as the men in this matter.
Irregularities had erept into the methods of qualifying and returning scores, in many of the companies, so stated Col. Asher Miner, the newly appointed general inspector of rifle practice. in his first official report, and it was therefore deemed advisable, through radically different regulations, to not only increase the score required to obtain a sharpshooter's decoration, but as well to change the requirements for marksmen.
These were the material changes: The sharpshooter wa score 67 or over out of a possible 75 at 200, 300, and 600 yards, five shots at each range. The marksmen were divided into classes. The " first-class marksman " was to score 40 or over at 200 and 500 vards ; the " second-class marksman," 25 or over, and less than 40, at 200 and 500 vards: the " third-class marksman " (only first- year men). 30 or over at 100, 200, and 300 yards : each class five shots at each range. And for an assurance of accuracy the returns were more closely guarded. The official score-sheet, separate for eaelt class, was to be certified to by both marksinan and seorer, and to be accepted was required to be filed with the regimental inspector of rifle practice within two weeks after the score had been made.
The First Regiment qualified for the year 1896 622 officers and men out of an aggregate of 626: the four who failed practised faithfully, and did not fail from neglect or inattention. The 622
428
1896
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
total was made up of 9 sharpshooters. 93 first-class marksmen, 492 second-class mark-men, and 27 third-class marksmen. Of the sharpshooters, three were officers: Captain William S. Allen, B; Captain AArtemas W. Deane, D; and First Lieutenant William J. Storek, HI. The highest score, 72. was made by Sergeant William Dalton, H. There were but two in the State who made the pos- sible 75: Sergeant Geo. H. Schillinger. Company D, Fourth Regi- ment, and Sergeant-Major Geo. J. Britz, of the Eighth. At this time (1896) the First Regiment had veteran sharpshooters and marksmen, five to ten years, 161; ten years and over, 81; a total of 192-the second highest in the State. The Eighth Regiment led with 217.
Captain Thomas II. P. Todd, regimental acting inspector of rifle practice, in his annual report for 1896, exhibiting as it does a keen knowledge of an accurate acquaintance with his subject. referring to his selection of the regimental team to participate in the State rifle competition at Mt. Gretna, said concerning it:
The team selected by me was made up of the following named en- listed men, viz: First Sergeant H. L. Cooper. Company C, Sergeant H. S. Lewars, Company E; Private H. J. Mehard, Company C; Private T. F. Shonert, Company C; and Private James Stewart, Company E: all of whom were selected in con-equence of the average made by them (being the five highest) in practice competitions continuing from June 15 to August 21. Captain A. W. Deane and Private George F. Root, both of Company D. entered in the competition for places on the team, and desered to be com- mended for the interest taken by them in my efforts to procure a regimental team that has proved itself to be second to none in the State: and one which is an honor to the regiment and of which the regiment should feel proud.
At Mt. Gretna, August 26, this team won the regimental match in a contest with 19 competing teams by a score of 357, that being the third highest score ever winning this match. " Taking into consideration," said Captain Todd in his report, " the very strong winds that were blowing over the range at the time, which operated very much to the disadvantage of the shooters, I think this score is a great achievement." The winning of this match carried with it the State trophy, which went into the possession of the First Regiment to await future contests. The Thirteenth Regiment was second in the competition with a score of 998, and the Ninth Regiment third with a score of 337. Last year the match was won with a score of 334.
429
SUCCESSFUL RIFLE SHOOTING
The Third Brigade won the brigade match with a score of 1009. against the score of the First Brigade, 964, and of the Second, 945. The scores made by the five men from the First Regiment out of the twelve that made up the team were as follows : Stewart, 90; Shonert, 87; Mehard. S5; Lewars. 84; and Cooper. $4. Captain Todd seems quite determined that whatever censure there may be for the loss of the match, his people shall be fully exonerated. He treats of the matter in his report with no dis- position to be lenient :
In the brigade match the representatives from the First Regiment did all it was possible to do. under the existing conditions: but it is a well- known fact that five men in a team of twelve cannot win the match alone. Only one man outside of the First Regiment team made a score of SO or more. Porterfield, of the Fencibles, made 84. As to the balance of the team, the least said about it the better; it was improperly selected, and until members of team- are selected for their special fitness to shoot a gun, and in accordance with the averages made at Mt. Gretna, irrespective of the organizations they represent, possibly the First Brigade team may finally win a eup.
