The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-09


craiions.
Tho experience Of the las. wear l,,..;,
additional reasons. rc.-rs-t 70 >ar. of ,,;,,
;ui character. for :iic Recommendation h..
fore mai,. to r,o, lie .ar incrc:.>,t H.. All,
tary force cm;'ioyrd in the TERRITORY inb,,;,al
hv the Indians. The settlers on Inc ti,n,.;I-
have suffered much from ,lI,. inr,,,,.;,.,. -
predatory bands, ana la-:e parties Of ON;
grants to orr !'arfic possessions Lave baa.
ma>>arrcd with imrnniir. The recurrence
of such scenes can only be prevented L..
;carhin~ ihc>" wild tribes the ,,owc- &C ava
their responsibility Ia. the United State.
From the garrison OF cur frontier posts. !, :
only possible to dctach troops in small boloS.
and though these have on all occasions a.
played ! .a!!an'ry and a stern devotion "a
'!u'v. Which on Larger field would have com.
man!ed universal admiration. they have
usually suffered severely in those conflicts
with superior numbers. and have sometimes
been entirely sacrificed. All the disposable
force OF Tie army i, already employed on this
service. and it l. known To- lie wholly made.
'ina'e TO III" protection which should be af.
fn.r!rd. The ;'r'!s mind Of Tie country has
been recently shocked hv the saya-e atroci-
ties committed upon dc.cnreieSs emirrant.
and border settlements. and hardly less tx
III" unnerr>sar, destruction of valuable lives
wherN na'!' qua:e detarhment> of TROOPS have
undertaken 10 furnish the needed aid. With.
ot inc-"asc II tx military force. these scenes
viii Is repeated, it is TO bc feared. on lar
ger scale. and with more disastrous conse.
gucnce. Congress I am sure, vii. perceive
that the piaincst duties an! Responsibilities q.
government are in, olved in tbs qnc-.iou
and !onbt not that prompt action nav l.,
confidently anticipated when DELAY must l.,
attended TX such fearful hazards.
The bill OF the last session. providing f..
an increase of the pay of the rank and file Of
the army has had Lenei::ial results. not only
IN facilitating enii>:mcnts. l,ut i'm obvious I'M
provcmcn'> IN the class of men who enter the
service. regret that corrcs,c,aing conSd
cr;.t:ons wa not bestowed on the officers.
who. in view OF their character and service.
and the expenses Ia With ;hcv are necessa
rllv subject. receive at present what is. in nv
Judgment. Inadequate compensation.
In" valuable services constantly rendered
tx the Army. and lis inc>timal,le Importance.
As the nucleus around which the volunteer
forces OF the nation can promptly gather in
the hour OF danger. sufficiently attest the
wisdom OF maintaining military pcace o.
Enlistment: hut the theory of our system
and the wise practice under it. require tina.
any proposed augmentation. IN time of peace.
nc only conimen>ura.cl with our extended
limits and frontier -cla'on> While <crpnlon.
" adfcrl;i- to This principle find. in exist
!nT circumstances. a necessity for increase OF
our military force, and ii is believed that four
new regiments. two o. infantry and two of
mounted men, will he sufficient 10 meet the
present cx;-cnrv. fit were necessary care
fully TO weigh tie cost in a ease Of such mr.
gcncv. il wc':!i b. shown that the additional
eN,,.:,se wci.d he comparatively light.
With the increase of :le numerical force
of tie army should. think. he combined Ger
tam measures of reform in this organic 'ar-
rangrimon: and administrations. The pres
,nt organization is the re,,.l: Of partial leei>-
la,!nn often directed 10 special objects and in
.cr,>;>: a:,i H." laws regulating rank an
command. HAVING been adopted many wears
ago from The British code. are not ALWAYS aI-
r'lca'lc to our service. Ii is no: surprising.
therefore. that ..ic system >hoald he deficient
III the symmetry ard simplicity essential to
; The harmonious working of its several parts.
and require a careful revision.
The present organization. lv maintaining
large staff corps or Department. separate.
many ollie from close connection with
troops. and tho>a active dutics in the field.
which are deemed requisite to qualify them
Tor the varied responsibilities of high com
mand. We're the duii.S Of the army stat
mainly discharged by officers detached from
their regiments. il is believed that the spec
ial service would be equally well performed
ami Tie discipline ard instruction OF the army
he improved. While due regard to the Sc
ccIr!'v q, the rights Of officers. and the ME
sense o. honor which <horli he cultivated J.
mon@ Them wouiI seem TO exact compliance
with the established rule OF promotion in or.
binary eases. still 1t can hardly he doubted
that the range Of promotion hv selection.
which i Row practically confined to the grade
Of general officers. might be som what extern
d'd with benefit TO the public service
Observance of the rule of seniority some
times leads. especially in time of peace. to tie
promotion OF officers who after meritorious
and even distinguished service NAV have been
rendered hr ace or infirmitv incable of per
f"rl.inc active duty and whose advancemer.
therefore. would tend TO impair the efficiency
{" The army. Suitable provision for this clas,
OF officers. by the creation of a retired list.
would remedy the evil without wounlinr the
inst pride of men who. hv past services. have
established a claim 70 high consideration In
AGAIN recommending this measure TO the IA
vorab!e consideration of CONGRESS. | would
suggest that the power Of placing officers on
the retired list be limited to one wear. The
practical operation of the measure would thu'
oc tested. and H. after the lapse of wears there
*ann'd tie OCCASION TO renew the provision. II
can he Reproduced with any improvements
which experience NAV indicate. The nrcScnt
orsanzatir, OF the artillery into regiments !,
liable 10 ob,iouS objections. The Scry;c, q;
artillery Is that of batteries anil an or-an;za
ton OF batteries into a corps or artillery
would be more consistent with the nature of
their duties. \ large part of the troops now
called artillery are and have been on duty as
infantry: the distinction between the two
arms being merely nominal This nominal
artillery OF or service is entirely .liSnronor-
tomato to The whole force. and greater thu.
the wants of the country demand | There
lore commend the diSconfinuance Of a ,l>,inc-
ton. which has no foundation in either tie
arms used or the character of the service e1-
pcc;ed TO he performed
In connection with the proposition for IL
increase OF the army. have presented the>c
suggestions with regard 10 certain measure
ctrciorm. as the complement of system
which would produce the ha,pic~t results
irom a gwen expenditure. and which hole
may attract the early attention and Ire deemed