REPORT No. 17.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND., September 1, 1905.

To the Assistant Adjutant-General, Indiana National Guard:

Sir I have the honor to submit the following comments and reports upon the maneuvers of the Indiana National Guard during the days of August 2 to 11, 1905, which were held at Fort Benjamin Harrison, near Indianapolis, Indiana.

The field orders were delivered to the commanding officers of the different regiments and detachments that were to participate in the maneuvers, at 12 o'clock noon upon the 8th of August. A copy is attached marked Appendix "b." This gave to each detachment and regiment two hours to prepare for the march. The orders were concise, and gave the necessary information to each Commander of the several columns, but it left all of the details to be attended to by the commanding officers of the different units forming the movement.

This was what was desired by the Commanding General of the camp. First. To give each Commanding Officer of each column an opportunity of equipping and providing his troops, and interpreting the orders.

Second. After forming for the retreat or retrograde movement, to observe what method each Commanding Officer would pursue to protect the main body of his column by forming a rear guard against an energetic and overpowering force, which was presumed to be in the immediate vicinity.

A map is hereto appended and marked Appendix "H," which gives the route, bivouac, and outpost positions of each unit comprising the movement. The Divisional Artillery was the first to move, a little late in påssing the road in front of the 2d Infantry quarters, but in good formation of column of sections, with their advance guard well to the front.

THE SOUTH COLUMN.

The South Column, Colonel Smith, composed of the 2d Infantry, was a few minutes late in starting, owing to the fact that they waited for the artillery to pass on the road. The Commanding Officer neglected to have an advance guard formed, depending upon the artillery to do this service for him, although he had nothing whatever to do with their movements. A rear guard was formed of one company after the column had abandoned camp, and was well committed to the movement, and afterwards another company was added to the rear guard. The rear guard commander knew nothing of the proximity of the enemy, and had no orders other than to form a rear guard, there being a perfect absence of orders from the Commanding Officer of the Column. At no time was the rear guard of each column over three hundred yards in rear of the main body, and the work was done in a most careless manner. The orders especially called attention to "Commanding Officers of the marching columns will maintain intercommunication." During the entire movement this was only done once, and then by the Commanding Officer of the South Column sending a mounted man to get into communication with the Center Column, which he

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