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West Virginia University Libraries
3 0802 101571976 1
BIENNIAL REPORT THE ADJUTANT GENERAL WEST VIRGINIA 1915-16
W 353.9 W52 1914/16 c.2
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LIBRARY WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
This book must not be taken from the Library building.
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1
REPORT OF
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
OF
WEST VIRGINIA
1915-16
Library West Virginia University
TRIBUNE PRINTING CO., CHARLESTON, W. VA.
1
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Charleston, W. Va., July 15, 1916.
HONORABLE H. D. HATFIELD, Governor,
Charleston, West Virginia:
SIR :
Pursuant to section 19, chapter 1, Acts of the Legislature of 1913, I have the honor to submit herewith the report of The Adjutant Gen- eral for the biennial period ending June 30, 1916. Brigadier- General Charles D. Elliott was the Adjutant General from July 1, 1914, to July 15, 1914, when the undersigned assumed the duties of the office.
JOHN C. BOND,
The Adjutant General.
722226
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THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD
The West Virginia National Gaurd consists of State Headquarters, two regiments of Infantry and attached medical officers and sanitary troops, all recognized by the War Department. On December 31, 1915, the date of the last annual report to the War Department, and on which allotments to the State are based, the total strength was 113 officers and 1,643 enlisted men. The strength of the First Infantry was 45 officers and 711 enlisted men, with Machine Gun Company and Com- panies A and E vacant. The strength of the Second Infantry was 49 officers and 890 enlisted men, with all companies organized. . The Sanitary Detachment, First Infantry, consisted of 4 officers and 23 men, and that of the Second Infantry of 4 officers and 19 enlisted men. The State Headquarters consisted of 11 officers.
New Organizations.
Since the last report of this department three companies and a band have been disbanded because of unsatisfactory conditions and failure to maintain the required standard of efficiency.
Following the armory inspection, 1915, by an officer of the United States Army, Company A, First Infantry, at Weston, and Company E, First Infantry, at Piedmont, and the Band, First Infantry, at Fair- mont, were disbanded. To fill these vacancies, Company A was organiz- ed at Clarksburg, Company E at Grafton and the Band at Clarksburg.
Following the armory inspection, 1916, company F, Second Infantry, at Fayetteville, was disbanded, and a company was being organized at Williamson to fill the vacancy at the time of the mobilization in June, 1916.
Under new Federal regulations, Headquarters and Supply Com- panies were organized in each regiment and a Machine Gun Company was organized in the Second Infantry. A Machine Gun Company was be- ing organized for the First Infantry at the end of the period covered by this report.
Maneuvers and Encampments.
A joint camp of instruction for the two regiments was held with regular troops at Camp Dawson, Cadell, in August, 1914.
In August, 1915, the entire National Guard of the State attended a state camp of instruction at Camp Hatfield, Parkersburg. Both camps were successful and resulted in much good training for the National Guard. The encampment at Parkersburg was visited by the Command- er-in-Chief and was, I believe, the most successful camp ever held in the State.
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
[W. VA.
Prior to the time it was planned to hold the encampment in 1916, the Second Infantry was moblized for Federal service, and it was thought advisable to have the camp of instruction of the First Infantry in connection with the mobilization. Therefore orders were issued for the First Infantry to assemble on June 27, 1916, and proceed to Camp Kanawha near Charleston for that purpose. This regiment was in camp at the end of the period covered by this report.
Rifle Practice.
Owing to a lack of funds it has been necessary to hold outdoor rifle practice in connection with the annual camps of instruction. This should be discouraged, as it seriously interferes with other instruction and with discipline. There should be sufficient appropriation to hold rifle camps of instruction separate and .apart from the annual field camps of instruction.
Each organization should have a small rifle range at its home station, and steps have been taken to carry this out as far as possible.
State Rifle Teams.
