Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-11

It is time thrown away to attempt to instruct them
Dui am ready to assert and prove that the entire
iout rests with the officer, and to be rbed TO
hls utter ignorance of military knowledge and con-
sequent inability TO instruct them What can be ex
pected OF set OF men strewed about in the manner
already described, without any degree of system?
4 ne uriii becomes complete burlesoue on every
'hing IKE military discipline, and exhibits n scene
worthy the comic pencil of an Hogarth.
i"e consequences is. thst the men not being able
TO see the application OF whit the officer is attempt
Wheh IN TACT the best disciplined soldier could
scarcely make out) the men lose confidence and in-
.ereS'; andimpotience, inattcntion and Ieyi,y are
the results. But consider il libel on the good
sense and public spirit of the citizen, who all
caslons Is respectful attentive and silent before the
Judge and Magistrate presiding i'm their Official Ca
pacty, OF administering the law--it is n Islander
on ms patriotism 10 say, he will not be equally
whiie endeavoring to acquire n knowlI dge of mill
tary tactics under competent person) know,
ledge so u.s. iu! in rcpelng danger from the liberties
aud institutions Of his country. say he will rot
~ he equally attentive, but under proper instruct
or (who must be capable before he command
his confidence aud attcuton)-he will in conse-
quence of being trained in n regular manner though
he should be taught only the principles of execu-
ting wheel at drll--hc will soon see how 10.
ny OF men can be brought to act in concert. The
result viii be, that hi, feelings, his patriotism mud
pride, will be reused and he will be better reconci.
led to SIX musters III the year, than he present
to one. The system which will pcrvadc his drills,
anu by which he will obtain some military know
with the law, which should require six mustcrs
OF him i'll the year, than he submits to one under an
officer who may he as ignorant us himself. For
how frequently do we hear il said that the citizen
would not mind attending muster, il lie could learn
any thing
II may be asked. how our officers to acqair.
knowledge of The various evolutions' would
answer, not hy experimenting in this loose manner
with their companies, but by passing through re-
gular course of instruction s:epby step, themselves,
IN conformity with the principles to which have
alluded consider the present method of instruct
ing oar officers ms deficient There may he some
exceptions, but am apprehensve they will be found
very few indeed, aud il is 10 this source a.cribe
the imperfect state Of discipline. am glad TO see
that the defects of this part of the system are be-
coming generally understood. That il is necessary
TO have our officers well trained before we can ex
pect TO any thing like discipline in the great bo-
dy OF the militia, must he evident as any truth
deducible from cause and effect. Consequently il
cannot be matter of surprize that the great BODY
oil our militia should be in state of entire iguo.
rance, when the officers 10 whom they are taught 10
look up,and depend upon for the necessary instruct
.on are IN most instances as ignorant themselves
40 not WISH by this remark, TO be understood as
cas"nS The least reflection on the body of the of
hcers, but only TO censure the manner in which they
trained.
would ask what can be expected of men trained
niue more IMAM TWO days in the year, and generally
IN the most loose manner? For in most of the train.
ing which have Witnessed, (or from enquiry heard
of there is not the least attempt on the mart of tbs
brigade Inspector to instruct them with any degree
of system.
1t is but justice to state, many of the brigade in
spectors with whom have conversed on the subject
have assured me they were fully sensible of the de
tecnVe mode OF instruction at present pursued and
perfectly agree with to the course ofInstr uc,
ION which should be adopted to render our mili,ia
Ut all e1cient; and in the opinion that the deE.cts
oil our system were to be attributed principally n
the want OF good method of training officers In.
Geeu 'heTe seems TO be but one opinion to this
ueIect would beg leave to suggest what should
regard as proper course of instruction to be mr.
sued, though l am aware it may not meet the views
OF every San Grade in military tactics for must
premise that the principal part of what thew have
oeen Tor years learning, is not of the least uss
would observe, that let the Brigade Insnector
De ever SO competent it is utterly impossible for him
10 ariii lhe ofhcers OF two regiments in a proper
manner, ana much more SO, the officers of whole
ppilgaue, should they be brought together in camp
consider the number too great to have that alien
ton paid TO each, which the various STAGES of die
ciPlne through which each should progress. de-
mands. would ask, what would any instructor of
our regular army think of the man who shonld AT
tempt to drill some fifty or sixty men in y hoIr
many OF them for the first time fallen in the ranks
ana consequently without the least KNOWLEDGE ~
STEP iacings the principles of wheel, dressing and
OF these principles, is dragged in some ,,o, mr. Lc
through all the routine of change ofronts nd tanks
by echeon direct and indirect and through all the
catalogue OF manGuvres that have been head of
doy
eAPaliating at times largely upon the great adya
ages OF lie echelon position and endeavorinq to
prove 70 then that 1t is an eligible mode Of chang
ing the front in face of an enemy 's
L think little reflection will rens.r :, oh;
ha me proper course of instruction will be 10 class
INC ohcers In such manner that all who have NOT
a correct knowledge Of the first princines viii be
!lo"h IN class 10 themselves, and there regularly
ucted step by step in the all-importapt princ
plies before they allowed to obtain knowjedo.
VI ''ie Jc" eVolutions strictly necessary and which
SohSiuel quite secondary in Importance | con-
t'IS 'st step SO important, that regard it as
iii"'SPenSaoie IN qualifying military officer TO move
himself with the ranks and to impayt flat necesar
ana indispensable knowledge to the men who NAV
De placed under his instruction How absurd To
suppose he can Impart knowledge to others, which
ne goes not possess himself? Alter having acouired
these principles he will be raised from 1be so,,od
aTHf' ana allowed TO fall in tho ranks to ACQUIRE a
nnoS leuse Oh me te'o movements which would be
necessary to perform in actual service
nave said, that few evolutons are necessary d,,
ring an action will now state, from INV own Nv.
P'ehce III actual SERVICE in what those few consist
ana call upon any officer of our regular army to o.
r ne mas seen any other performed by an army in
nom oi an enemy. will comprise them in some
SIX oreight movements viz f1rw;ng fran, I ..
column, at either close quarter distance-d>pion;0
again INTO hne-tdking ground to rioht or left in rS.
t@". -m"reh'ng IN column order, half aohoIe
column, o6tiquc Direct to It's former froulbc
et'Gn OF square from eotumn-adrancine or refr;ng
an line. S W 'e'"W9
have no objections to regular army in time Of
peace, pelhg SO disciplined, that you can turn or
owing to the comparatively short time which can he
devoted TO the training of militia officers ,vonIG
teGonena that that time be devoted principally to
rough and well grounded knowledge of the cc5ooJ M
e sotater; for the purpose of enabling them TO in.
lheir companies in all that is strictly necesso
fy they should know, and instructed as officers IN tie
lew movements, before enumerated. WV
But few and comparatively simnIe No ,lo.o o,,o1,,
lons are they VIII REQUIRE Considerable cnre LIZ