Street, following the Connecticut troops, and thence with frequent halts moved through Whitehall Street into Broadway. The head of our column had nearly reached the Post Office on Broadway when line was formed, and the President of the United States rode by, saluted by all the troops. Column was then formed again, and the troops alternately moved and halted, until the head of the Massachusetts column was in the vicinity of Canal Street, and the hour was about 2 o'clock P.M. The march then began over the prescribed route, with halts, frequent, but less tiresome. All along the route our troops were received with great enthusiasm. On Fifth Avenue, opposite the Worth Monument, the President reviewed the column. It was dismissed at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, and our troops returned to quarters very tired, but apparently well satisfied with their work. Liberty was given the men generally for the rest of the day and evening. Nothing was done on the morning of Wednesday, the 1st of May, the men being granted passes until 1 o'clock P.M., the hour for dinner. At two o'clock both corps fell in and marched in full uniform, heavy order, to the foot of West 23d Street, where an annex boat took them, with eight companies of the Fifth Regiment, to the steamer "Providence" at Pier 28. Just as the corps was about to assemble in 56th Street, an order was received from the Adjutant General, detailing Assistant Surgeon Green to attend His Excellency the Governor, who had been taken ill, and proceed with him to Boston by train. The trip to Newport on the steamer "Providence " was uneventful. Cars were taken for Boston at 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, May 2; and on arrival home the column marched to the State House, where the Governor, who had joined at the Old Colony station, was left and saluted. The corps then marched to its armory, and was dismissed at noon. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS F. EDMANDS, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS OF CADETS, GENERAL:- I have the honor to submit my report of the tour of duty performed in accordance with Special Orders, No. 5. The corps (with the exception of Company D) was assembled at these headquarters on Sunday, April 28, at 11.30 A.M., and was marched without music to the Eastern Railroad depot, where it was embarked on the train leaving at 1.02 P.M. The embarkation was quietly done, no man leaving the cars after entering; and there was no noise or confusion whatever. Arriving in Boston on schedule time, the corps disembarked, and, being immediately joined by Company D, which had left Lowell via Boston & Lowell Railroad, the battalion, numbering 199 officers, men and band, was marched through Friend, Washington, Devonshire, Summer and Lincoln streets, to the Old Colony depot, and embarked on cars designated in orders. Being transferred to the steamer "Providence" at Newport, R. I., the command was assigned the ladies' saloon and cabin. The rough weather experienced in rounding "Judith" was severely felt by many, but all were enabled to report for duty on arrival in New York. After being landed from the annex boat at West 23d Street, the corps marched, under escort of the First Corps, to quarters at 203 East 56th Street, and were comfortable and nicely provided for by 10.30 A.M. Passes were immediately issued to all who desired them, and the time limit (11.30 P.M.) was faithfully kept by all. On Tuesday, April 30, at 8 A.M., both corps proceeded to Hanover Square via 2d Avenue elevated railroad, and were afterwards formed with the entire Massachusetts representation on Whitehall Street, right resting on Broadway. Having passed over the entire route of the procession without a man leaving the ranks on account of sickness or other cause, quarters were reached at 3.40 P.M., and the men were soon after seated at dinner, from which many availed themselves of the opportunity given to witness such of the line as was still in march. On Wednesday the industrial parade was witnessed by a large number of the men, but all were at work packing up at 12 м. After an excellent dinner at 1 P.M., the two corps left quarters and marched to West 23d Street, and were again taken by the annex boat to the "Providence" for the homeward trip. Leaving the steamer at Newport at 8 A.M., we arrived in Boston nearly on time; and, taking position on the left of the line, we proceeded to the State House. Having rendered a salute to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the Second Corps proceeded by the most direct route to the depot; and all, with the exception of Company D, arrived in Salem at 1.15, at once marched to the armory, and were dismissed. Company D returned to Lowell at 1 P.M. While the tour of duty was a fatiguing one, yet every order was most promptly and cheerfully obeyed by all, and the discipline as nearly perfect as could be desired. The officers and men of the Second Corps appreciate highly the provisions made for their comfort and convenience by the State authorities, both military and otherwise; and they also desire to heartily acknowledge 'the extreme courtesy of Lieut. Col. Edmands, his officers and men, during the entire time the two organizations were together. