Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-10
POLITICAL.
g MI ITIA OF TnE limited sTATES.

POLITICAL.
MILITIA OF THE UNITED STATES.
from the Secretary ~ Bar transmitting rs
tenn Of re organization of a.td Of The Unuce
ssWAR DEPARTMENT, March %, $50.
ssSIR: In compliance with the resolution OF the House
of Representatives. of the 9th INST, that the Secre-
tnrv Of War be requested to communicate his plan IN
detail for the reorganization OF the militia OF the l.
States. have the honor of submitting the following
Report
1.-THE mpossibty of guarding our exposed frontiers
BY the small regular force of the United States renders
it necessary that plan should be devised to maze
the militia available without hurdenin5 the country
either by great expense IN maintaining u IN the
field by abstractng too large number OF iseinl ct
zens from the productive abors OF 2gricuituie or OF
the mechanic arts.
..The mass of the militia of the United States at
present organized. dccs not fall short Of one million
1--WE hundred thousand men; and every day that they are
r.ustered for inspection exercise abstracts at eas,
on o,on of dollars from the earnings OF labor with
out add;pr any thing whatever to the military etiicen
CIV of the country, and too often affecting urousiy
the moral condition ofhose who are assembled or Tue
purpose Left BY the little instruction they receive on
rrch occasion, without discipline, subordinatlon, or
knoeledpe Of the use OF arms and totally Ignorant OF
rho manner of taking of themselves or oil eacn
other in the field, such militia, If called ont IN mass,
would rather prove burden than an assistance 10 the
army employed in the defence OF the country, as Is
shown BY the experience of General Washington, re-
peaedly expressed in his correspondence, as well MS
by the result of more recent events during the last war
It is true that in the primo pal cities OF the Cn;teo
States there are 10 be found well organized d'sc'ph
ed and solder-like companies, battaons, regiments
brgades and divisions of volunteers men who, Ind-
ydunly and collectively would do good service IN the
field But any one acquainted practically with war
knows tina: to fight bravely, and even 70 msnGuvEe
cooy and ski!fully, the field OF battle IRE not te
most necessary qualifications OF the solder lhey are
uerha ps the most common, and the least often called
into action Soldiers must be taught their duties IN
garrison and in the field, in marching and encampIng,
in the police end military administration of army.
This instruction, essential, and without which It IS
impossible to form the soldier cannot be given IN
DAVIS training, by officers nearly ignorant OF these
branches Of service the soldiers themselves speak
of the generality of the militia officers. It must be i'm.
parted b. veteran and s.fu officers, n garrison ana
in camp and to men and officers alike; and must be
impaired TO few at time" Any attempt to organize,
discipline and render every way ut Tor service IN the
field the unwicdy of the militia OF this vast cou!-
.ry which Will soon ascend TO two millions OF men,
must fail for ofmeans, and leave the country ex-
posed to the terrible disasters which will attend the
r,t burst of upon its frontiers if they are to be de.
Tended bv armed but undisciplined multitudes.
at has oesn supposed that it will be sufficient TO in.
s.ruct the officers only end that the pTTates can, IN
der we'll instructed officers, be formed no soldiers m
stantly, by the magic voices OF good commanders
This double and most dangerous error In the hrs
place requires time to form soldier, under the most
practised experienced and skilful officers and our soil
nipht be polluted BY the foot of the INVADER cities
taken and sacked and our forts occupied before our
armed citizens could be taught the elements of tactics
or The simple of the frelock. And, secondly, it
wl prove fatal error to suppose that officer can
be formed by being drilled private The habit of
command, the prompt eyc the firm Tone the self-pos
session in nome nts of difficulty and danger which in
spre the men with confidence and courage, and
essential their ready obedience are the result
Of practice The officers and prvates who arc TO act
toqether in the field must be drilled together and prac
tsed the one the duties Of obedience, and the other
to those of command.
aSatis6ed that efficient force cannot be created by
drilling the officers alone well as OF the mpractca
hlity Of rendering the whole mass OF the militia ava'la
able at the same time for the defence of the country
and convinced from the experience of our past wars
that is necessary 10 organize and discipline select
BODY of citizen soldiers who, in moment OF danger,
will know their stations, aud tne duties when assem-
bled there and who although separated from the mass
for short time will return and nipart to 1t the militia
~ knowledge aud experience they have acquired du-
ring their period of SERVICE have prepared the plan,
the details of which herewith submitted, agreeaby
to the resolution Of the House II is believed that
examining them, will be apparent ;ha tie scheme IS
not liable TO any of the objections the urged
against large standing armies; but the contrary that
il will form select body of we'll disciplined militia
DIV themselves to defend their country in the hour of
danger against any sudden attack, and furnishing
corps around which the less instructed may rally
Posse in some degree, the military knowledge and
skill Of regular soldiers they will be able alike pro-
feet their country from foreign foe, and to guard its
liberties from any DANGER l''a' may 'ea'eh '"en''
t appears to ME that the organization now proposed
will prevent the necessity ofmaintaning large stand
ing armies, even in time ofwar The militia properly
drilled aud instructed will be thereby rendered perfect
y efficient and capable of defending the forts aiongour
maritime frontier which, in the absence OF such an or
ganizat,on, would require regular army of fifty thou
sand men, At present, the militia cannot be rendered
Immediately available against surprise; whereas. un'
der the proposed organization, they would repair to
their stations at the first alarm, and would be ecent
soldiers when there In case Of war, those stations
would become permanent, and arrangements might ca
sy be made to render the service as little burden
some as possible to the artzan and mechanic
Every precaution has been taken to avoid all inter
ference with the rights of the States lessen their
means of defence The militia will be called out in the
manner at present provided for by law and no change
IS contemplated in the mode Of offering the several
corps of which the active class will be composed i
at will not abstract single man from The defence OF
he State where he resides, nor separate him from the