Since 1905 rifle teams representing the West Virginia National Guard have participated in the National matches held under the direction of the War Department. In 1913 the West Virginia team was in 17th place. In 1914 Divisional team matches were held, West Virginia winning 9th place among the various teams in all divisions. The Divi- sional matches were not a success; and in 1915 the War Department decided to follow the former custom and hold one match for the entire country at State Camp, Florida, and to use the rating of 1913 as a basis for this match. The West Virginia team at the 1915 match won 14th place, which was a remarkable showing when it is considered that the members of the West Virginia National Guard have had few ad- vantages in rifle practice.
The State should continue to send teams to participate in the National Matches, as this more than any one thing stimulates interest in rifle practice.
Inspector-Instructors.
Major Isaac C. Jenks, Infantry, U. S. A., was on duty as Inspector-In- structor with the West Virginia National Guard until August, 1914, when he was succeeded by Major William Wallace, Infantry, U. S. A. Both have imparted valuable instruction to the National Guard.
Federal Legislation.
On June 3, 1916, the President of the United States approved an Act of Congress "for making further and more effective provision for the National defense and for other purposes." By this Act what was form- erly recognized as the Organized Militia of the various states becomes, under certain conditions, the National Guard of the United States. The new law federalizes the Militia and is a radical departure from the old system.
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REPORT OF ADJUTANT GENERAL
1916.1
Under this law a state can only maintain such troops as the Presi- dent may prescribe. A dual oath of allegiance to the President and to the Governor of the state is prescribed, which must be taken by officers and enlisted men before Federal recognition will be extended to organizations. The law provides Federal pay for drill and instruct- ion under regulations to be prescribed by the War Department. These regulations are now being drawn and will become effective as to the National Guard of this State. Already orders have been issued relative to the new form of oath.
A Critical Situation.
The life or death of the National Guard of this and other states will largely depend upon the regulations prescribed by the War Depart- ment for carrying into effect the National Defense Act.
Too much credit cannot be given those men who for years have asso- ciated themselves with the National Guard. They are the true patriots of the country. At great personal sacrifice they have done more than their part-while the great majority remain indifferent-to. make it possible for the country to have at least the nucleus of a trained force for the country's defense. They have received their training at the sacrifice of much time and money. It is not contemplated that their military training shall have been as thorough as that of the Regular lack of appreciation of the efforts of the members of the National Guard duties and could give to this training only a limited time, but it is certainly a long step in the right direction, and the National Guard is unquestionably the most practical plan for a citizen soldiery.
Each member of the West Virginia National Guard is doing the military duty that 200 abled bodied men would be required to do under a system of universal military training. It did not take a war in Europe to make these men realize the necessity for such training. There are men in the West Virginia National Guard with more than twenty years continuous service. Through all these years they have steadily gone ahead without hope of reward, willing to risk their lives for their country and state, with a dearth of moral support from the people whom they have served most faithfully, complacently accepting the unjust criticism which has been so generously given. There is apparently a Army. They have had to earn a livelihood aside from their National Guard. The situation has at times been most discouraging to those within the organization.
The Act of June 3, 1916, will, if properly administered give to the National Guardsman at least a partial recompense for the time he gives to the work of training. On the other hand the law can be adminis- tered in a way which will sound the death knell of the National Guard. Regulations can be prescribed with which it would be impossible to comply. Apparently Congress meant to encourage and develop the National Guard. The enforcement of the law and the matter of prescrib- ing the regulations to carry out its provisions are in the hands of the War Department.
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
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The Army's Opposition.
There is aparently some grounds for the general feeling existing in the National Guard that officers of the United States Army, especially those on the General Staff who advise the Secretary of War, are opposed to the National Guard and desire to see it perish. The provisions of the National Defense Act favorable to the National Guard were not pro- cured without strong opposition, even the "Continental Army" chimera being espoused with a view to putting the National Guard on the shelf. This opposition, which is not justified, has not abated; and if persons opposed to the National Guard are permitted to say what the regula- tions and requirements under the new law are to be, the members of the National Guard-the greatest patriotic organization in the country- might just as well quit and join the innumerable throng who are appar- ently indifferent to the country's dangers and needs. But we hope that the new law will be administered in a fair and just manner, so that the National Guard will take on new life and become an organi- zation which will soon receive the encouragement and support it so justly merits.
