Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-06

StoneQ IN our commanders the want OF con-
fidence in their plans.-And 2dly. In the
want of a military spirit, either native or
acquired in those selected.
When lieut.. coils. Anderson, Preston,
RIPLEY, Berstler, Cutting, and several o.
Their gentlemen entered the service of their
country in 1919, they found the military
knowledge which existed in the army neg
lected and uhRoticed-they found men
from civil life appointed to high stations, &
uPholding the. conception that. all military
talent was to be acquired by literary capa-
city aud their immediate attention to the
study.
who were favored with congressional infu-
ence, and after being kept for the last pla-
ces, were at the lastpf the session, intro
dueed into the new aryny. The eulogists
In civil life, of the neao officers, reluctantly
acknowledge that they were indebted for
any instruction to those few from the old
army, or to those who were continued to
their subordinate grades in the old resi-
ments. When we read remarks, such az
the following on General Ripley, we are
induced to suppose that no military infor-
nation existed, and that peace establish
ments are useless.
|" The short and Inefficient duty of the
fall OF 1872 being performed, COL Ripley
Withdrew into winter-9uarters at Burling-
ton, in Vermont, and during that season
OF military tranquility, commenced the
school of discipline and police, which led
his regt. to its subsequent fame, and made
it the model of the army"
And again,
&C Although engaged in active duty, suf-
hcient to have engrossed the undivided at
tenfion 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
all points of Instruction.
Memoir liz the Port Folio for august
Such remarks were also applied to him
while at Fort George.
The new regiments, it may be presumed,
incurred some obligation to the following
officers:
10 PtEe-who first organized a 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 the from.
tier
His Colonel, who left the army as Cap
tain in 1903, required more military con-
sideration by mingling with citizens, than
would probably have been allowed hin, If
he had continued in the profession.
To Chimes, who, as Lieut.. Colonel, or
ganlzed and formed the Gath, western re-
giment
To 1Macomb, who organized corps OF
Artillery at Sackett's Harbor
1 TO King, who, for short time, com
manded the 18th as Major.
These, besides only three other Lieuts.
ct the old army, are adj who were appoint
ed in the net0.
10 M. Porter, who instructed the army
IN garrison police at Fort George-TTo
MILLER, who continued Lieut.. Col. In
the old establishment, and was only advan-
ced to Colonel, when Ripley was made a
Brigadier.-Po Forsytte, WHO, as Captain,
led his company to destruction, at a time
when long list of civilians, who had SUI
perceded him as Majors and Colonies,
were studying the elements of their profes.
sion.-To EuStis, who has long been the
actual commander of Light Artillery, with
the commission of Major.-To Jesup, a
subaltern of the old army, while in the
stall at the west-and to number of Can
tains of the 4th 5th and 9th regiments, a
few oil whom just succeeded to Maiorities
at the close Of the war, and the most of
whom are dismissed in the late disband-
ment (G) C.flams, of the 18th, became a
victim to his indignant feelings and left
the service Among the few of later pro-
motion were Smelling, .Machesney, Brooke
Chambers, Humphreys and Dorman.)
To these, it may be truly said, that the
new officers were indebted for example in
discipline and for their first military in.
struction. Let not the many gallant off,
GERS OF the new army conceive this re-
Election, their merits entitIe them to the
| greater distinction.
BRowN, when a Brigadier of militia
was so fortunate as to have the direction OF
q part OF the forces which so CALAMITY de.
tended Sankett's Harbor, at a time when
Scott, Gaines, Bisseu, r. A. Smith, Cos.
tngton and MGcOmb were COIoneIs.-He
developed in this affair, a native spirit, aud
military construction of mind, independ-
ent on military experiences, so for above
what had been displayed by the cOmman.
ders before him, that he was appointed a
Brigadier General in the line ofthe army
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