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, J. FRANK DAlton, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, BOSTON, May 4, 1889. SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 41. The following order is hereby promulgated: COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, BOSTON, May 3, 1889. The Commander-in-Chief acknowledges with satisfaction the excellent duty performed under his orders by the Fifth Regiment Infantry, Col. Wm. A. Bancroft; First Corps Cadets, Lieut. Col. Thomas F. Edmands; Second Corps Cadets, Lieut. Col. J. Frank Dalton; the detachment from Ambulance Corps, First Brigade, M. V. M., and the orderlies detailed, at the centennial celebration of the inauguration of Washington as first president of the United States. The attention to duty, discipline and soldierly bearing en route and in the city of New York reflected credit upon themselves, the militia and the Commonwealth. The thanks of the Commander-in-Chief will be conveyed to the commands in orders. OLIVER AMES, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. By order of the Commander-in-Chief. SAMUEL DALTON, Adjutant General. REPORTS OF COMMANDING OFFICERS. HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, M.V.M., BOSTON, Sept. 1, 1889. The several Major General SAMUEL DALTON, Adjutant General State of Massachusetts. GENERAL:- I have the honor to submit the following report of the encampment of this command for the year 1889. commands were reported promptly at the hour designated in orders. Guard mounting, battalion drills, dress parades and muster were executed in accordance with the orders for the government of the camp, occupying the afternoon of the first day to advantage, and with prospects that this tour of duty would excel any previous work of the brigade. At about midnight a heavy rain set in, which continued during Wednesday, entirely preventing the performance of any duty, and rendering the quarters of the men unfit to live in, the water in many cases being above the floors of the tents, and the streets of the camp flooded to such an extent that the water was many inches deep. On Thursday, although but little rain fell, it continued unpleasant during the entire day. The routine of duty was closely followed, but the dampness of the field and the wet condition of the quarters and the clothing of the troops had the effect to dampen the ardor of the command. Both officers and men are to be commended for the spirit manifested in making the most of the situation, as they took advantage of every opportunity to gain. knowledge of their duties on Wednesday by assembling in mess tents, etc., for instruction; remaining on the field sharing the hardship of the wet condition of the camp, as they would its pleasures in good weather. Friday, the only full pleasant day of the tour of duty, was made use of to the best advantage possible; extra work was put in, and the whole duty of the day was performed in a very creditable manner. Saturday at best was but of little consequence. The regular duties were performed by the infantry in the forenoon. The artillery and cavalry, being obliged to leave camp early in the day, were excused from drill. The infantry were dismissed at 12 o'clock M., and at 1 o'clock P.M., all the troops having left the field, the tour of duty came to an end. While I am fully of the opinion that this command has made no retrograde movement, the tour of duty was not up to my expectation. I anticipated great improvement over last year. Had the weather been pleasant, without doubt my anticipations would have been realized; but, with only one full day of good weather, the troops did not have the opportunity to gain by drill what was needed. With the exception of the deviation from strict deportment and discipline on the part of a small portion of the troops on the last night of camp, the tour of duty, in my opinion, was fully as good as the previous year, and as good as could be expected with weather such as we had. I respectfully recommend that immediate measures be taken to put the camp ground in such condition by grading, that, in case rain should prevail while troops are in camp, they would not be subjected to great inconvenience and risk of health, as they were at this encampment. I also renew my recommendation of previous years, that the time of the annual tour of camp duty be increased. The number of days now provided is but little more than three days of actual duty; and, if rain prevails, as it did in the camp of this brigade this year, the good derived is very limited. I believe troops should go into camp on Saturday and remain until the following Saturday; this would give them five days for regular work. Other States have increased this tour of duty of the militia to more than five days; and, if Massachusetts expects her force to remain as efficient as troops of other States, she should at least give them the same opportunities for acquiring knowledge of their duties as is accorded others. I am confident that, if the troops could be allowed to encamp as suggested, we would see an improvement in the condition of our State force that would fully compensate for the additional outlay. I fully believe that target practice should constitute one of the duties of the annual encampment; the increase of the number of days as recommended would permit of this. Under the present law, the time is so short that rifle practice, if undertaken at all in camp, is necessarily so hurried that the instruction cannot be of any great value. I have the honor to be, very respectfully yours, etc., BENJ. F. PEACH, JR. Brigadier General. |