The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-25

TIE militia Of the State Of Vow York.
We have received copy Of the annual report Of
the Inspector General Of the New York State Militia,
(B. F. Bruce) which has been transmitted to his
Excellency, Governor Seymour, for presentation TO
the Legislature. From this statement, it appears
that during the past year the organization Of the
militia has been highly successful. BY the amended
act of April l6th 1851, officers at once placed in
command of their respective corps, and cannot be
superseded after having completed the organization
thereof as they were liable to be under the law ols47
which offers an incentive to effort which has been, and
still promises to be- highly beneficial Encampments
are reported to have been held in twenty regimental
districts, which number greatly exceeds that OF any
previous year. The encampment Of the five regl-
ments composing the fifth and sixth brgades was
held at East New York, commencing on the 30th OF
September last, which was one Of the most imposing
military displays Of the kind ever witnessed. Two
hundred and fifty tents were pitched at the encamp-
ment, and about 200 men, rank and file, were on
parade duty. An encampment Of the Fifty-frst
regiment, under the command Of Col. .. Vanden-
burgh, was held at Syracuse on September 20, 1852
during which time the full routine of camp and field
duty according to the United States regulations was
rigidly enforced, and strictly complied with. The
report states that the new organization, when COM
pete, will comprise an armed equipped and uniformed
military force of about 1000 citizen soldiers, and
suggests the expediency Of making some provision
for holding annually at some central point in the
State military drill, camp Of instruction, for
twenty consecutive days, to be attended by one or
more delegates or representatives from each reg-
mental district such persons to be selected by the
military boards of the respective districts The mum.
Der of n 900 men may appear to be small, in case of
invasion or otherwise; but it will no doubt be
bered by readers that we furnished statistics
short time since, which clearly proved, that IN the
short space of six hours New York alone could fur
nish so 600 men, well disciplined and equipped, TO-
gether with two hundred pieces of cannon. The re-
port announces that the whole military force Of the
State Except in the first division district and the
county Of Kings) is to be raised by the volunteering
of such able-bodied and white male citizens are
willing to enlist in the service for term OF seven
years. and that each company shall be limited to
fortysix in number, each officer and man furnishing
himself with a complete uniform rs prescribed by
the commanderinchief, and subject to such restric-
tions limitations and alterations as he may order
The report further states that various have con-
trbuted to render the mtayfund much less than the
Legislature had reason to suppose it would be when
the law was enacted; but that if the present plan
for the organization of the militia is carried out
to successful completion, further legislation will be
necessary, in order to provide fund sufficient to pay
the compensation allowed by law to those engaged
in the services and the report respectfully submits,
whether it would not be more in harmony with the
principles of our form of government, and more
ducive to the public welfare, to require the whole
pense of sustaining such organization to be betrayed
by the State itself instead of compelling young men
to bear the burthen, many of whom have compare
lively other ability for paying the communication
tax than that of being white male citizens between
the ages Of eighteen and forty-fve years. The re-
port suggests the propriety Of thorough revision
and codication of the existing militia laws, for as
at present the statute book they are difficult to
be defined and understood, and that the per diem
allowance to the members of uniform companies be
increased, the expenses to which theyare subject
renders the present compensation inadequate. The
report further states that circular having been sent
to the commanding officer Of each regimental district,
calling upon him to report, that returns have been
made from sixty-one regiments which show the ex-
stence of armed equipped, and uniformed military
force of 900 men, that there are ten regimental
districts from which no report has been received,
the return from which will probably increase this
number. General Bruce states that he has visited
and examined the regimental and company armo-
ries, which generally were in good condition, and
that the State arsenGs which he has inspected were
in condition which reflected great credit upon the
able and efficient officers having them in charge, as
well as to the subordinate officers to whose more
immediate care they are entrusted. In conclusion,
the InspectorGeneral highly commends the fidelity
and earnestness with which the officers and soldiers
Of perfectng our military organization, (under the
existing aws,) have performed their duty and that
if their fidelity and zeal is met with corresponding
sympathy the part of the government and its citi
Zens the time is not far distant when the State will
be possessed of military force, which for its eff
cheney and thorough discipline will be unrivalled by
the citizen soldiers of any State or country