Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-05

the regiments is not noVellyi " - ohiy ie@.o
ring what has been usual in Time oil war. IN
The war of 1879 each regiment had Two majors;
and such, it is believed, IS The case IN Inc h.iii
tary establishments OF other countries. am
on;re snre the necessity for il could never be
,pnre nrosnt Than il is al this lime in our re-
on.,r regiments. But this would only be mi
legation II The evil 10 which have referred.
THE service must continue 10 suffer detrimeni
mill some plan is devised 10 Withdraw from
their nominal commands those who are Incapa-
caeI 10 discharge their appropriate duties,
and 10 prevent The actual command from being
deyoved upon officers OF inferior grade, VINO
have also, in another position, lhcir own appro-
PIRATE duties 10 perfJIm. Il is for The best in
eresl the public service, that each officer should
BE- employed, as far as practicable, in perform
ing The duties properly aPpeIlanins 70 ms rank.
When il is seen, not as an unusual lhins, ihal
colonies are taken from their regiments 10 COM
,nand brinades, captains from their companies 10
command regiments, and companies ieii IN
charge of The lowest grade OF commissioned DIN.
cc.s. | am quite certain (and il may be said
without disparagement TO those Put in command
so much above their rank that state OF things
exists in the army detraclirg greatly fo'n lis eth
Glen y, and demanding correction.
The plan suggested by the lae commanding
general Of the army, (Majot General Maromb)
in his annual report ot 1887, would, II Is beieYed,
il carried into effect, remove, 10 great extern,
The evils here presented; and, as II seems 10 oe
one which has mel with mos, favor, and against
which The fewest objections have teen urged,
would respectfully recommend II 10 iaVoraoie con-
sideialion. II proposes 10 withdraw lfoiA COM
u.and such officers as have become suPeian-
nua,cl Of incapacitatcd continuing 10 thrih ohiy
their monthly paw, and giving 10 those VINO sue
which The former are now entitled hy ex.s!ng
laws Thus, a colonel who had become inca
pacitaled from age, or any other cause, would re-
lire on the full pay of his rank, without any other
emoluments the lieutenant colonel, highest IN
rank. would succeed 10 the vacancy, with the
rank OF colonel, and receive only The pay Of lieu
tenant colonel, with the emolumen,s Of colonel,
who would be Withdrawn.
So The major who would, by promotion, be-
come lieutenant colonel would receive The pay
of major and the emolumenls OF lieutenant colo
mel; and the senior captain, in like manner, would
receive the rank Of major, with The pay OF cap
tain and emolumenis oil major; and so with the
other grades in succession. Should this sugges-
ZION I've adopted, it would he proper that the mode
Tor designating The officers To be Withdrawn from
service should he regulated by law, in such n
manner that their disability shall be fairly and
fully asceftained
Many Offences and some Of them Of The sravcsl
character may be committed BY our troops and
per ,ons connected with the army, which are mol
by express provisions Of law within The jurisdic-
ton Ut any military tribunal Snch offences,
when committed within The limits OF The United
States are referred 10 he !edera! or state courts,
and The Offenders are TUNED over ~ them lor trial
AID punishment; tnl when perpclralod IN ,hr
enemy's country, temporarily III Possession OF
:, 4 It,. tha,rh &c
any mode of Furnishing The criminals There
NAV no, b. any civil tribunal to which the cases
can be referred and The military courts decline
10 take cosnizance OF them under The belief that
they have no legal right 10 do so.
Without some authority Ia punish such crimes
great inlary will necessarily result. This imPu-
nitv 10 offenders is alike rernicious in lis eflsc ;
upon The interests ui the public service, and upon
The rights and persons oi our own cilzsn be-
longing to or employed with The army, as well as
upon hose OF the inhabitants Of the country tenn
posaIi'v occupied by our troops. In such state
of things il is scarcely possible that ihr suaIan-
ices Of protection, made by The direction Of our
Government can be fully executed. therefore
recommend that cours-ma.tial, or some military
tribunal, 10 be organized by The general in com
mand, should be vested, BY express provisions Of
law. with authority 10 try offences committed be-
yond the limits OF the United States, and within
The district oil country in the actual occupancy al
our military forces, where there are no civil OF
criminal courts or none bui those OF The enemy
To which the offenders can be delivered up ioT
trial and punishment.
