The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-01
A Brief CHAPTER for Volunteers.

1t. Gen. Sir CHARLES NAPIER, one of the
greatest military men Of the age, has recently
addressed letter to the British public on the
defences of England. In the course of this
paper the following hints to volunteers occur:
with regard to your volunteer corps,
think each should consist of from one 10 four
companies, each company consisting OF one
hundred men, with a captain and two iIeute-
nants, and advise you to let each man carry
two small cartridge boxes, made TO slide on
q girdle round the waist, so that one may be
carried before and one behind, each holding
thirty rounds of ammunition thus the weig bit
would be divided, and consequently more easily
carried.
s'Get some old soldier for your adjutant, to
teach YOU, not q long course of drill, but Just
seven things, namely !:
Il. 10 face right and left by word of coni-
mand.
"2. To march in line and in column.
49, To ertend and close files as light in
fanlry, with supports
81. To change front in extended and in
close order.
SIS. To relieve the skirmishers.
Sc. To form solid squares and r0HyinS
squares
~. To form an advanced guard.
"These seven things are all that you requires
do not let any one persuade you to learn more.
"Let your practice at a target be constant;
also habituate your corps to take long marches,
from fifteen to twenty miles, with your arms
and ammunition on; and also in running, or
what is called double quick time.' These
must be arrived at by gradually increasing
from small distances. No single man, much
less body of men, can make these exertions
without training. Also, subscribe to premi
ubo he hos hot Ia nnf
be exclusive in forming your corps; take your
gamekeepers as your comrades, and any of
your laborels that will enrol themselves. A
gentleman will find no Drawer or better COM
rades than among his own immediate neigh
bors aud tenants. Should you require to
throw up a breastwork, they will be more
handy with the spades and pickaxes than
yourselves.
''The fifth point that would speak of is,
not to forget that enthusiasm, though good if
under command, is mschievous if it run riot
Gus. Enthusiasm is good when it opposes
selfshness, and makes men devote themselves
to the service of their country but if it gets
into a heavy fire, it generally-runs away
1t is a sort of Dutch courage. When it arises
under a heavy fire, and upon an order to
charge bayonets, it is not very Injurious;
but if it begins with MIME rifle, at two
miles distance from the enemy, it will get out
of the head and into the heels as he approaches.
The Italians were bursting with IL till they
got near 10 the unenthusiastic soldiers OF old
Radetzk, when it evaporated. Drill and dis
cipline are dull things but they beat enihusi
asm to fits in campaign. lfenihusiasm and
courage unite in one man, he jumps over a
wall and gets shot if he is not enthusiastic,
but is we'll drilled, he kneels down behind IA
wall deliberately and with comparative safety
fires over it and shoots his enemy. But great
spirit, without boasting, and we'll brought I'M
der the power ofreflection, is the characteristic
humble opinion. you ought at the present crisis
TO call forth all over England.