The Litchfield County post., 1827-01-26
COUNTY POST.
LITCHFIELD, JANUARY 2s, 1897.
MILITIA.

MAA4 4Ae
 The board of Officers which set at Wash ington in Nov. last, for the purpose of stating the defects in the present organization of the Militia, and for recommending remedies, have made their report, which is now before the public. In 1792, when the existing militia laws were enacted by Congress, it was suppo- sed necessary that all the able bodied white male citizens of the United Statcs,-certain classes and persons excepted, ,-between the ages of lo and 45, should be enrolled, in or der to raise a force sufficient to repel invasion and suppress insurrection. Since that time our population has been trebed; and conse quently the number of our militia is thre times as large as was then thought necessar, for the defence ofthe country; while the dan gers from insurrections and invasions arc moi as great as they then were. Hence the pre- sent militia laws, independent of the very de moralizing effect they exert upon community, operate as a heavy and worse than useless tax upon almost all classes in community. To remedy this evil, the following plan has been submitted by the board for the consideration of Congress. Whether it will be adopted at the present session. or whether any of its fea- lures will be altered, before such plan be- comes law, we are unable to learn from a. ny thing we have heard or seen upon the sub ject. The plan is incomparably better than the old regulation, and we sincerely hope that either this, oran improvement upon it will be adopted by Congress.
 "l. It is recommended that there he ap- pointed one Adjutant General for Me Militia of the United States, to be attached to the War Department, but without rank.
 9. That there be appointed, in each State, an Adjutant General of the Militia of the State, and one Quartermaster General of the Militia of the State; or, in time of peace, one officer, to be both Adjutant and Quartermas- ter General: such officer, or officers, to have, each, the rank of Brigadier General.
 8. Itis recommended to exempt all persons, under the age of twenty -One years, in the scv- eral States, from service in the Militia of the { United States. 4. It is recommended that there be enroll 1 ed and organized, in each State, from the whole mass of able bodied white male citizens, resident therein, who are, or shall be, above the age of twentyOne years, and always ta- king the youngest above that age, at the rate of one brigade of Militia, organized as herein proposed, for every member of the House of Representatives of the United States to which the State may be entitled.
 5: It isprOposed that every two brisadcs of Militia, so enrolled in the same State, shall constitute one division; and if there be an odd brigade in the State, above division, that such brigade be attached to some convenient division. at the discretion of the State; that every brigade shall consist of three regiments; every regiment of two battalions; every bat taiion of four troops, or companies and ev- ry troop, or company, of five sergeants, five cOrpOrals, two musicians, and sixty-four pri yates. Each State to have the right to de- signate regiments, battalions, troops, and com panies. as Cavalry, Artillery, Light Infantry, Infantry, and Rihemen, at its discretion; or, to accept as part ofaits quota as above, with out regard to the limitation as to the age of twenty-one years, uniformed volunteer corps Of either arm, if armed and equipped accord ing to designation, and organized as herein proposed.
 6. It is proposed that each State, also, have the right to extend the number of privates, per troop and company, within the State, from the minimum, sixty -four, to any num- ber not exceeding one hundred.
 z. Privates in troops of cavalry, to be also designated troopers; and privates m compa. nies of artillery, mattresses; and light infantry and rifemen to be included in the general de examination of intantry.
 6. Divisions, brigades, regiments, and bat talions, may consist of different arms, as cav airy, artillery, and infantry, as above; an, when several troops of cavalry, whether sin gle, or organized into regiments or battalions are united for parade, instruction, or service they will be subject to an organization, il part, peculiar to this arm; thus, two troop will constitute as quadron, two squadrons hat taIion, and, as in the other arms, tw battal ions regiment; but, on the accidental O temporary union of two or more squadr0ns without field officers of this arm, the com nander of the division or brigade, to which