Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-05-25
Wan DEPARTMENT. March ooh ls1o

tiouse OF Representatives IL the OH instant. ",h,,
me secretary 4 War be requested TO communicate
ms pan, IN detail Tor The reorganization Of The mi
hia OF The United States" / have the homo, IA
submit tie following report;
! he lnpossibtlny of guarding our exposed hon-
ae's oy Tue small regular force of the United States
'enoe's necessary that some plan should be devils.
:" 10 make the militia available without burdenlnp
'he county eilhetby too great expense in main.
tanning II IN til" field by ahslracliug TOO large a
NUMBER oi useful ei,ztns from the productive la.
oo.S OF agriculture or Of the mechanic afts.
ne mass oi Ibe militia otthe United States, as al
p'eSen' organized, does NOT fall short oi million
i'e hundred thousand men; aud every day that the,
are mustered for inspection or exercise abstracts nj
'east one million OF doats hon the earnings of la
oor without adding any hing whatever TO the mill.
aiy efficiency Of The country, aud too often affecting
inJhflously The moral condition ot those no are as
se"oled Tor lie purpose LEFT by the liule insttuc.
lon lhey receive ON such occasions, Without d,seip-
Inc, subotdination, on knowledge Of the use of arms
an" '"iahs ignorant OF The manner of taking care OF
themselves or each other IN the field, such ml a,
IL called ont III mass. would rather prove u burden
lhan an assistance 10 the army empl,,ed IN the de
renee OF the eouptfy ~ is shown by the excellence
oi Gen. ashlngon, repeatedly eAptessed IN his cor
Responsiveness as well as by the result OF more enl
events during the last war. 1t is tue that, IN the
rfInepal Giles oflhe Guted States llere are To b.
found well organized, dsclpa,d. aud soldier like
companies, hattalions regIMtnts, ngades. aud d.
VISIONS Of soluneefs men Who iutli,duaiIy and OF.
ieciVely would do good service III The field. But
ny one acquainted practically with war know, thai
to helh btavely. aud even 10 ms, nnyre cuoy aud
sN'lluliy, on ne field ol battle are not The most nc-
etssaft qualifications ol tie soldier They are per
hats' The most common. and the least olen called
II" action. Soldiers n.usi lie taught Their dnlles
III GARRISON aud IN the field, III marching and
camping, ~ the polce AMI M IlIaty administration OF
an amy ms instruction, so essential, aud with
oni winch II Is impossible lorm the suldI,r an
not be ulipU "A uaN bN
12no'aLt II these branches Of The service aS the
so'uiefS lhth selves. speak Of the generality 81
the ntnIa thcels. 1t be imported b,
veteran aud skilnl otietrs. IN garrison and camp
hndto men and officers alike, aud II must be I'M
parted 'o a f" AT d time. Any attempt 10 mganze,
discipline, and render every way fit fur stiytce
III the held, the uunIeldS mass OF the Militia If
tn, vast country, winch wall soou ascend 10 Two
millions oil men, must tan Tor want Of means, aud
leave the country exposed to the terrible d,s,sle,s
which viii attend the first burst OF war upon lis iron
tiers they are 10 be drIeuled by armed bot uuds
eitlntd mulItudes.
1t has been supposed that it will be suffiti cm to
n>tutt The officers onls. AID Hat The pIvates can
nhdel well instructed officers be formed INTO soldiers
instantly, b, The magic voices of good commanders
lhis isa double aud most dangerous error. Ia
The FIST place, tequ time iornl soldier under
Inc most ptacllsed, EXPERIENCED ard skllinl officers
aud soil mIghl be polluted by the foot of ,hc in
vhdef, our cues taken aud sacked aud tors
tie elements OF tactics or he simple use Of the fire
look. And. secondly, viii prove fatal euor 10
suppose that an offctr can b. formed by being drll
ed as private. The labil OF command, the prompt
eye the firm lone, the self possession IN m0meuls Of
difficulty and danger which nspue The men wnh
e"nh1rnce aud courage, and are 50 essential to Sc
cure lhcIi ready obedience, the result OF pfac-
nee. The officers and privaes who are TO ACT To-
eethef the field must DE drilled log ell er, and prac
used, the 10 The dates of obedience, and the
other To those oicommand.
Satisfied that efficient force cannot be cteaied
by drilling the officers alone, well as OF the
placiicaoiIty OF ienderng the whole mass OF the
militia available, al the same time for the delen &c
of the country; and convinced. from The experience
Of our past halIt is necessary 10 organize and
discipline select body OF chlzt soldiers, who, in
moment OF danger will know their sta,ons, and
lhen duties when assembled there, and who, al
houe IN separated from The mass for short time.
will return and lmpar 10 II The military knowledge
and experience they have acquired DUNG hen
period Of service have prepared the plan, The de.
tails of winch are herewith submitted, agree"bly TO
the resolution of lie House. It's believed thai, on
examining tht M II will be apparent thai the scheme
IS MOI liable any OF the objections thu are
urged against barge standing armies; but on the con-
trmy thatIt will form select body al well discIPn-
ed mitltla ready themselves To defend then country
IN the hour OF dan against any sudden attack, aud
furnishing a corps, around winch The less-inelfuct
ed mass may rally; possessing IN some degree, the
military knowledge aud skill OF regular soldiers, they
will be able alike to protect lhe eounny from 10.
reign foe, AT to guard lis liberties Tom any danger
that may threaten them,
II appears TO me that the organization now pro-
posed will prevent the Necessary al man ahihe large
standing armies, even IN time OF war. lie mil'l'i.
properly drilled and instructed, WI, thereby lie rem
dered perfectly efficient. and car allie oi defending
tie inrts along our maritime irouler which, IN The
ahsence Of such an organization, wall require + gu
lar army tf fifty thousand men. Al present, The mn
ltla cannot be rendered Immediately available against
SUNRISE: whereas under the proposed organization,
th,y would repair To their stations at The INST alarm,
and would be tfficienl soldiers hen there In case
of var those stations would bee, me permanent and
the arrangements CHIT easily be made 50 as 10 re-
der the service as liuic Grdensomc possible 70 thf
| artisan and mechanic.
Every precauion has been / ken TO avoid
! all interference with the rights OF the States,
/ or to lessen lher means Of defence. The .lIia
will he called out in tie manner al present pfoVid-
ed for hy law, aud no change Is contemplated III
/ the mode OF ollcetng the several corps OF winch
/ the fcIIve classes will be composed
II vii NOT abstract single man from the de-
fence ni the State where he resides nor sep rae
! luni from the class ol cit zens 10 when lie pc
longs 1t will on the contrary, s1rengthen the de
oteanzed and we'll disciplined force taken from the
| peonlc and making pant Of the People, equally IN
resied with Their fellow cIIlzehs III Tue preservation
Of free institutions and ready al all tunes to guard
the territory aud the l5etty OF the counity. Meth
er does 1t interfere, IN anN manner. with The con
snutional lights of the States 10 tam lhelr own
ullila according TO the dlcipllne prescribed by
/ Congress, because tie aCtlse militia VIII be en-
played by the President dnIIng the period they are