Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-09-28
THE MILITIA

The MILITIA.
At an adjourned meeting of the officers of the
10th Regiment of Virginia Militia, held according
to adjournment, at Louisa Court house, on Mon
day the 10th Sept. 1882, majority of the officers
bong present, Maj. William jackson was called to
the Chair, and Lieut. Jno. r. Quarles appointed
Secretary: when the following memorial was offer
cd by the committee appointed for that purpose at
amccting held at ihs place on the llth Juno, and
unanimously adopted
".ro the honorable the Legislature of Virginia:
The officers who have the honor to command the
10th Regiment of Virginia militia, feeling lively
interest IN the prosperity and safety of native
State, and believing that well organized and
properly trained militia tho and safest de-
fence of our rights aud liberties, and impressed
with the belief that our present militia system is
radically and in too defactivc and that in time of
peace should always be prepared for war--beg
leave respectfully to call your attention to the sub
joct
ave do not pretend to assume the right to die
tate TO the Legislature, but will respectfully sug-
gcst such alterations think absolutely neces-
sary, leaving it to your better judgment to mabc
such others as you may deem necessary and pro-
per. BY the present law of the State, there are
but two lnusters during the yeaf-both of these
take place about the same time, that nearly IL
months elapsc between the musters OF one year
and those OF another. Common sense and expert
encc teach us that practice is the only ay to make
n skfnl officer soldier: for, let mans talents
or theoretical knowledge of military tactics be what
they may, when he is called upon to put that know
\
awkward in the exireme-Nor is that all: tho off,
GERS are seldom called to exercise their mill
tary talents, that very few, if any, willing TO
take the necessary trouble qualify themselves for
their Office; all military pride and emulation in
dspensaby necessary for both officers and privates
therefore, becomes dormant and we them both
performing their duty, not with alacrity and
gy, they should do, but if they did it merely
because tho law required them to do it.. We there.
fore earnestly recommend, that there shall be at
least company milsters, and such other regi
mental and battalion musters in each year, as the
Legislature may think proper
''At present. the militia have only such arms and
ammunition as those who fond of sporting
Keep ioi that purpose, except those furnished the
volunteer companies, raised under act passed
the 2lst March last, which we are induced to be-
llcvo, are but few i'll number. 1t must be apparent
to the Legislature, that State would he III very
dcplorablc situation in of nsurrection sud
den INVASION, without arms with their at such
places, that the whole country might be overrun
and depopulated before the militia could be sup
Piled with them. For averting such calamity,
we would recommend that two companies
I'm each Regiment be supplied with arms, and that
they DO required to keep sufficient quantity of
ammunition, and be ready at the shortest notice
for any emergency.
1--WE next call your attention to tho subject Of
performing patrol duty. BY act likewise pass
ed the 2lst March last it is the duty of the com
mamdng officers of battaous to have the compa-
MICS OF their battalions numbered by allotment
and of commanding officers of companies to have
their companies divided into squads divisions
each OF which, in each battalion, shall in Success
sion according to the regulations madc in the
above rccited act, perform its tour of patrol duty
| commanded by one OF its officers: The act above
alluded to, is silent 10 the manner in which the
men shall he summoned for the purpose of per-
forming patrol duty-so that it is a fair Inference
that 1T Is the duty of The officers conman dng squads
to summon their mon, when they shall be required
to perform their tour of duty. There belong
ing to this regiment 4 volunteer companies, viz: /
| of arIil md 9 of IiUh iuf1
all OF which may be, and the two first of which
are, composed Of men taken from. all parts of the
regiment, g. HIGH is upwards of 40 miles in length
and 20 in breadth. These two companies are at
tached to the first battalion, and about half the
officers and privates belonging to them live in the
scco battalion therefore, whenever they have 10
perform patrol duty,it is the duty of the officers
! commanding them to travel ali over the regiment
to hunt up their men, which will take them two or
three days, after which it will frequently happen
that they will have to patrol in part of the
ty with which they all entirely unacquaintcd
the evil consequences of which, and of the delay
which will necessarily be accustomed in collecting
the men from different parts of the regiment, are
| too pal pablo to need comment.
'ln conclusion, permit us to remark, that we are
( not OF those that fond of innovations, nor
would we for light trivial causes ask alteTa-
ton Of existing laws; hut believing that the pros
perity and safety of our State inpcrousy call for
/ thorough revision Of present militia system
we have presumed to suggest the above alterations,
lI"P'i'S hhu ocieFlDH lnaI tn6 VIII receive
from you that consideration which it's Importance
requires, and that such alterations as you may
deem proper, will be made"
! The following resolutions thon offered by
| Lieut. Jno r. Quarles, and unanimously adopted.
LIST. Resolved, That we recommend TO the diff
fcrent Regiments in this Stale to hold similar meet
! Jugs ADD express their opinions ON this subject.
| 2nd. Resolved, That the above proceedings be
/ signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and a CO.
! Py furnished our present Representative, Capt.
Nicholas l. Poindcxter, with request that he
use exertions TO have wishes complied with.
! Bird. Resolved, That the Secretary request the
! Editors of the Richmond Enquirer and Wbig to
publish the above proceedings.
! 4th, Resolved, That this meeting adjourn sine
die. WILLIAM JACKSON. Chmrn
JXo. QUARLgs, Sec'y.
The Committees appointed from the several Re-
nilnenfs cnntnnsinr fra 9Th Rrirndn N.rni1,in MI