The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-04-30

WAR DEPARTMENT, March 90 $50.
SIR: In compliance with the resolution
Of the House Of Representatives Of the 9th
instant, 'sihal the Secretary Of War be re-
quesied TO communicate his plan, in detail,
for the reorganization Of the militia Of the
United States" have the honor TO submit
the following report:
The impossibllity Of guarding cur expos.
ed frontiers by the small regular force Of
the United States renders il necessary that
some plan should be devised to make the
militia available without burdenlng the coun.
try, either by too great an expense IN main.
tanning it IN the field, or by abslracting too
large a number Of useful citizens from the
productive laboTs Of agriculture or Of the
mechanic arts.
The mass of the militia Of the United
States, as at present organized, does not
fall short OF one million five hundred ,hous
and men; and every day that ihe are
mustered for inspection or exercise alb,
stracts at least one million Of dollars from
the earnings of labor, without adding any
thing whatever to the military efficiency of
the country, and too often affecting MUIR.
ously the moral condition of those who are
assembled for the purpose. Left by the
i little instruction they receive on such occa.
slons, without discipline, subordlnallou, or
knowledge Of the use Of arms, and totally
ignorant Of the manner Of taking care OF
themselves or Of each in the field, such a
militia, if called cut IN mass, would rather
prove a burden than an assistance to the
army employed in the defence Of The coun.
try, as IS shown by the experience Of Gen.
Washington, repeatedly expressed in his
correspondence, as we'll as by the result Of
more recent events during the last war
Ii ls true that, in The principal cities Of the
Uoited States, there are TO be found well
/ organized, disciplined, and soldier like com.
panies, baItalions, regiments, brigades, and
divisions Of volunteers men who, ndLYldu.
ally and collectively, would do good service
10 the field. But anyone acquainted prac.
ticaly with war knows that to fight brave
", and even 10 man1uvre cooiy and skill
fully, on the field of battle are not the most
necessary qualifications Of the soldier
They are, perhaps, the most common, and
the least often called into action. Soldiers
must be taught their duties in garrison, and
10 the field, IN marching and encamping, in
the police and military administration Of an
army. This instruction, SO essential, and
without which il is Impossible 10 form the
soldier, cannot be given in days training,
by officers nearly as ignorant of these
branches Of the service as the soldiers them.
selves. ] speak Of the generality Of tie
militia officers. IL must be impaired by
veteran aud sklltul officers, in garrison and
! in camp and to men and officers alike and
/ it must be impaired to a few al time
Any attempt tc organize, discipline, and
render every way fiji for service in the fed,
the unwieldy mass Of the militia Of this vast
country, which wiil soon ascend to two mil.
lions OF men, must fail for want of means,
and leave the country exposed to the terri.
bic disasters which will attend the first
burst of war upon its frontiers, if they are
to be defended by armed but undisciplIned
multitudes.
1t has been supposed that it will be suffi.
Client to instruct the officers only, aud that
the privates can, under well.instructed off
GERS, be formed into soldiers instantly, BY
the magic voices Of good COMMANDERS
This is double and most dangerous or.
ror. In the first place, it requires time to
form a soldier, under the most practlsed,
experienced, and shaIful officers and our
soil might be polluted by the foot Of the in.
vadcr, our cities taken and sacked, and our
forts occupied, before our armed citizens
could be taught the elements OF tactics, or
the simple use Of the frelock. And, second,
ly, It will prove fatal error 10 suppose that
an officer can be formed by being drilled as
q private. The habit of command, the
prompt eye, the frm tone, the self posses. |
sion IN moments of difficulty and danger /
which inspire the men with confidence and
courage, and are so essential TO secure their
ready obedience, are the result Of practice.
The officers and privates who are to act
together in the field must be drilled togeth.
er, and practised, the one to the duties of
obedience, and the other Of those of com.
mand.
Satisfied that an efficient force cannot be
created by drilling the officers alone, as
well as of the impraetcability Of rendering
the whole mass OF the militia available, at
the same time, for the defence Of the coun.
try; and convinced from the experience of
our past wars, that it is necessary 10 or.
sanize and discipline q select body Of clti |
zen soldiers, who, in moment OF danger, /
will know their stations, aud their duties
when assembled there, and who, although /
separated from the mass for short time, |
will return and impart TO II tho military
knowledge and experience they have &c.
CURED during their period of service.
have prepared the plan, the details Of which
are herewith submitted, agreeably to tho
resolution OF the House. 1t is believed that,
on examining them, it will be apparent that
the scheme is not liable to any one of the
objections that are urged against large
standing armies; but on the contrary, that
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