Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-27
Department Of Var, eth April, 1915.

4
The President Of the United States
has requested your attendance at Washington,
| with view to the aid which your experience
| aud information enable YOU To- afford in form.
| ing the military peace establishment, accord
ing 10 the directions OF the act OF Congress,
passed on the Sd Of March, 1915. / have the
honor, therefore, of calling your attention 10 this
| interesting and important business and TO re-
| quest an early report upon the following points ;
promising, that your report will be considered
as an authentic source of Information, to which
! JUST respect will be paid in all future delibe~
/ rations upon the subject.
| l. The Organization OF the Army.
| Q. The Selection of the Officers.
| 8. The Military Stations.
L. The Oygdnisatio, of the Army
Tho act of Congress declares, Mat the mill
! tary peace establishment of the United States
| shall consist of proportions of artillery, infan-
| try. and rihemen, not exceeding in the whole
ten Thousand men; and that the corps of engi.
neers, as II present established, &c retained
Upon inli confederation of the terms of the
act, and OF the military Interpretation given to
similar terms on other occasions, the Presi,
dent is of opinion, that the military peace es-
enlistment, so far IS tits composed of artiile.
ryS infsGtry and ridemen, is to consist OF the
! number OF ienthousandnen, exclusively of off :
GERS, non commissioned officers and musicians !,
port. to that opinion.
The proportions OF artillery, infantry and RI
hemen to compose the military peace establish.
ment of ten thousand men. are referred to your
consideration; and you will be pleased, in your
report, to furnish the necessary details for
forming the establishment into brigades, regi,
ments, battaiions and companies. But it is
proper to observe, that special provision is
| made by law for the organization of the corps
of artillery, prescribed in the act OF the 30th
March, 1914 for the organization of the regi-
r,ent OF light artillery, as prescribed in the act
OF the 18th of April, 1908; and for the organi-
zaticnof the regiments of infantry and riaemen,
as prescribed in the act OF the Sd of March,
1885,
The law has, also, specially provided, that
there shall be four brigade-inspectors, four
brigade quarter masters, and such number of
hospital Nurgeons aud surgeons mates. as the
service may require, not exceeding five sur>
geous and Mteen mates, with one steward, and
oneNward master to each hospital. But the bril-
gadeN inspectors are TO be taken from the line,
and the brigade quarter masters, rs we'll as
aijutaTts, egirnsptai quarter masters, and pay
srtsters, are to be taken from the subalterns of
,the line.
! IL. TIE SslecaGs of ths Offers.
The reduction OF the military establishment
to the number Of ten thousand men, sufficient.
| iy indicates the intentioo of Congress to be,
that the officers, nop-comSo;S sioned officers
and pTiyates should be selected and arranged
| in such manner as to form AMI complete an ef.
fectye corps. 1t is, undoubtedly, q painful
| task to make discrimination, wbiob affects
the interest, and possibly the subsistence of
honorable men, whose misfortune it Isl b. age,
by infirTnities, or by wounds, to he disabled
from rendering further service to their coun.
try but the task must be performed by those
who arc charged with the execution of The
law leaving the relief which may be Justly
claimed by suffering merit, to the benehcent
care of The Legislative authority.
It is the opinion of the President, therefore.
that in the selection Of the officers to be re-
tanned upon the military peace establishment,
| those only should be recommended, in YOUR
| report, for his appreciation, who are, at this
| time, compeient to engage an enemy in the
field Of battle,
The number of field officers now in service
amounts TO two hundred and sixteen, and the
number OF regimental officers, now in service
amounts to two thous,nd anSl fir.y five ofthe
iorHier, about thirty nine, and Of the latter a
bout four hundred and fifty can be retained
| IN service, according 10 The provisions of the
act otCongresg foc fixing the military peace
establishments. In every grade Of app int
! ment, almost every officer has gallsntly per
! formed ms tiuty. I, is obvious, therefore, that
with respect 10 the field officers. and lhe re,
EllACital OHiCcISs rs Wcl as WIN reSDeCt to
| the general officers, men of high military me-
| rit must unavoidsbly be omitted in the present
| organization ofthe army. Il has not been, and
| it never can be, under such circumstances,
mark Of disrespcc,, or a subject Of reproach,
I TO omit the name of any officer and the Pre-
| sident wishes il may be distinctly understood,
! that from the selection of officers, nothing
more ougft to be Inferred, than his approba.
ton Of the selected individuals, without de-
| rogatinG in any degree, from the reputation
| and worth ofothers.
II is the Presidents desire upon this inn
portant point, that distinguished military me
rit and approved moral character should form
| the basis Of all the selections which your re.
/ port shall submit to his consideration. Where,
in these respects, the claims of officers ace e.
| quil, length Of service, capaeity fov civil
! pursuits, and the pecunisry situation Of the
parties, may justly furnish considerations 10
| settle the question. Ard where reither d. |
| rect nor collateral circumstances exist, by !
| which your judgment can be fixed you will
md reasonable satafsction, perhaps, in re-
| ierring the decision in this csse, az is done in
many similar cases, to the chance OF lottery
| or you may submit a rccommcndatory list,
leaving the selection entirely 70 the Executive,
! Great pains have been taken TO collect and
| preserve the testimonials Of military merit |
and these, with all the other documents Of The J
| department, which can assist your enquiries,
will be confdentially phced before you. il
70 not doubted, therefore, ;ast your report viii
/ be as advantageous - fho c-ovcrproe,tt a. a.