The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-09
ADyrrAsr oEsmAL's DxrARrxKsr.

v,
tant General, and at each department district
headquarters One OF these would probably be avAia
bic when any important detachment may DC Pc, cosc;sa
in the feld they be authorized as occasion may re-
qaire.
QuARTERMAsrER GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The ordinary service of this department in regiments
posts and chmens should be performed by the de-
tail Of capable officers from the command A limited
number Of experienced officers will be needed to per-
form the important duties OF the department with
large commands at the principal stations and to SUI
operations Of the inferior officers in the parts Of the
country most remote from the seat OF government and
Ten field officers would probably be sufficient at any
time II in doubted II many would be always
CURED. Selection and temporary appointments WIN re-
service.
coMMIssARIAT OF SUBSISTENCE.
At the head Of this service there shspId be Commits
sary General taken from the field ecers Of the army,
with the payapd allowances Of Colonel, at present
few officers would be required for the principal sta
tons and duties but the ordinary business of the de-
partment being mainly the and issue of the ratons
to the troops to be performed at and with troops
the march by proper officers detailed from the subal
terms The officers Of this department should be charg
ed with the supply Of clothing for the army.
plan Of details That in selecting sufficient number Of
junior officers to perform the ordinary service Of the staff
in the field and in garrison most Of them still serve i'm
mediatey with the troops and will not cease to be in
strusted in regimental and field duties.
MEDICAL AND PAY DEPARTMENTS.
1t is not proposed to disturb the present system as
Hospital supplies may undoubtedly be best procured by
medical officers who administer them; and in this BUSH
other agency is needed for economy efficiency
To maintain separate corps for the payment Of
the troops is expense rather dsproporoned to the
80 great extent of bs, the pav
on the establishment seem to have sufficient employ
ment When troops are assembled in campaign, the
paymasters might have additional duties imposed
them the Of the military chest, and the pay
ment Gas to extent in other seryices) Of money
orders and warrants for other branches Of the
military administration,
TYPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS.
Typographical services being included in the functions
Of the Corps Of Engineers and Of officers Of the General
organization for the Typographical corps Engineers
should be instructed by proper practice and employ
engineer service and that organization is very objection
able which makes permanent distrbutioh of duties
which should be equally shared and practsed by all and
appropriates large portion of officers to one and that
ordinarily, less important portion of its services.
In this connection may be in place to remark that
the duties of engineers require continued study and
experience Of special kind they require permanent
body Of officers. But injury result from entrust
rank, to officers whose functions in the language of
articles CT war, appertan to the most elevated branch
give effect to the rank of engineers as of other officers
charged with military duties, in accordance with the
rule which governs all other service.
ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.
The remarks relative to the speciality of the duties and
studies of engineers in some apply to those of
officers Of the ordnance. But advantage will be found in
benefit of previous service with troops and on the
other hand in giving to the officers Of troops the oppo
tu1y s tar
equipments With this view It is recommended to
tain in the ordnance corps only small number Of per-
manent officers for the more important arsenas, and
duties and to associate with them ASSISTANTS junior
officers, taken by detail from the regiments and corps
The Judge Advocates department has now only
permanent officer. Officers to Of6ciate judge advo
Gates at courts martial appointed by the officers
who order the courts This duty requires legal study
and experience, but also requires familiarity with
the mtary laws and the customs and regulations of
the service 1t is proper that judge advocates
should be appointed from military officers which is the
In the proposed organization, it is not intended to
give increased rank by virtue of their temporary ap
pointments, to the officers employed the military
staff. Their rank would remain according to their
commissions in the army It may be inexpedient to
the field Of selection y defining the grade from
valry pay and allowances Of the next higher grade
This organization removes all grounds Of controversy
and objection to the rank and exercise of command by
staff officers leaves military rank to all the military
staff.
cpe would materially increase the efficiency Of the staff
and promote the general good OF the service 1t would
regiments than the law provides furnish the ne
ce'sary details and appointments on the staff as well
for regime ntal duty No injustice undue hartshps
would probably result TO Individual officers Of the
present staff corps in assigning them to regiments.
the law for the retired list shall pass there win be no
difficulty this head But in any event, the interest
of individuals must yield to the public good.
The present organization Of the regiments is also capa
bic of material reforms In the artillery line have
army than be spared for the proper service Of ar
lery In fact, most Of artillery has always been
armed, drilled and employed as infantry As however,
it is necessary that every regular army should have
proportion of artillery armed, instructed and ready for
which service requires and maintain The regi
mental organization is now given to but in the Geld
artillery serves BY batteries and proposed to organize
srncton and for service in the field and in the
Notifications The officers and in the artillery,
not required for the reduced to be converted into
regular infantry sufficient artillery would be about
half the strength Of the present four regiments Of ar
infantry.
The cavalry fierce of army being all required for
active service Of the same kind there pro-
priety m making permanent distinction in the desg-
nation and armament of the several regiments; It is,
therefore, proposed to place all the regiments Of cavalry
the power of the executive to arm and equip them
such manner may be required BY the nature of the
service in which they may be employed.
The remarks just made in regard to dragons and
mounted rfemen apply to the case Of infantry and
foot rfemen In increasing the force Of foot troops it
proposed to designate them all as infantry leaving to
the executive the selection Of the and mode Of in
struction applicable to their service in the field.
strong reason for this arrangement exists in the
fact that with the recent improvements in small arms
it is probable that the distinction in the Of
heavy and light infantry and rihemen win nearly cease,
especially In service, where the whole force is a
BILE to be employed as light troops.
In the Prussian army, before the adoption Of the
new the service BkrmsnerS troops
late the instruction Of the whole body of infantry
II has always been difficult to devise rule Of militia
ry promotion by which the interests Of the State may
be secured in advancing none but competent men,
without affecting the just pride Of the officer vo
latng the consideration due to long and faithful service
Undoubtedly, If IL were possible that the appointing
power should always exercise perfectly enlightened
and impartial judgment the rule Of promotion by
lection might be advautageously applied in filing up all
the grades Of the army. But in no military service has
it been thought safe to adoptrhs rule to such
tent, and in army the difficulty Of its application is
iprro al hut IF
the forces, well as by other considerations.
The appointment Of fit men for commissions in the
lower grades of the army may be, in great measure,
secured by requiring, in all cases preliminary exami-
nation required for the promotion Of cadets
and nopcommssioned officers. But, with every precau
ton in the first appointment officers will be found
unsuitable for discharging the duties Of the higher
grades or they may become disqualified in consequences
Of the in6rmities OF age other disability. The pro-
posed organization Of the general staG provides RENE
dy far relates to their important duties by open
ing wide field for the selection Of general and STAFF off,
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