First Lieutenant E. Claude Goddard, inspector of rifle practice, Sixth Regiment, presented a very handsome gold medal for com- petition among the members of the teams of the First Brigade participating in the State rifle competitions at Mount Gretna, to become the property of the competitor winning it three times making the highest average during the week in the annual meets at Mount Gretna. It was won for the first time by Private H. J. Mehard. Company C. First Regiment, with the following scores : 90, SS, 91, 88, 85 == SS 2/; average.
The First Regiment again participated in the Morrell Trophy match on the First Regiment ritle range. The first-class regi- mental match, which carried with it the Morrell Trophy and four gold medals, was won by the First Regiment.
The command also participated in the several regimental eon- tests between teams of ten enlisted men from each company for three trophies and in six contests for the Mears-Wiseman trophies and medals. Besides the officers practised with the regulation revolver and participated in the revolver contests of the year.
The regiment was again honored by having five of its members selected to shoot on the State team in the Inter-State and Hilton Trophy matches shot at Sea Girt, New Jersey. Both matches were
430
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT. N. G. P.
1990
lost to Pennsylvania. the former won by Georgia, with a score of 1045, against Pennsylvania's No. 4, with a score of 992, and the latter by District of Columbia, with a score of 1010, with Penn- sylvania, on a score of 966, again in fourth place. The Pennsyl- vania team was led in both matches by H. J. Mehard in the Inter- State by a total score of 85, and in the Hilton Trophy with a total score of 93.
There was an incidental happening at one of the Mount Gretna matches of 1596 with a touch and flavor of romance that weaves for it a very pretty story. Through its lines run sentiment, sacri- fice, surrender, honor, manhood, that strengthen the tradition that a nation and a people make no mistake in their confidence in and dependence on the honor of the soldier; ready as he is with every sacrifice that no stain, however faint, shall blur his virtue or im- pair his worth. There is no better evidence of this than when he promptly yields and willingly surrenders a fairly adjudged right, when that right would have been another's, of which alone im- provident accident had deprived him.
The skirmish match, the winning of which carried with it its prize, known as the MeClellan Trophy, was within the grasp of the First Regiment's Mount Gretna team when it was wrested from it by the intervention of an unpreventable accident. Shon- ert in his S00-vard run over the range had scored 37 points in his sixteenth shot. when through no fault of his in some way unac- countable the eam latch of his rifle broke. That is all there was of it; there was no help otherwise. By an imperative rule that neither adversary could waive nor participant alter he must go back and do it all over again. He was gone in wind and weakened in nerve. It was not to be expected that after an 800-yard run he could immediately make another and shoot with equal success. Consequently. instead of the 57 points to his credit on the first run, he had but 21 on his second. This lost the match. for had the team been allowed to retain its 57 points made on Shonert's sixteenth shot, its total score would have been 369, while the score made by the winning regiment. the Sixteenth, was but 367. That the regiment had not lost confidence in its team nor the team confidence in itself was quite well established the following year, when it won this same skirmish match, with its MeClellan prize trophy, with the same team save one, C. Perey Smith in place of
431
CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENT
HI. S. Lewars, with the far superior score of 423, as against the Thirteenth Regiment's 801, second, and the Sixteenth Regiment's 379, third.
But this was not the only loss that followed in the wake of the Shonert broken cam lateh. The other was the one that wove about it the glamour of romance. gave it distinctive signifieance, and afforded it the opportunity to demonstrate how the sol- dier will not permit himself to be advantaged by his adver- sary's misfortune. One of the provisions of the order for the matches at Mount Gretna for this year was that the regi- mental team making the highest total for the week out of all the matches would be sent to Sea Girt to represent Pennsylvania at the State's expense in the Inter-State regimental match, a match that seems theretofore to have received but occasional and but seant recognition. If Shonert could have held the 57 points he had made when his cam latch broke, the First Regiment's team would have had the highest total for the week and won its place as Pennsylvania's representative in the Inter-State regimental match. But eredited as he was, with but 21 points made in the second run, it lost its lead, and by just 8 points the team of the Thir- teenth Regiment passed to the front. Its selection followed, and it was designated accordingly by the general inspector of ritle practice to stand for the State in this Sea Girt match.
