The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-14
ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA.
Letter from The Secretary Of Var, transmit
ting system Of reorganization Of he M
Htid of the United States.
WAR DEPARTMENT, March 20, 1910.


WAR DEPARTMENT, March 90, 1910.
Sir: In compliance with the resolution of
the House Of Representatives Of the 9th in
slant, " that the Secretary of War be requested
to communicate his plan, in detail, for the reor-
ganiZation of the militia of the United States, +"
have the honor to submit the following report
The impossibility Of guarding our exposed
frontiers by the small regular force Of the United
States renders it necessary that some plan should
be devised to make the militia available without
burdening the country, either by too great an
expense in maintaining it in the field, or by alb
stracting too large number of useful citizens
from the productive labors of agriculture or Of
the mechanic arts
as at present organized, does not fall short of one
million five hundred thousand men and every
day that they are mustered for inspection ex-
ercse abstracts at least one million of dollars
from the earnings of labor, without adding any
thing whatever to the military eficiencylof the
country, and too often affecting injuriously the
moral condition of those who are assembled for
the purpose. Left by the little instruction they
receive on such occasions, without discipline,
subordination or knowledge Of the use of arms,
and totally ignorant of the manner of taking
care of themselves, or Of each other in the field,
such militia, if called out in mass, would
rather prove burden than an assistance to the
army employed in the defence Of the country,
as Is shown by the experience of Gen. Wash
ington, repeatedly expressed in his correspon-
dcnce, as well as by the result Of more recent
events during the last war. II is true that in
the principal cities in the United States there
are TO be found well organized, disciplined, and
soldier-lke companies, battalions, regiments,
brigades, and divisions of volunteers; men who,
individually and collectively, would do service
in the field.
But any one acquainted practically with war,
knows that TO fight bravely, and even TO ma
n9uvre coolly and skilfuly on the field of battle,
are not the most necessary qualifications Of the
soldier. Soldiers must be taught their duties in
garrison and in the field, in marching and en-
camping, in the police and military admins
tration of an army.
This instruction, so essential and without
which it is impossible TO form the soldier, can
not be given in days training, by officers near
ly as ignorant of these branches of the service
as the soldiers themselves. | speak of the ge-
morality of the militia officers. Ii must be I'M
parted by veteran and skilful officers, in garri-
son and IN camp, and to men and officers alike ;
and II must be impaired 10 n few al the time
Any attempt TO organize, discipline and render
every way fit for service in the field. the un-
wieldy mass Of the militia of this vast country.
which will soon amount TO two millions of men.
must fail for want of means, and leave the coun-
try exposed TO the terrible disaster which will
attend the first burst of war upon its frontiers if
they are TO be defended by armed but undscip-
lined mulhtudcs.
II has been supposed that it will be sufficient
to instruct the officers only and that the prIvates
can, under well-instructed officers, be formed
into soldiers Instantly, by the megic voices OF
good commanders. This is double and a most
dangerous error. In the first place, il requires
time TO form soldier, under the most pracrised,