It is the intention of the Adjutant General, with the Governor's con- currence, to comply with all the provisions of the new law as the regu- lations are promulgated by the War Department; and in my opinion the West Virginia National Guard will continue to rank among the best in the country.
Universal Training.
Much has been said within the past year about universal military training and compulsory military service. £ That would be an ideal situation for defense with every able-bodied man a trained soldier; but I doubt if the country is ready to accept such a system at this time. People of the United States are democratic, and are opposed to anything which might result in a military aristocracy or caste. In a system of universal military training there should be some obligation of service. If a system of universal training is to be adopted in this country the National Guard offers, in my opinion, the proper medium through which such training can be given.
Mobilization for Federal Service.
On June 18, 1916, the President of the United States ordered a mobilization of most of the National Guard of the country. The Presi- dent's call, through the Secretary of War, reached the Governor of West Virginia on the morning of June 19, and required that one regi- ment of infantry be furnished by this State. After a consultation with the Governor I immediately issued orders for the Second Infantry to assemble at home stations, pursuant to the President's call; and on June 23 the regiment called was mobilized at Kanawha City, near Charleston.
The Second Infantry was selected because it was the ranking regi- ment and because its organization was complete, while two companies of the First Infantry were then being organized. I took up with the
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REPORT CF ADJUTANT GENERAL
1916.]
War Department the matter of calling also the First Infantry-the membership of this organization desiring active service-but received no encouragement in the matter. In order that this regiment might be ready in case it was also called for service, it was ordered to the mobilization camp for its annual camp of instruction on June 27.
Place of Mobilization.
Upon assuming the duties of the office of Adjutant General I found that Terra Alta had been designated as the point for mobilibation of the West Virginia National Guard in case of a call for Federal ser- vice. Early in the year 1916 I took up with the War Department the matter of changing the place of mobilization because of climatic condi- tions, railway facilities and the location of the State Tuberculosis Sanitarium on the site on which it was intended should be used at Terra Alta, but no final action was taken at that time.
The President's proclamation for the mobilization left it with the Commanding General, Eastern Department, to designate the place in West Virginia. After consulting the Governor I requested that the mobilization be at Kanawha City, near Charleston, instead of Terra Alta. This request was approved by Major General Leonard Wood, command- ing the Eastern Department, on June 20. On June 28, after the Second Infantry was in the mobilization camp at Kanawha City, I was ordered to move the camp to Terra Alta. Again the impracticability of a mob- ilization there was pointed out to the War Department, but at the end of the period covered by this report no further orders had been issued.
On June 30, 1916, the Second West Virginia Infantry was awaiting muster-in for Federal service, and the First Infantry was in a camp for instruction. It is my intention to make a special report to the Gover- nor covering the mobilization, and this matter will be given detailed attention in my next biennial report, where it more properly belongs.
Our Great Need.
Aside from an appropriation for current expenses the greatest need of the West Virginia National Guard is that suitable armories be provided for the various organizations at their home stations.
The State does not own any of the buildings used by the National Guard. All the armories have to be rented and this eats up $17,000 annually of our appropriation. This seems a needless waste of money. The rents of the past fifteen years would be sufficient to provide a sat- isfactory armory for every organization, owned by the State, and this property would continue to increase in value.
We have to pay big rent for buildings seldom suited to our purposes, while if proper armories were provided the companies could be main- tained much easier and a greater, pride be taken by the officers and enlisted men.
A start should be made in this matter. If each legislature will provide for constructing three or four armories this problem will be settled within a few years. The Governor called attention to this matter in his message to the last regular session of the legislature. Storage
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
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facilities for property under the present system is such as to' cause us to receive adverse reports from Inspectors.
Appropriations.
For the past few years the annual appropriation for this department has been $65,000. More than one-fourth of this amount is paid out in armory rents and the balance is not sufficient to hold the various schools of instruction such as are held in adjoining states, with whom we must compete. It is only through the tireless efforts of energetic officers that, under the circumstances, we are able to maintain our standard of effi- ciency. When the regular session of the legislature of 1913 adjourned, no appropriation for this department was provided for the following two years; and while this appropriation was provided for at an extra- ordinary session a few months later, much injury was done the National Guard because the members in the meantime lost heart in their work, feeling that no appropriation would be provided.
