Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-12-29

preserving the best material for the
! ranks, additional pay be allowed TO the
soldier as condition of his re-enlist-
ment; this plan has been adopted 10 al
most every foreign service, and, It is be-
heved, with invariable success.
would also take The liberty OF refer
ring you to my letter to the Secre-
tary OF War, OF December last, contain
ing certain propositions for the advance
ment of the non commissioned grades
of the army. have recommended that
the monthly pay of the Sergeant Major
andQuartermaster Sergeant Of each e.
gimeat and that OF the FIRST Sergeant
ofeach company, be increased to fifteen
dollars, and that the monthly pay OF
every other Sergeant be Increased to
ten dollars. This increase ofpay would
scarcely be perceived in the general APP
preparation under this head while its be-
neiiclal influence on the mass of the ar
my would be incalculable.
10 order TO command the talent and
ability requisite in the station of non
commissioned officer, it is necessary to
hold forth consideration propor,ioned
to the importance Of the object desired;
and IN the sphere of life from whence
the candidates for this station are to be
derived, the only inducement that can
prove eficctual, is, an adequate pecuni-
airy emolument.
The comm ssionea officer findsshis re-
ward in the honour which clothes his
profession, in a refined spirit Of chyal-
~, congenlal with its character; and in
that ready rassportto tie highest circles
OF society, guarantied to him by his
com nilsson. But there are no lncen-
tives like these TO operate upon the
non-commissioned grades, while, from
their exertions, not less than from those
of the commissioned, will result the NOR
oil and physical efficiency of the rank
and tile, Indeed, there 10 no individual
OF company, scarcely excepting the
Captain himself, on whom more depends
for it's discipline, police, instruction,
and genera! we'll being, than on the
First Sergeant. THIS is a grade repiete
with care and with responsibility. Its
duties place its incumbent in constant
and direct contact with the men, exer-
cising over them an influence the more
powerful, as il il immediate aud perso-
nal: and all experience demonstrates
that the condition OF every company
will improve or deteriorate nearly in
proportion TO the ability and worth Of
its First Sergeant
BY securing talent and intelligence,
therefore, for the commissioned
grades, the general mass of the Army
may be improved, and these qualities
can be proc ured only by offering IL adj
equste Involvement to persons Of proper
character IN civil life, who would find
in this inducement an object To enter
the mili'ary--or else, by stimulating the
ambition otthe rank and hle to qualify
themselves for stations now tendrsd
more respectable, on account OF the
additional value with which they viii
have been invested By the measure /
propose.
Ii, in q country like ours, il shall be
considsred most wise to maintain, in
time OF peace, the small military esta-
blishment which is now authorized, /
trust there is good cause TO believe that
the People will SEQ and feel the impor-
lance of making the establishment as
perfect as might De expected from the
unequailed materials on which the ma.
ton has to draw.
have the honor to be, sir, with the
highest respect, your obsdient servant,
JAG. BROWN
Hon. JAMES BARBOUR, Sec. OF War