Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-08-29

MARCn 20, 1910.
Rfcryoi % TIC COMMITTEE on Zee Miitia.
WAR DEPARTMENT March %. 1910
= Sinh compliance with tho resolution of the
House Of Representatives of the 9th instant that the
Secretary OF War be requested 10 communicate hs
plan. detail for the reorganization of the militia of
the United States" have the honor To submit, the fol-
lowing report
Fhe imPr~sibiliy OF guarding our exposed frontiers
10y The small regular force of the United States rem
der' 1t necessary ha, some piah should be devised to
make the militia available without hardening the
Try, eithcr by ioo great expense maintaining Il
IN the field. OF By ahsracting too large number Of
useful citizens fUm the productive labOEs asrcu
ture oi OF the mechanic arts
Tho of the militia OF the United States. as ui
present organized oucs fl short of one million
hve hundred thousand men and every day that they
are mustered Tor inspection cXccse abstracts least
million OGdollars fr, The earnings of labor with
out adding any thing whatever the military eficicn-
~ of the country, and too affecting nlurousy
the moral condition Of those who arc assembled for tho
purpose Lct by the little instruction they receive un
such occasions. without discipline. subordinaiion
knowledge "i the use of arms and otally ignorant of
the manner of taking Of themselves or of each
other IN the field, such a militia II called ont in mass
would rather prove burden Than IN usss1acc 10 the
army employed IN the defence Of the country o. il
shown by tho experience OF Gen. WAsuINGroN. re-
pcOtedly expressed has correspondence ns well o.
by the result of more events during the last
ar IL true that m the principal cities Of tho Cni-
ie States, there II be found well organized dsci-
pned and oldeTke companies baitallious regiments
jgado.. and divisions of volunteers; men who ind.
vdually and collectively, would do good service ia
Ire held But any one acquainted pract cay with
war knows that Co fight bravcly and even % mlnnvre
ooolly and skilfully the field battle are not the
most necessary qualifications Of the soldier They are
perhaps, the common and The least often called
INTO action. Soldiers must be Taught their duties n
garrison, and IN tho field in hing and cncampiag
an the police eui militlry administration Of an army
tbs 'ns'rnc'ion - essential and without which it Is
impossible TO form the soldier, cannot Do given in
DAYS training by officers nearly ignorant of these
branches of the service the soldiers themselves
speak OF the generality Of the militia officers IL must
be impaired by veteran and skiliul officers garrison
and IN camp. and 10 md officers. alike and IL
must be impaired % few at a time. ANY attempt TO
OrgnnIze, discipline. AMI render oyery WY m for scr
VICE in the field. the unVielIy mass Of the mn of
this country, which will SOON ascend 20 two mil
lions Of men, must ia for want Of means and leave
he country exposed 10 the terrible disasters which will
attend the first burst Of upon s frouuers # they
are TO be defended by the armed but undsciplned
Inulutudes
-gci The officers only and that the prvates cun under
well disciplined officers, be formed into soldiers in
stlnily, 5yIhe magic voices of good cOmmaudcrs-
IhIs is double and most dangerous crror. In the
hrt place, u cIuires tme Ertn soldier under the
most prt~tsed, experienced. AMI sklfIl ofrcrs md
our snil might be pOlGed by the foot Of the invader
our cities taken and sacked and forts occupied BE-.
Sore our armed citizens could De taught the clements
OF nctcs or the simple Of tho frclock Ana So
condy, viii prove fatal Crrur suppose that an
officer he formed by being drilled az n private
The habit Of command the prompt eye the firm tune.
the self possession difficulty and dur
which inspire the men with confio nee and courage
and are essential To their ready obedience
the result Of practice. The officers and prvaies
Who are TO act together Ia The field he a--lled
together, and practlsed, the the duties Of obcI
ence aud the other 20 those of command
Satisfied that efficient force cannot be crea
ted by crng The officers alone n well Of the i'm
practlcaby of rendering the whole mass of the mill
'a available, al The same time. for the defence Of the
country; and convinced from the experience Of our
past wars that tishecessary organize and discipline
select body % citizen sollien, who a moment Of
danger. will know their stations and their drics when
assembled there, and who, although separated from the
mlss Tor u short time, will return aud npar 10 Il the
Military knowledge and experience they have ncJui.
g4ilPT AAfsF PSF "a Ssfsiess rSrr. e.
20 the resolution OF The House. II Is believed
A. on examining them, It viii be apparent that the
"hens Il not liable 10 any OF the objections tlt
are urged against large staining armies bun ON In,
contrary that II will form select body Of well dissi
pliUci militia, ready fhCm-elves % dtitud thcr cnun.
try IN the hour Of danger against anv sudden nltur
"nl furnishing corps around which the les iusiruc.
ted mass may rally; possessing in some degree the mil
Ilay knowledge and skill OF regular soldiers they Will
be able alike to protect their country from foreign
''nnd to glarl as liberties from any dang that may
threaten them.
fappcnrs That tho organization now PROPOSED
viii prevent the necessity of maintaining large stand
InS armies, even IA time Of war. Tho militia proncr.
ly drilled and instructed, will DO thereby rendered
perfectly efficient, and capable of defending the f,ris
along our mlrlIIlne frontier which, "a the absence OF
such an or-InIzItion would require a regular army
OF hfy thousand men. Al present, the militia cannot
he rendered Immediately available against a surprise
whereas under The proposed organization they would
repair 10 their stations at the first alarm and would be-
efficient s,liicrs when there In case Of war those
stations would become permanent. and arrangements
mghi easily DC madc render the service a. it,
n -. fl.,
ehlnc.
Every precaution has been taken To avoid all inter
ference with the rights SIaes or 10 lessen Ihcir
Of defence. The miliiia will be called out in
The manner at present provided for 10y law and no
change is cOntcn plated tho mode Of differing the
several corps Of which the active class will BE- com
sad.
will not abstract a single man from tho defence
ale where D. resides. nor separate him from
seitizeHs1o which he belongs IL will on
'rUnsthlcn the ieleuccs 81 each State, 10y
nNeli disciplined force taken from
sking part Of the People equally in
fellow citizens in the preservation
-oldy az all tiucs % guard the
their country. Neither
O., with The constitutional
own militia accord
ross hccnusc
President
IKE SER
1ios