Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-08
QUARTERMASTER GENERALS DE-
PARTMENT


| The ordinary service ofthis Department in re-
gimepts, posts and attachments, should be per
formed by the detail Of capable officers from the
command. limited number Of experienced Of
icers VIII be needed 70 perform the more impor-
tant duties ofthe department with large com
mands, or atthe principal stations. and 70 super
yise and control, under the generals in Command
the operations of the inferior officers in the paris
OF the country most remote from the seat Of Gov
| eminent, and from the direct authority Of the
Quartermaster General Ten field officers would
probably be sufficient at any time. II is doubted
| IL SO many would be always required. Selection
and temporary appointments will regulate the
number employed by the actual wants ofthe SER
| vice. ggs va IN All -
cOMMISSARIAT OF SUBSISTENCE.
~ All the head of this service there should be a
Commissary General, taken from the field officers
colonel as at present.
| A few officers would be required for the princi-
pal stations and duties but The ordinary business
OF the department, being mainly the care and
issue OF the raions TO the troops, TO be performed
at posts and with troops on the march by proper
officers detailed from the subaterns. The officers
of this department should be charged with the
supply of clothing for the army. 3sl
II may be proper again TO advert to one effect
/ of this plan, of details. That in selecting suf-
Client number Of Junior officers 10 perform the
ordinary service Of the staff in the field and in
4 garrison, most of them still serve Immediately
with the troops, and will not cease to be instructed
in regimental and field duties Y ss rs
4 MEDICAL AND PAY DEPARTMENTS.
| 1t is not proposed to disturb the present system
as regards the pay Of the troops and the hospital
i service. Hospital supplies may undoubtedly be
best procured by the medical officers who admin
! lister them; and in This business no other agency
is needed for economy or efficiency. Tomainfain
separate corps for the mere payment of the
troops is an expense rather dsproportoned to
/ fha IF ans p.,s
distributed over SO great an extent of country,
that the pay officers the establishment seem 10
have sufficient employment. When troops are
assembled in campaign, the paymasters might
have additional duties imposed on them; as the
care OF the military chest and the payment (as
| 10 some extentin other services) of money upon
orders and warrants for other branches of the
militery administration. f,.8tsi5tf
/ TYPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS.
/ Typographical services being included in the
functions of the Corps OF Engineers and of officers
Of the General staff, il is NOT deemed expedient to
retain separate organization for the Topographic
j cal corps Engineers should be instructed by
proper practice and employment in all the various
and important duties ofthe engineer service and
that organization is very Objectionable which
/ makes permanent. distribution 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
4 services. 3li ss A 4N
In this connection 1t may be in place to remark,
that as the duties of engineers require a con.
/ tinued study and experience of special kind,
| they require permanent body OF officers. But
no injury can result from entrusting the command
OF troops, according 10 their military rank, 10
officers whose functions, in the language Of
our articles ofswar, appertan to "to the most
elevated branch of military servicen II Is there
!. fore recommended TO give effect 10 the rank Of
engineers, as Of other officers charged with mill
tary duties, in accordance with the rule which
| governs all other service.
/ ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT..
The remarks relative 10 the specially of the du-
ties and studies Of engineers, in some measure
apply 10 those of officers ofthe ordnance But adj
vantage will be found in giving on the one hand
10 the officers of ordnance the benefit of previous
service with troops and on the other hand in Civ
ing 10 the officers Troops the opportunity Of ac-
curing useful practical information relative TO the
construction and preservation Of their arms and
equipments With this view il is recommended
4 10 retain in the ordnance corps only small num-
Der Of permanent officers for the more important
arsenals, and duties, and TO associate with them
as assistants,junior officers, taken, by detail, from
The Judge Advocates department has now only
one permanent officer. Officers 10 offciate ms
] Judge advocates at courts martial, are appointed
by the officers who order the courts. This duty
! requires legal study and experience, but il also
requires familiarity with the military laws and
the customs and regulations of the service. Il is
therefore proper that Judge advocates should be
appointed from military officers, which is the sys-
tenn now practised.
| In the proposed organizations il is not intended
10 give increased rank, by virtue of their tempo
rary appointments, TO the officers EMPLOYED ON the
| military staff. Their rank would remain accord
| ing 10 their commissions in the army. II may be
nexpcdient 10 narrow the field Of selection by de-
| fning the grade from which they shall be taken
| They should receive the cavalry paw and allow.
/ ances Of the next higher grade.
Ihs organization removes ell grounds Of con-
roversy and objection 10 the rank and exercise Of
command by staff officers. II leaves military
i rank 10 all the military staff t.
cannot doubt that an organization upon these
principles would materially increase the efficiency
OF the stan and promote the general good of the
service II would require, Of course, n greater
number Of officers in the regiments than the law
now provides, 10 furnish the necessary details and
appointments on the staff as well as for rermental
duty. NO injustice or undue hardships would pro-
badly result 10 individual officers Of the present
stan corps in assigning them 10 regiments 1.-THE
law Tor the retired list shall pass, there will be no
dihiculty on this head. But, in any event, the In
terest OF individuals must yield TO the public
| good.
The present organization Of the regiments il also
capable OF material reforms In the artillery line we
have now alarger body in proportiontoth strength
| OF the army, than can be spared for the proper
service of artillery. In fact most Of our artillery
has always been armed, drilled, and employed as
infantry As, however, 1t il necessary that every
regular army should have proportion Of artillery,
armed, instructed, and ready for service IL is pro-
posed 10 reduce our artillery to the size which our
service requires and can maintain. The rcei-
mental Organization il now given to Il, but in the
held our artillery serves by batteries and il is pro-
posed TO organize il in one corps Of such sire
only as may suffice for instruction and for neces-
sary service in the field and in the Qualifications
The officers and men now in the artillery not re-
CURED for the reduced corps TO be converted into
regular infantry. A sufficient artillery would be
about halfhe strength ofthe present fourregiments
OF artillery, and would leave enough to make two
regiments Of infantry.
The cavalry force OF our army being all re-
quired for active service Of the same kind, there
appears no propriety in making a permanent dis.
tinction in the designation and armament Of the
several regiments; il is therefore, proposed TO
place all the regiments Of cavalry on the same
footing in these respects, and 10 leave il in the
power Of the executive 10 arm and equip them in
such manner as 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 rifemen apply TO the case Of infant
~ and foot rhemcn. In increasing the force of
foottroops, is proposed TO designate them all as
infantry, leaving 10 the executive the selection OF
fho nrt nd a.. ~fs