Board on Claims.
In January, 1916, a Board of Officers was convened to investigate claims on account of injuries incurred in line of duty. The recommen- dations of this board are made a part of this report.
Relations with Commander-in-Chief.
The relations of this department with the Governor have been most pleasant. The Governor has taken an active interest in the National Guard, and has usually left matters pertaining to this department to the recommendation of the Adjutant General.
Reports and Papers Attached.
(A) Roster cf officers and organizations.
(B) General Orders issued.
(C) Circulars issued.
(D) Scores of State Rifle Team.
(E) Recommendations of Board on Claims.
(F) Financial Statement.
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REPORT OF ADJUTANT GENERAL
1916.]
IN MEMORIAM
MAJOR BUCKNER FAIRFAX SCOTT Born July 7, 1876 Died February 21, 1916
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
[W. VA.
ROOSTER OF OFFICERS AND ORGANIZATIONS
June 30, 1916.
STATE HEADQUARTERS.
Hon. H. D. Hatfield, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Charleston.
Brigadier General John C. Bond, The Adjutant General, Charleston.
Major Charles R. Morgan, Quartermaster Corps, Charleston.
Major Cuthbert A. Osborn, Inspector General's Department, Clarksburg. Major Charles 1. Wood, Ordnance Department, Charleston.
Major Harry W. Keatley, Medical Corps, Huntington.
Captain Gustavus H. Wilson, Quartermaster Corps, Kingwood.
Captain Elwood C. Charnock, Quartermaster Corps, Wellsburg.
Captain John W. Mason, Jr., Quartermaster Corps, Fairmont. First Lieutenant William M. Dickerson, Medical Corps, Huntington.
FIRST INFANTRY.
Colonel Clarence F. Jolliffe, Knob Fork.
vLieutenant Colonel Robert L. Osborn, Clarksburg. Major Jackson Arnold, Weston. Major John W. L. Stewart, Littleton. Major Edward B. Carskadon, Fairmont.
Captain Benjamin F. Cole, I. S. A. P., Kingwood.
Captain Claude H. Layman, Adjutant, Fairmont.
Captain Rollo J. Conley, Commissary. Fairmont.
Captain Leonard H. Jones, Quartermaster, Sabraton.
Captain Aaron M. Buchanan, Chaplain, Morgantown. First Lieutenant Claude W. Gore, Battalion Adjutant, Clarksburg. First Lieutenant Thomas J. Blair, Jr., Battalion Adjutant, Charleston. First Lieutenant Richard E. Carskadon, Battalion Adjutant, Headsville. Second Lieutenant Howard O. Charnock, Battalion Quartermaster, Wellsburg. Second Lieutenant Ercil F. Casseday, Battalion Quartermaster, Terra Alta.
Second Lieutenant Paul M. Kyle, Battalion Quartermaster, Clarksburg.
MEDICAL CORPS.
Major Zadoc T. Kalbaugh, Piedmont.
Captain William A. Wykel, Hinton.
Captain James A. Rusmisell, Buckhannon.
First Lieutenant William E. Ford. Keyser.
COMPANY A, CLARKSBURG.
Captain Alfred B. Powell. First Lieutenant James C. McManaway. Second Lieutenant Richard M. Winfield.
COMPANY B, SUTTON.
Captain Robert T. Colebank. First Lieutenant Daniel G. Simmons. Second Lieutenant Clyde Heater.
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REPORT OF ADJUTANT GENERAL .
1916.]
COMPANY C, BUCKHANNON.
Captain Joseph C. Berry. First Lieutenant Russell Rollins. Second Lieutenant James L. Harvey.
COMPANY D, LITTLETON.
Captain Hamilton Bogard. First Lieutenant Lawrence G. Thomas.
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Second Lieutenant Earl Null.
COMPANY E, GRAFTON.
