Massachusetts Volunteer Militia a worthy exponent of that military spirit which has been conspicuous in the Bay State from the earliest days of the Revolution; and the Second Brigade, as it appeared at Lynn, was a convincing proof to any military observer, that, if the United States ever again has occasion to make a call to arms, that call will be responded to from the State of Massachusetts by a force superior in numbers, equipments and discipline, and not inferior in patriotic spirit, to that superb offering of noble men which she so freely laid on the national altar in the dark days of 1861.

It is no less a pleasure than a duty to mention with gratitude the courtesy and considerate kindness of all the officers with whom I was brought into contact, and particularly of General Dalton, and Colonels Wellington, Currier and Barrett, of the Governor's staff. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

D. M. TAYLOR,

Captain Ordnance Department.

[First Endorsement.]

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Nov. 2, 1889.

Respectfully submitted to the secretary of war, with recommendation that this report be published for distribution throughout the army and to adjutants general of States.

J. C. KELTON,

Adjutant General.

The strength of the militia now authorized is: officers, 390; enlisted men, 5,468; a total of 5,858; and a naval battalion of four companies unorganized. The aggregate

of the active militia on the rolls at this date is 380 officers and 4,751 enlisted men; total, 5,131, with a vacancy of one company of infantry.

The matter of coast defence is receiving the consideration of the general government, in which our citizens are much interested.

The militia of the State should receive from the United States government such material support as will put it in a condition to be of service as a valuable and efficient adjunct to the regular force in time of emergency. An effort is now being made to increase the annual appropriation to the States for military purposes, which, if successful, will give greater

facilities to State troops for instruction, and fit them for any service they may be called upon to perform. I quote the following from the report of the Honorable the Secretary of War, commending the discipline and efficiency of the State troops, and recognizing their value: —

The discipline and efficiency of the national guard is universally commended. It was evidenced by their appearance at the centennial celebration in New York, April 30 last, and the promptness and celerity with which their concentration was effected. Of their value as a reserve military force, and an essential element in any feasible scheme of coast defences, I treat elsewhere. As an educational institution also it deserves encouragement and support.

I know of no manner in which a generous appropriation can be more advantageously employed to provide against future military contingencies, and believe that the current appropriation should be increased. The plan of placing a small force of the regular army with the militia of the different States in their encampments, as suggested from several sources, appears to me an admirable

one.

As one argument in favor of sea-coast defence, the secretary says:

Once built, the cost of maintaining a thorough system of defensive works is comparatively small. The major general commanding, in his report, estimates that it will require only 8,700 men for the garrison of defensive works in time of peace. This will be sufficient to care for the armament, and serve as a nucleus for the instruction of the militia of the sea-coast States, which must be relied upon to supply the men needed for defence in war, and which he estimates at 87,000. It is very important that the opportunity for this instruction should be provided at once. They are now being trained, and are quite efficient as infantry, light artillery and cavalry. This has been the best that could be done. But it is not probable that their services will be required in large numbers in either of these arms, for we do not wish to invade any other country, nor is ours likely to be invaded by land. Drilled in handling heavy guns, they will supply at a trifling cost the necessary reserve for the small regular contingent maintained in the defences. Skilled mechanics will seek a militia service, which will give them an opportunity to learn the machinery of modern heavy artillery. It offers to the national guard of our sea-board

States a new and attractive field for drill and study, and it is believed that they will take pride in training themselves to man the defensive works of their own ports, and will embrace the opportunity to do so as soon as it is offered. And there is no service in which men untried in war have won such honors or are so safe a reliance as in the defence of fortifications near their own homes.

There is an earnest desire on the part of the officers and men of our militia to perfect themselves in all the duties pertaining to the soldier; and opportunities should be given them to become proficient in the handling of heavy armaments, as a measure for coast defence, if they are to be called upon for the purposes mentioned by the Honorable the Secretary of War.

The naval battalion authorized by chapter 366 of the Acts of the Legislature, approved May 17, 1888, conditional upon the furnishing of arms and equipments and a vessel of war for the performance of duty, by the United States, has not been organized, for the reason that the conditions have not been complied with; but early the coming year the commander-in-chief will be enabled to effect the formation of this battalion.

