New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-14
GEN. SHIELDS AND THE ARMY

GIN. AND ldE AhNf
IT, ne ES.r Of " Y r,bvHss
SIR: On looking the recen, proceedings in Css,
observe that Gen Shields has introduced or = d.
in,r duce rome mod fcstons IN our military esasE,h.
have not seen what alterations from the present ian, ~
ulaure the fervre the distinguished senator promo.
make except that he would INCREASE the pay Of he a.
and soldsrs That would indeed be salutary rsiru -
the soldiers bat whether il would be benefit he ~
try as well as the army suppose Il mater &c a.
sheraton For my piIt think Il would eOa,srt.
tie increase of pay With Ohes radical modneAaOn ~
will sugg,st.
You will understand that speak mainly Of the rsaS n,
fle-ue d, moorstic wing OF the army. The oeiesas
may be seen by glance 81 the ASJu'ant Generds n,r
form but small part OF the 'sttoisnn' ~ beg ~
ince is believe, simply To- guide and direct the Ca
Drsgou-the rank and fe-~bich j. fGrnisned With ss
TO nidsblc snsy Of teeth and claws Tor the dsaAns
OF onmy. The officers are already ioleraoly vel ~
and g YLiuly efficient. With SCARCELY single excepian
the disehaigo 81 their duii,s Nh,her an nereassdpo
would increase their ,hic ncy and eln,h moe t;as
their devotion a.. honor and Interests OF the eoaasv
nrobl. m about which confess myself PEOfoanilys IA
rant If yea then ought they 10 have al Increase ss
without a giud.o FOR cur COUNT; 3 srtas snjsgh -
yplusble enough, ard, hope, wise enough, 70 emf,
none but the De st Of men H. Der service AMI they sAo
be paid eNsctly in proportion 10 the amluni II work ar
DO and the zeal AID ability With Which .liey do it.
Tie musLet carriers are not So wei paid, bowen
Their pay j. Lot proportional 10 the amount 81 sers
rendered Theirs is hard and :haukloss business d.
b,sta severe school N which to learn the lessons a.
ws,ld. Ii we ook az them in a moral poat of vsss
are ready TO eN,lhm "a sorry sight { aise me "
and LOOK at ht N through he VISION of man ot thesa
one Who makes money and egioys be est o, ia
still il is "a sorry sight Ihoir pay aud their Proess
are tolerably well prop'rioa,d. IL taxes about NJ
their monthly wages IL buy Pi.eciay sud rotleagoa
With which 10 ilibnh their accOa meats, and TOE ~
cuiy of their ambition i congo ia the bllb. Tn
dare rot hope for promo n Il as rate above the 90
ttmltble Crude of u non commissioned otieer RsR
chance i0T commission. oven THAI OF an humble sibs
L. In,
fl ue TO tie rchNnsn for an eutry iu,o paradise "
Their duty j. very ootion severe. especially al oa
tier poss AID on camp align.
IL lt be nects sary tr the General Government IA
keep Up an amy It ell, when there is no war sa
no protpttt Of any. Ia which TO tml 10y II, / cansS
see VIII, il should not be well pail, and reisAa
he Performance OF dusy a. any other bran of ID,
public service. h II he Necessary Gnd sgppOse eva
Gent Smith VIII admit il ~ 10 keep troops the iua
tiers prUitc, settlt III, ns from maraadug tribes
ludebs and garrison aud keep in good order ses
port d.tCD>es, cannot see WHY trust worthy men sho1
Dot be EMP ytd ana receive reasonsoie eompensaea
fot tloir services. Yet there is probability under IA
pesent system Of recruiting ard tic miseraby poor py
allowed 81 filling the ran he With men who would ~ VII
iu.y cut he Threats Of their officers az thOs da
,u,my. 1t Is perhaps, no exaggeraton TO say that IA
many instances. and too many II any, recruits fOc the
amy taken from Il ntl at sncoty hat appears 10
the best adVnIalc inside .h, barred windows type OF
this class recently Clst1 e New Ork and snbse.
Qutniiy taken By the CITY authorities from Governors
slaLd the charge OF murder IL 10 safe cAcu
siion II fifty pr cent of the eni-tments in the large
cities e tbs Glass; ana it furnishes sufficient clue Tor
the frequent deerons nom the service and the general
gr6t that heS 10 ia the piping times Of peace
Nt the enlistment. of some such men, uader the preseo
recruiting systtu is uBayO cable. No able bodied aa
horts would be green 10 engage for ye year
al ~ per month when lie can make thrice that an)un
with les hGIdtlip aud with of the ANTS sai
euuoN uDces incident to military laws and regulations
B,sdJs this. hst repre- NATIVE of Young America wild
heart for progress would be willing TO engage in a
vice wbeIe iheIe is no chance for promotion
No doubt there is for reform in the army, and
Gen Shields would bit the nail on the head let him nIr
duce bill fixing the pay If non commissioned eicen
musicians aud priSates nc si4 per month. cannot NJ
why the re- should be discrepancy IN the pay q men
the ranks IL handy legged drummer worth moreto he
service than sturdy private Ought the non comma
stoned officer who cannot be taken out of the ranks viii
out commission and whose position responsibility
really higher than that If private to receive higher
pay Let The monthly pay If the men be uniform. sad
certainly than si and throw around the recruit
ing service such checks aud safeguards a. shall eectuay
keep the cut ihroats and thieves who are not proper
food fer powder
Tlose who are acquainted with the service and with tho
pysonn Of the ranks will not deny that such increase Of
paw ard such in the selection Of recruits would DO
beneficial to the army and country both Ia the eff
Gle and stability Of the ro ps and in point OF economy
One thiId the number Of IN IA would perform the sane
service ard do it better There would be less disorder
ard drunkenness less need FOR severe or frequent punish
mept lees sickness and di the natural results OF In
veterste debauchery, and desertion. The discipline
and skill of the amy would 10 improved and it, general
efficiency eDi anctd As il is II couple 0f.bes Of
men are sent on detached duty il IS send along
with them one two commissioned officers TO keep
them sober and ecspture them IL they desert, and eyea
sometimes the whole party get bricks in their caps, and
disgrace their buttons by the most outrageous conduct
Privatts now receive 81 PER MONTH 81 per month u
which is kept back until they have served two yesr
Musicians receive ss-notLing kept back Corporak, "
Sergeants sl3i let Sergeans, s6; Sergeant Major Ord
nance Sergeant. COmmissary Sergeant, Quartennuef
Sergeant and Principal Musician each sis. c.