Captain Charles E. Burke. First Lieutenant Smith Ringer. Second Lieutenant
COMPANY F, MARTINSBURG.
Captain George L. Wever. First Lieutenant George F. Whitmore.
Second Lieutenant Ambrose L. Anderson.
COMPANY G, KINGWOOD.
Captain Marshall E. Martin. First Lieutenant Kenneth F. Hanst.
Second Lieutenant Arnold J. McGinnis.
COMPANY H, FAIRMONT.
Captain Francis Thralls. First Lieutenant Clemens J. Straight.
Second Lieutenant Leonidas B. Linger.
COMPANY I, FAIRMONT.
Captain A. D. Bell. First Lieutenant Nathan G. Mathews.
Second Lieutenant Odar A. Watson.
COMPANY K, CLARKSBURG.
Captain Glenn F. Williams. First Lieutenant Charles P. Boughner.
Second Lieutenant Clarence W. Vannort.
COMPANY L, MORGANTOWN.
Captain Charles C. Robison. First Lieutenant Francis G. Ash.
Second Lieutenant Eugene E. Evans.
COMPANY M. TERRA ALTA.
Captain Charles H. Freeland. First Lieutenant David W. McVicker. Second Lieutenant William L. Freeland.
HOSPITAL CORPS, PIEDMONT.
Major Z. T. Kalbaugh.
BAND, CLARKSBURG.
Chief Musician Harvey L. Gregory.
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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
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SECOND INFANTRY.
Colonel Charles E. Morrison, Parkersburg.
VLieutenant Colonel John H. Charnock, Wellsburg. Major Lester Ridenour, Ward.
Major Herbert C. McMillen, Huntington. Major Heber H. Rice, Huntington.
Captain Charles S. Jackson, Adjutant, Parkersburg.
Captain Charles H. Bell, Quartermaster, Parkersburg.
Captain Roy H. Evans, Commissary, Charleston. Captain Antoine A. Gaujot, I. S. A. P., Williamson.
First Lieutenant William T. Willis, Chaplain, Charleston.
First Lieutenant Charles F. Templeton, Battalion Adjutant, Huntington.
First Lieutenant Gustavus A. Northcott, Battalion Adjutant, Huntington.
First Lieutenant Halleck M. Scott, Battalion Adjutant, Beckley.
Second Lieutenant Everett F. Brooks, Battalion Quartermaster, Parkersburg.
Second Lieutenant Bruce S. Cook, Battalion Quartermaster, Charleston. Second Lieutenant Nicholas S. Caldwell, Battalion Quartermaster, Huntington.
MEDICAL OFFICERS.
Major Francis T. Ridley, Bluefield.
Captain Walter W. Point, Charleston.
First Lieutenant Frank M. Kearns, Hundred.
First Lieutenant Joseph W. Lyons, Huntington.
COMPANY A, PARKERSBURG.
Captain James A. Watson. First Lieutenant Charles R. Johnson.
Second Lieutenant Levin Smith, Jr.
COMPANY B, RAVENSWOOD.
Captain William L. McCowan. First Lieutenant Wilmer Blackburn.
Second Lieutenant John R. Carmichael.
COMPANY C, CHARLESTON.
, Captain Tom C. Davis. First Lieutenant Harold B. Cornwell. Second Lieutenant Cameron C. Lewis, III.
COMPANY D, SPENCER.
Captain Harry Iolswade. First Lieutenant Charles D. Riley.
Second Lieutenant Wilbert J. Cunningham.
COMPANY E, PARKERSBURG.
Captain Walter W. White., First Lieutenant Howard E. DeVaughn. Second Lieutenant Fred M. Cochrane.
COMPANY F, FAYETTEVILLE-WILLIAMSON.
Captain Alfred D. Roberts. First Lieutenant Norman W. Curry. Second Lieutenant James O. Lakin.
COMPANY G, HUNTINGTON. Y
Captain Valkey W. Midkiff. First Lieutenant August C. Reinwald. Second Lieutenant John Esque.
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REPORT OF ADJUTANT GENERAL
1916.]
COMPANY H, HUNTINGTON.