Your Excellency's attention is directed to the law concerning independent military organizations, which is not in all respects as it should be. It has been held by many that the parading of such organizations in public with side-arms is not prohibited by chapter 411, section 124, of the Acts of 1887. It is suggested that this section be so amended as to correctly define its meaning, and enable cities and towns, when so defined, to enforce it as it should be, within their corporate limits. It is held at this office that this law applies to fire-arms only; and on this point the law should be as stringent as possible, as all armed bodies of men within the Commonwealth should be under the control of constituted authority.

All the officers of the militia are keenly alive to the importance of this measure, and can bring strong arguments for the position taken by them in the matter, as well as in the matter of the assumption of military rank by those who have never received commissions from either the national or

State governments. Titles and rank have become so common as to be a source of annoyance to those rightfully entitled to bear them. It is the prevailing opinion that only those entitled by reason of service and actual commission should wear the uniform of the army or the militia, or bear the rank and titles conferred by reason of such service.

TOURS OF DUTY.

The annual encampments were held as follows: First Brigade, M. V. M., June 11-15, at camp ground; Second Brigade, M. V. M., August 13-17, at camp ground; First Corps Cadets, M. V. M., July 16-20, at Hingham; Second Corps Cadets, M. V. M., August 6-10, at Essex. Annual drills were held by First Brigade (with exception of Troop F, Cavalry) at Worcester, October 14; Second Brigade at Lynn, October 3; First Corps Cadets at Hingham, July 15; Second Corps Cadets at Salem, October 11; Troop F, Cavalry, First Brigade, at Westford, October 11.

Under the orders of the commander-in-chief, special duty was performed on the occasion of the celebration of the centennial of the inauguration of President Washington, in New York City, April 30, by the Fifth Regiment of Infantry, First and Second Corps of Cadets, and a detachment from the Ambulance Corps, a report on which may be found herewith.

On the occasion of your Excellency's visit to Harvard College, June 26, Troop A, First Battalion Cavalry, under the command of Captain Wadsworth, performed escort duty. A detachment from the First Regiment of Infantry and Battery A exemplified the drill of heavy ordnance and Gatling guns, before the military committee of the Legislature, on their official visit to the State arsenal and camp ground in May last.

On Tuesday, November 26, an extensive fire in Lynn required the presence of troops for the protection of life and property. Companies D and I of the Eighth Regiment there located were promptly precepted by the mayor, in accordance with law, and were immediately placed on duty. It becoming apparent to the municipal authorities that a larger force would be necessary, a requisition by the mayor

on your Excellency was placed in my hands by you at 11.15 o'clock on that night, and, under your instructions, I proceeded at once to Lynn by carriage, and after conference with the authorities went thence to Salem, and ordered companies E and K of the Eighth Regiment to report for that duty. Companies H and M of that regiment had already volunteered their services, and had arrived in Lynn.

Company K, Eighth Regiment, was relieved November 28, for unsoldierly conduct, and Company F of the same regiment placed on duty in its stead. The conduct of Company K was such on this tour of duty as to impel the colonel commanding to make a special report to your Excellency, which, after investigation by your direction, being confirmed, the company was summarily disbanded in orders November 30, and the officers and men discharged. Companies E, F, H and M were relieved December 1, companies D and I being retained on duty until December 5, when they were relieved by the mayor. November 28 another disastrous fire broke out in the city of Boston, and, although the service of troops was not required, the promptness with which officers and men of the local organizations voluntarily responded is highly commendable to the State

militia.

That the service rendered by our troops under the command of Col. F. A. Osgood at Lynn was satisfactory (with the exception of that of Company K, mentioned above), is evidenced by the letter of commendation from the mayor of Lynn, and for prompt offers of service in Boston, by letter from the mayor of Boston.

CITY OF LYNN, MAYOR'S OFFICE,
Dec. 11, 1889.

Col. F. A. OSGOOD, Commanding Eighth Regiment, M. V. M.

DEAR SIR-I desire to express to you, and to the officers and men under you, my sincere thanks for the great service rendered during your week's duty in our city. On Tuesday, November 26, at 11.55 o'clock A.M., fire broke out in a factory owned by Mower & Brother on Almont Street, and immediately extended to the surrounding buildings. At one o'clock P.M. the marshal telegraphed to adjoining cities for police assistance, and also requested our two local military companies to aid him in keeping the large crowd of people (which at this time began pouring in from neigh