When Colonel Miner in person made the announcement to Lieutenant Cox. the Thirteenth's inspector of rifle practice, that his team, having made the highest total of the week, had been selected to represent the State at Sea Girt in the Inter-State regi- mental match. his declination on behalf of his team was prompt. emphatic. and graceful. He felt, he said. that but for an accident happening to a rifle of one of the members of the team of the First Regiment. the success would have been theirs, that no honor could be worthily won that would have been another's, save for a some- thing that was no fault of his, that a common willingness to sur- render under such circumstances tended to preserve the dignity and reputation of the service. He felt, too, he said. that the First Regiment had this year the strongest team and one that would do the greatest honor to the State. So. with Private George F. Root. of Company D. and Corporal C. Perey Smith, of Company E. added to the team to complete the six, it was named as the repre-
432
HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1896
sentative for the Inter-State regimental match and the incident closed.
But the success that was promised did not materialize, for the First Regiment Georgia won with a total score of 1594, and the First Regiment Pennsylvania was third with a score of 1442. There were teams of two other regiments from Pennsylvania, there at their own expense, also competitors, the Twelfth with a score of 1229 and the Third with a score of 1211. The other teams competing were from two commands from the District of Columbia, a cavalry regiment from Georgia, and the Second. Third, and Sixth Infantry from New Jersey. Massachusetts was also represented in the other two Sea Girt matches.
When things did not go Captain Todd's way, he was always heard from. We now have opportunity to hear him speak with spirit and life in tones out of the monotonous strain of routine and detail. The quotation that follows is from his report for 1896 as acting inspector of rifle practice, First Regiment Infantry. The same quotation was also deemed of sufficient moment to be given place in part by Colonel Miner in his report for the same year, to which he adds his own comment as follows :
Massachusetts teams were allowed to shoot with special ritles instead of the military rifle with which all of their troops are armed; still the fact remains that it was impossible for us to win against the magnificent Georgia team, who, with the exception of one man, used the regulation Springfield rifle.
Here follows what Captain Todd said :
Our work at Sea Girt was very much more than fairly successful, in spite of the low scores recorded; but which were largely due to the con- tinuous gale of wind which swept the range, at times averaging 30 miles an hour, and requiring 3 to 315 points of wind at 500 and 600 yards; at 200 yards, it was almost impossible to stand still. These disadvantages coupled with the fact that we were compelled to shoot a strictly military rifle, as issued by the Ordnance Department of the United States, and service ammunition, against teams equipped with sporting ritles had much to do with our poor showing. District of Columbia used a special Springfield. 6 grooved, chambered for a 90-grain shell. and using a long-pointed bullet. of harder alloy: Georgia shot quick-twist Remington barrels on Springfield stocks and specially prepared ammunition; while Massachusetts caine down with the most ummilitary arm of the lot-a single-shot Winchester. 6 grooved, one turn in IS inches, chambered for 90-grain shell, and shooting a hard bullet of their own manufacture and loading: that they did not sweep the entire field is only accounted for by their lack of practice and familiarity with a new gun. If a man were to buy a long-range sporting rifle for the accurate work at 1000 yards, he could not buy a better weapon than the
433
SEA GIRT DOINGS
1597
one which the Massachusetts team used, barring the sights, which were the sune as those of the Springfield. With all these conditions to contend with. it was not to be expected that we would rank very high up in the list of teams-of which there were 14 in all-but it affords me pleasure to state that the First Regiment did nobly and secured third place with a seore of 1420 points out of a possible 1800. Georgia was first with 1594 and the Engineers of D. C. second with 1564. The scores of our team are as follows:
Known dis. Total
Skirmish
Total
Total
Private James Stewart
41
41
90
16S
250
Private H. J. Mehard.
39
37
76
89
S3
172
218
Private T. F. Shonert. .
42
38
SO
76
92
168
24S
Sergeant H. S. Lewars.
37
37
74
85
80
165
239
Private G. F. Root.
38
42
SO
67
85
152
232
Sergeant H. L. Cooper
42
40
82
47
74
121
203
239 235
474
946
1420
:
The regiment was again honored by having five of its members selected to shoot on the State team in the Inter-State military and Hilton Trophy matches; the conditions of which were practically the same as those attend- ing the regimental. Pennsylvania was too severely handicapped by guns and ammunition, and last, but not least, team organization, to make any kind of a showing. Under the present conditions of affairs at Sea Girt. where everything goes, the State can only hope to win out on some off year. With District of Columbia and Massachusetts using guns and am- munition that will make as fine targets as the best sporting rifles, it seems a waste of money and time to send a team to compete, when that amount would be used to better advantage in our own State competitions at Mount Gretna. Pennsylvania. The rules and regulations governing the New Jersey State Rifle Association are a veritable Chinese puzzle; intended to be a modified edition of Blunt's "Small Arms Firing Regulations." so con- structed as to mean almost anything. and allowing the executive officers the opportunity to discriminate in favor of those teams who have the largest representation and who most liberally patronize the individual matches.