The acl Of Congress authorizing the acceptance
OF the services oil volunteers proyIdts that they
sh n furnish their own clothing, and receive
therefor communication in money II was deter
mined tina, those first called out were enlit!ed 10y
law 10 be paid in advance for one years clothing
and each volunteer received inrty-iwo dollars on
being mustered into service. Ihis sum was MOI
always appropriated for clothing, and many o.
them soon became so dtsi Ute as 10 suffer in lheii
hea h and in other respects, To be scarcely III fol
service. To this cause, in no inconsiderab!e de
cree is to be ascribed the great disparity OF sick
ness between The volunteers ana The regular
troops, Inc later being we'll clothed by the GOV
eminent, and comparatively much more healthy
If paid in advance, there is danger that The com
mutation money will not b. applied 10 the proper
object or not judiciuusly applied; ard il with
held until earned, those entering the service vii
not be able in many cases, 10 procure need
iul supply, and consequently will suffer for ih'
want thereof, or be obliged 10 pay enormous pr
ces.
To remedy these Inconvenience, recon
mend that the present law should in this respec
/
should be enlarged, and the government requiret
to provide supply Tor The volunteers and fur
nish il 10 them al cost, in lieu Of tho allowanc,
in money now directed TO be paid; and that nj
money in lieu oil clothing should be paid, uncs
the commanding officer OF the company to whicl
| the soldier hcongs shall certify that he is wei
supplied with proper clothing.
| With view 10 bring 10 your particular notic
the transactions OF The several branches OF IN
public service connected with this department dn
ring The last year, herewith transmit the report
made 10 me by The chief officers in charge ui them
These reports will show thai the duties Of eacl
have been discharged with industry, fidelity an
skill. In most OF them suggestions are made 10
| changes which can be effected only by The actor
OF Congress. have mol been disposed 10 yield viii
facility 10 these Suggestions, but some oil them ar
deemed by me so necessary 10 remedy cxiSln
evils or 10 improve the efficiency OF lie service
thai sense Of duty urges me not only 10 notice
but 10 commend them 10 favorable consideration
With proper leeling against an ovcrgrow
military establishment constant efforts have bee
made through long period Of peace with whic
this country was blessed 10 reduce all The b.anche
Of il 10 the loves, point compatible with the yeIl
moderate wants Of tranquil times; but the int.
yention oil stale OF war renders il not only ne
cessary TO arrest This process OF reduction, but Il
provide Tor the gfeally lncrcdseu ueindnus result
| ing from this important change.
The notifications which seem TO me 10 be re
CURED will he briefly noticed in my remarks uPo.
these subordinate departments; the usefulness q
necessity for several OF Them are stated more a
large in the accompanying reports.
Our peaceful relations with those foreign pow
ers who could command The means Of assailin:
us particularly on our seatoard, are now belle
settled than when submilled my last ANNUAL &c
port. This consideration together with the anil
ripaion Of large expenditures in prosecuting th'
existing war, has led TO greatly reduced estimates
| for Notifications and defensive works on on
coasts and inland frontiers. The appropriations
mainly for these objects, al the las! session .
Congress, were 81 100000. The estimates Of In
next year amount 10 only s495 600. The severn
objecls to which il is proposed 10 apply this sun
are specifically enumerated in The report Of III,
Chief Engineer together with the considerations
which have prevailed in presenting these esli
males.
The act authorizing The enlistment Of compa
ny Of engineer soldiers, usually called sappers
miners and ponloniers, passed on the 18Th o
M,u. he, thev could moi he ORGANIZED in season IL