Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-12-02


o0fcers-hoc uirfufis ohuS.
The disposition which has appeared in
0ur c;tise,s to avoid national burthens.
would seem to have indicated . disregard
to national standing and for 90 years
p 81, for iglcrs have been induced to sup-
| pose, that we were destitute OF that energy
and spirit us people-which wonld ever
give our Country chara ter as nation
until the measure of the lac war. This
war demonstrated on the ocean, and nearly
at its close, developed on land. character
OF national spirit, the complete reverse Of
that sluggish policy which cody calculated
our lishonor, and of the unworthy Gisposi-
ton to brood on temporary losses.
In the breasts of those who directed our
| military OPP ratons, the change from inert
ness and u wardness of responsibility
10 the enterprise and spirit to retrieve &
accomplish character for the country
has been latest in taking effect. The eau
ses of this may be found-1st. In the want
| otmilitary knowledge, which occasioned in
| our commanders the want of confidence in
their plans.-And 2dly, In the want of
military spirit, either native or acquired in
those selected.
When lieut.. coils. Anderson, Preston,
Ripley, Berstler, Cutting, and several 9TH
err gentlemen entered the service of their
country in 1912, they found the military
knowledge which existed in the army neg
lected AMI unnoticed-th found men from
civil life appointed to high stations, and up
holding the conception that all military ia
lent WAS TO be acquired by literary capaci-
ty and their imme late attention to the stu
dy.
There were some few of the OIL army
who were flvored with congressional infiu
ence, and after being kept for the List pll-
ces. were at the last IF the cesson, intro
duccd into the new army. The eulogists
in civil life, OF the nezv officers, reluctantly
acknowledge that they were indebted for
any instruction TO these few rom the old
army, or to those who were continued to
their subordinate grades in the old reei-
ments. When we read remarks, such as
the following on General Ripley, we are
induced to suppose that no military for
T!astioa sHistca, 2nA tbat neece establish
ments are useless.
The short and inefficient duty of the
tall o. 1912 being performed, Col. Ripley
withdrew into winter-quarters at Burling-
ton, in Vermont, and during that season
OF military tranquility, commenced the
school OF discipline and pol ce, which led
his regt. to It's subsequent fame, and made
it the model Of the army"
And again,
Although engaged n active duty, suf-
hcientto have epgrossed the undivided at
tention Of an ordinary applicant, he found
means to prosecute course of study, and
so to classify and generalize it. as to form
plan of military conduct that embraced ali
points of Instruction"
Memoir in The Port Folio FIR .Aurnst.
such remarks were also applied 10 him
while at Fori George.
The newregiments, it may be presumed,
incurred some obligation to the following
officers
To Pike-who first organizeda regiment
IN the new army, and at Plattsburgh gave
the first example of its discipline
To Scott, who, as Lieut.. Col of Yards
regiment gave it all its instruction in the
interior, and led it in action on tie from
tier:
His Colonel, who left the army as Cap
tain in 1905, required more military con-
sideration by mingling with citizens, than
would probably have been allowed him, II
he had continued in the profession.
To GdincS, who, as Lieut.. Colonel, or
gained and formed the oath, western re O..
giment:
To Macon,5, who organized a corps of
Arti lery al S ckett's Harbor:
To King, who, for Short time, comman-
ded the 18th as Major.
These, besides only three other Lieuten-
ants of the old army are all who were APP
pointed in the nc7O.
To ". Porter, who instructed the army
in garrison police at Fort George,-To
Miller, who continued a Lieut. Col in the
old establishment, and was only advanced
to Colonel, when Ripley was made Brig
adier.-ro ForSythc, who, as Captain, Lex,
his company to destruction, at time when
long list of civilians, who had Superseded
him as Maj rs and Coloacls, were study
ing the clements of their prufessi0n-T'o
Eu8tis, who has long been the actual COM
nanderof Light Art llery, with the com
| mission Of Major. TO Jesuh, z subatern
Of the old army, while in the staff at the
west-and to a number Of Captains Of the
4th 5th and 6tn regiments few Of whom
! just succeeded 10 Majorities at the close
of the war, and the most of whom are dis
missed in the late DISARMAMENT (a) (Ad-
ans, of the 4th, became victim TO his in
! dignant feelings and left the service A
mong the few OF later promotion were
4 -
a. When ScoTr arose 70 The high rank he 81 wen
meritcd, the risid adherence 10 military principles
| which had marked his coudnct on tie frontier, iarT
| induced the expectations 81, his support OF military
rights, and At least Of the claims Of service in tie
| interior. He appears To have sighted thesc prince.
! pies, IN extending his influence to gentlemen with
out military serv'ee-in some instances, or appoint
ments requiring the active exercise ofimpOrlsnt du-
! ties the lr0nticr--fOr the immediate discharge
OF which, and to the elevation they conferred, any