Captain Austin M. Sikes. First Lieutenant Delbert Fisher. Second Lieutenant Clyde E. Braden.
COMPANY I, HUNTINGTON.
Captain Ira J. Barbour. First Lieutenant Charles E .. Chapman.
Second Lieutenant Albert H. Peyton.
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COMPANY K, WELCH.
Captain William E. Eubank. First Lieutenant Howard F. Wehrle.
Second Lieutenant George G. Bratt.
COMPANY L, BLUEFIELD.
Captain Clifton L. Bailey. First Lieutenant Douglas Bailey.
Second Lieutenant William E. McCray.
COMPANY M, CHARLESTON.
Captain George M. Ford.
First Lieutenant Augustus S. Guthrie.
Second Lieutenant Davis II. Estill.
HOSPITAL CORPS, BLUEFFELD.
Major Francis T. Ridley.
BAND, MARTINSBURG.
Chief Musician L. DeW. Gerhardt.
GOVERNOR'S HONORARY STAFF.
With rank of Brigadier General :
John C. Bond, Adjutant General, Chief of Staff, Charleston. H. M. Kimberland, Paymaster General, Wheeling. Clarke Hamilton, Chief of Ordnance, Wheeling. S. W. Patterson, Commissary General, Vivian. George C. Baker, Judge Advocate General, Morgantown. W. F. Hite, Quartermaster General, Huntington. F. P. Grosscup, Inspector General, Charleston. J. Howard Anderson, Surgeon General, Marytown.
W. D. Ord, Chief of Engineers, Landgraff. Noyes S. Burlew, Chief Signal Officer, Charleston.
AIDES-DE-CAMP.
With rank of Colonel :
Berkeley County-Nat T. Frame, Martinsburg ; Gray Silver, Martinsburg ; Max von Schlegell, Martinsburg.
Braxton County-Amos Bright, Sutton.
Brooke County-Walter G. Banfield, Follansbee ; Thomas J. Sherrard, Wellsburg. Cabell County-J. E. Pedigo, Huntington ; F. H. Tyree, Huntington.
Fayette County-S. A. Scott. Macdonald ; J. A. Boone, Nuttall.
Grant County-D. P. Ilendrickson, Petersburg.
Greenbrier County -- Lawrence Perin, White Sulphur Springs.
Hampshire County-A. M. Mckeever, Romney.
Harrison County-H. B. Curtin, Clarksburg; A. K. Thorn, Clarksburg; S. S. Farris, Bridgeport.
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Jefferson County-George H. Childs, Harpers Ferry.
Kanawha County-John Laing, W. T. Williamson, Grant P. Hall, Dr. V. T. Churchman, H. M. Bertolet, J. W. Dawson, Dr. G. A. MacQueen, W. M. Puckett, P. A. Simpson, M. T. Roach, C. A. Cabell, H. P. Brightwell, Wm. Freudenberger, Leigh Harrison, Samuel E. Bowen, Charleston.
Lewis County-W. S. Woodell, Weston.
Logan County-Naaman Jackson, Logan.
Marion County-Smith Hood, Fairmont ; Dr. J. O. McNeeley, Fairmont; M. L. Hutchinson, Fairmont ; H. L. Heintzelman, Fairmont:
Marshall County-James Burley, S. W. Meals, Moundsville; W. H. Harris, Glen Easton.
Mercer County-W. H. Thomas, Philip Goodwell, Bramwell.
Mineral County-Geo. D. Carskadon, W. E. Crooks, Keyser.
Mingo County-F. L. Schoew, Chattaroy.
Monongalia County-Louis P. Krebs, H. L. Carspecken, Leopold Sigwart, Joseph HI. McDermott, Morgantown.
Morgan County-V. E. Johnson, Berkeley Springs.
McDowell County-William Leckie, Welch ; C. H. Boardman, Vivian; James Elwood Jones, Switchback ; Floyd E. Cunningham, Eckman; W. M. Ritter, Welch ; H. Banks, Keystone; W. J. McClaren, W. Burbridge Payne, Welch.
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