Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-09-10

compliance Wgh the resolution of the
ii'nse OF Representative Of he 9Th instant. ",ha, Tho
Secretary OF War be requested 10 commn,;c,,c M.
ptin' IA detail, tor the reorganization of the mili,i, az
The Cntci Sntcs,"lhave the honor 10 submit Inc eI.
Owing report;
The imrssihility Of guariinr orr expo.eJ r,cp,icr
10y The small regular force orlhe I'ni,,,I Sr,,cs go
ueIs necessary thai some plan should Toe devised 10
make me militia AVAILABLE without buricuinr the conn.
"g,''no5 oy too great ON expense in maintaining IL
IN me held, or by ahSirac,inc too large a number of
useful citizens from the productive lahors Of nrricuL
lure OF OF the mcchanlc arts
The mass of tho militia Of tho United States. rs al
present organized, DIES not hIl shuS of one million !
hNe hundred thousand men; and every day that they
are mustered for inspection or cNcrc,se abstracts al least
one million ofdol!ar, from the arnlugs or labor. with.
out adding any thing whatever 10 the military eficicn-
cy Of the country, and too often affecting inuriouslv
The moral condition of those who are assembled for tho
purpose. Leh by the little instruction they receive ON
such occasions. without discipline, subordina,ion. or
hh'Wledge oi the use Oi arms, and totally ignorant OF
Ue manner OF taking care Of themselves or Of each
other IN the field. such a militia, If called out in mas.
would rather prove n burden Than an assistance 10 Ia.
army employed in the defence OF the countrv. ,s
SHOWN oy inc experience OF Gen. WAsmNGroy. re-
peaiedly expressed in hs correspondence. NJ, we'll as
by the result Of more recent event. Jnring nm. Ia,
war IL IS tue that, in the principal cities of the mi
'Sl S.a'es, mere are 10 be found well organized disci.
i'ihot'ahL so.dlerikec companies, ba;allious, regiments.
".isades, and divisions Of volunteers; men who. indi-
Nidually and collectively. would do cool :, IT,, IN
'he Leld. Bat any one acquainted pracli caly with
war knows that 10 fight bravcly, and even % m,n,rvro
cooiiy and ~sSuiul!y, on the field OF battle, are no, the
most necessary qualifications of the soldier. They nrs
perhlps, the most common, and the least often called
mo action. Soldiers must be Taught their duties i'm
g1rrlsnn, and in the field. in marching and enc,m,jpr
IN the police AMI military administration Of am army
inns instruction, 50 essential. and without which Z Ii.
impossible TO fora the soldier. canno, be given i'm n
oay 5 training, b. officers nearly rs ignorant Of these
brdnehes OF the service as the soldiers themselves. |
spcak Of the generality Of The militia officer. Itmp.,
lo I'm FlFtFI by Ng.trNR and glrlET # .-
anu in camp aHi 20 men aud officers, alike; and II
must be impaired 20 a few at a time. ANY ATTEMPT 10
organize discipline, gnl render every way III for ser.
wee m tAe field, the uuwioliy mass of The mliti, cf
ihis vast country. which will soon ascend to two mil.
lions OF men, must fail Tor want OF means. and leave
'o country exposed io the terrible disasters which will
attend the irsi burst of war upon its frontiers. # they
are 10 be defended 3D. the armed but undetermined
mlliIules.
u has boea supposed that il will DO sufficient 10 in.
sruci the officers only, and that the privatos can. under
well ds% 1p!lnc! officers, be formed into soldiers in.
fltl'iy, ~ the magic voices Of good cnfuuaulcrs -
Ih.sIs a double aHd a most dangerous error. In tho
irst pilce. u requires time to form a soldier, under the
most prtc'ised, experienced, and skuiul oil ems ana
our sni "'Shi be polluted by the foot Of tho invader
rcitlcs iaken and sacked, md our forts occuuied be.
lore our armed citizens could be taught the element,
col tae les OF the supple use Of tho frelock. And, Sc.
couily. II wal prove n fatal error to suppose that an
officer can be formed by being drilled as a private
rae h1atot command, the srompt eye. the FRA tone.
hc sa!!-poAscss'oa IA moments Of difficulty and danger
when inspire the men with confidence and courage.
and are 50 essential 10 sesuro their ready obedience.
are the result Of practice. The officers and priyafcs
wao are 70 act togciher in The field must be drilled
together aud prlctscd, the one 10 the duties of obgd.
eEce, aud tho OH r 10 those Of command
SATISFIED that an efficient force cannot b. crca-
ta 10y trliing Tho officers alone, ns well rs OF the I'M.
Pai'!caoniy OF rendering the whole mass Of the mill
in available, at the same time, for the dcleure of III.
couaiTyi and convinced, from the experience Of our
past war; mat u Is necessary 10 organize and discipline
a select hn4v of FrfIz4u g.fNa.r- MI.
~I"ser, WHt know Iheir stations, and their drlies when
"Sseml!ed mere ana who, although separated from the
mas . a -h'T' iime' VIII return and lmPart 10 it the
military knowledge aud experience they have acqui-
RED during HER period Of service, Ihave prepared the
iiI" me 'e'"i's 81 wIIch are herewith submitted agree
amy 10 inc resolution OF the House. IL is believed
hI' Oh examining 'hrm' II will be apparent that the
"' = i'' H'pis any one OF the objections that
~ usen against large standing armies; but on the
e,ht'I'y' mat IL "tI form a select body Of well disot
P"i'1 m'i''a' ready themselves to del,nd their coun-
~ ~ 'a "ou' Oi danger against any sudden aliacS.
."'"''"s d C''FN' around which the less Insiruc-
y" ",Ss may RAINY possessing ~ some degree the mil
!-'y Hh'MIcis' ana sAili OF regular soldiers, they will
10 VIZ =" pI"'tc' heir country from a foreign
""' ~ sii'u rs "o1I"eS from any danger that may
- I'm
~, = '' "a' VA organization no" proposed
WI prevent me necessity OF maintaining large stand
~ ,c' "l ''"e oI war me militia proper
= ut'iSN M instructed "ll be ihercsy rendered
'pu 'lp'"ie % 'tl'n'i"s 'he ioris
80 ,' '''' "o''e,' "h''h' ih uc ansehce oi
CO ''on' "ou'u require a regular army
~ - "IN \ present 'he miIIa cannot
' '"''I1 "Nahi'"e against a surprise
- - "' P''"se' organization lhcy would
- ~ ''uC az 'c nh,i Alarm anu would be
""' mere III case Oh war Nose
~ ~" I''"'''',' ana arrangements
Mi5r 'SanN . "'u' 81 a, 10 render The service as It
80 '''SO" "S P'asloe !" me artisan aud me
y 'o' "' ~, IAsH I" a'"li an inter
" '- -, ". nc H'''eS OF !" essen 'heiF
ml'lL' % ueeh-e. inc mi'i'a WI he called out IN