The calendar of events for 1897 omits for the first time since 1$$1 participation in the presidential inaugural ceremonies. That it was not only in contemplation but determined upon, appears from the minutes of the Board of Officers' meeting of January 2, 1897, an extract from which reads: " The colonel having an- nounced that the regiment could attend the inauguration of Presi- dent MeKinley, it was decided on motion that we leave Philadel- phia as early as possible on the afternoon of March 3 and return leaving Washington as early as possible March 4." The project. however, failed of consummation. The First Regiment was not present. Indeed, the whole National Guard of Pennsylvania was conspicuous by its absence. This much-used phrase, intended to 28
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HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT, N. G. P.
1897
be paradoxical, was in fact not so much of a paradox here as it was really meant to be elsewhere. This absence of the Pennsyl- vania Guard on this occasion did not relieve it from the calmny and abuse that had followed its presence in Washington on all others. Hostile comment was as ripe, wrathful, and vituperative now when it was absent as it had been vengeful, unjust, and un- serupulous in assault when it was present. It so happened, though. that in this assault in its absence the Pennsylvania Guard was not without a champion and defender, and for this championship and defence the First Regiment for itself and its fellows took early opportunity to acknowledge recognition and signify appreciation.
The Washington correspondent of a Buffalo paper, in his story to his paper of the ceremonies incident to the inauguration of President MeKinley on March 4, 1897, had, as if casting about for the chance. thrown this fling at the Pennsylvania soldiers : " The absence of the Pennsylvania militiamen and their camp followers accounts in a large measure for the absence of rowdyism. The fear of insult or worse treatment at the hands of the brutal bullies who seem to comprise a large portion of the Guard of the Keystone State has at past inaugurations kept many people off the streets and away from the city."
But the character and worth and reputation that the Pennsyl- vania Guard had so earnestly aimed to secure had not gone for naught. Brig .- Gen. Peter C. Dovle, a resident of Buffalo, a citizen of high repute and soldier of distinction. a general officer of the National Guard of the State of New York, with but slight personal acquaintance in, but with full knowledge of the worth and character and reputation of the soldiers of his sister-State. would not permit of their being traduced and maligned in his own city without reply. He hastened to make answer through the columns of the public prints. It was no. perfunctory story. his answer. but a lengthy statement in which there was no stint in laudation of the Pennsylvania Guardsmen for their virtues as men or honor as soldiers. He characterized the harsh and unmanly criticism against them as unjust and unfair, and said that in his judgment and the judgment of all fair-minded men the Guard of Pennsylvania was "a well-drilled and disciplined division of troops commanded by competent officers and entitled to the respect and admiration of all good citizens."
435
THIRTY SIXTH ANNIVERSARY
It was therefore an opportunity, when General Doyle's pres- ence in Philadelphia was assured of for April the 19th, for Colonel Bowman to announce in his order for, and state in his othcial report of. the parade of the regiment on that day in commemoration of the thirty-sixth anniversary of its organization, that the regi- ment would be reviewed by " Brig .- Gen. Peter C. Doyle, com- manding Fourth Brigade. N. G. S. N. Y., in recognition of his soldierly and manly defence of the Pennsylvania soldiers against the newspaper attacks of his own city."
The parade was started at the usual afternoon hour with the Veteran Corps, about 100 strong, in its accustomed place on the right of the column. The regiment's strength neared the maxi- mum, the band had been enlarged to fifty pieces, and the field musie numbered forty. The route was as it had been for several years previous, and at the Union League General Doyle, specially designated as the reviewing officer. reviewed the column, witness- ing the dress parade that followed. General Doyle was also the guest of honor at the anniversary dinner of the Veteran Corps in the evening, where as the first speaker, acknowledging the eour tesies and hospitalities that had been so graciously bestowed, he repeated his high opinion of, admiration for, and confidence in the Pennsylvania Gnard. The occasion, with its covers for over three hundred, was marked by the presence of many guests of prom- inence and graced by the eloquent utterance of leading speakers.
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