The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-09-19
WORCESTER,
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1921.
The Militia Svstem.

SA"o P"o"NH a'tehion 10 supJeCt WHICH
is as important as the efficacy of the militia
system. They were however limited for want
OF room. As not altogether irrelevant to the
subject, it was intended to remark. further,
that the very complete organization of the mi
htia OF the State, and the great degree of dis
cipiine which is disceFnible in portions of it,
seems to be attributable, not so much to the
efficacy of the laws as to the spirit and prompt
ness with which the views of the Commander
in Chief have been forwarded by many subor-
dmate officers Whether, under the existing
state of feeling among the officers of the militia,
the same causes will continue to operate, may
well be doubted. That they haze, however, eff
fected what is here attributed to them. will
hardly be questioned. Without intending any
inVidious comparisons, ii is presumed there is no
hazard in asserting that in no part of the Com
monwealth have the acquisitions from Head
Quarters been more promptly complied with
than in this Division. 1t occasioned. there
fore, no little surprise to find, by the General
Order of the 10th of March last, that the COM
mandinS officer of erery Regiment and separate
BattdltOn in the Second Brigade of this Divis-
ion, had not only been subject to the severe
animadyersion of the Council, but was held up
to the reproach of the whole militia of the Com
monwealth, for neglecting TO make duplicate
return of his corps, as had been required by
former General Order. Commanded as that
Brigade is by a viglant and efficient officer,
who has infused no small portion Of his spirit
into those under his command, some interest
was naturally felt to ascertain the cause of so
general a neglect of duty. Upon inquiry,
however, it appeared that the reproach was
most unjustly suffered, and that no officer of
that Brigade, who was thus ccnsured, had
been guilty of the neglect. Very recently
General Order has been issued, in which the
whole matter is explained. Understanding,
however, that this Order is by no means so ex-
tensively known as the former one, we subioin
an extract from it at the desire of several Off
GERS. 1t will not, perhaps, be uninteresting to
readers generally.
"lhe Commander IN Chief will make no
requlsltlon OF those who are subject to his
command, which his duty does not require of
him; but, when an Order is issued, as he ex-
poets obedience to it, he will not weaken its
force by its repetition. As general commenda-
ton is but little estimated, so general censure
is not much felt. 1t is only by proper and
just discrimination that the merit of the soldier
Is distinguished, or his faults exposed and
justice to those who have complied with their
duty requires, that they should not be con-
founded with them who have been neglectful
OF 1t. Conforming himself to these principles,
IN his General Order Of the 10Th March last.
his Ezcellency named the Regiments, separate
battalions and Companies, from which returns
had not been received, accordingly as they
had been directed and reminded the Brisa-
dler-Generals of the requsition of his General
Order OF the 9th of March, 1920, which made
1t obligatory upon them to enter formal COM
plants against all tie delinquent officers in their
respective Brgades, to the proper authorities,
that legal investigation into their conduct
might be had.-ln making the investigation
necessary for the performance of this task, it
was not without surprise that his Excellency
discovered that all the officers commanding the
Regiments and separate Battalions in the Sec
ond Brigade and Sixth Gate SEVENTY Diyis-
ion, were among the number of reported delin-
quents; but, such being the fact, their gene
raj merit could not be admitted as an excuse
for distinct omission of duty and their delin-
quency was noticed with others.
THAT honorable sensibility which none
but good soldier feels, has caused the officers
OF that Brigade, who were thus implicated, to
make such representations of the facts in the
case, as has satisfied the Commander in Chief
that the neglect of duty imputed to them, did
not arise from their fault; and the facts stated
by those officers are corroborated by the Brig
adler-General, who, upon being called on, has
been obliged to declare his conviction, that the
blame OF not making the returns rested on the
brlsssde-MaJor, and not on the officers in com
mand.
together with the representations afore-
sad, relating to the returns, his Exceilency
has received the application of the Brigade
MAYOR for discharge, which Tin consequence
OF ITS having been accompanied by the written
consent to its request, of all the officers who
remained in the command of the several Reei-
ments and separate Battalions aforesaid has
received the attestation of the approving off,
GERS OF the Brigade, and Division. In compli-
ance with their united wishes, under the par
ticuar circumstances of the case, his Excelleu-
cy has seen fit to grant the Brgade-Major a
discharge from further service and he embrac-
es the opportunity, which the transmission of
1t affords, TO express his satisfaction in finding
that the Field Officers of that Brigade whose
dupscatc returns were not received at Head
Quarters, had, Notwithstanding, done their
duty, and the just and proper sense he enter
tains of their services so far as they have
come to his knowledge.