New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-01
MILITARY EXERCISES IN NEw-YORK.
Tn ~ l<St~v ~ TA< NJ Y Tytbus<

To Ne E<t.v 4 TAsN y Dibu.~
SIR: By law Of ls49, in relation to the First Di-
visiop, each corps was required to be "ordered out
'or e1e,cise at least eight, and not exceeding twelve
"tiues in each year; two Of such psrsdes to be by
"dvson, two by brigade, and the rem aiming paroles
"by regiments or companies, a. the commander OF
"ths regiment may direct" In an act of last year
Qs54), Amending the militia laws, the section en-
brscrg the above provision was altered, as Is UNDER
STOOD at TIE instance Of the M.or.Genera by adding
to the section the two little words at least so IS 10
give that officer the right to absorb the whole Of the
eight or twelve parsdes division parsdes. THIS
seemed to the officers of the division unnecessary leg
isatien especially they were not consulted on the
subject and a. no officer corps In the division has
ever hesated to obey any order of the AalorGenerA
to parade as many times he thought ct, not~ith-
standing the utility of such parades was Questioned
a. means Of military Improvement; the whole obJec;
Ct them being simply TO march through the crowded
tbcroughfares Of the City, never forgetting to p,s the
residepcs of the Comm sndng General, matter how
remote from the line Of march, or the occasion which
induced the parade. This doubtless always highly
gratifying TO the family and acquaintance Of the OFF,
GER who, such occasions, assemble at the Generals
quarters in full feather; but il is not quite so pleasant
to the rank and Ole, who have to trudge in all kAds
of weather: be il hot or cold, sushy or dry, even
though to crafty the ladies thus assembled to witness
the display. Nor is their pleasure much enhancei by
being kept on the parade ground before the march
con Bees waiting often for hours after the specl-
fed time before the sjoI General 10 ready 10 review
them. Thee Division parade. have 10 consequence
become nuissDces to the rank and file and are, a.
well some Of the Brigade and Rezinental Tades,
perversion Of the law, which only authorize the
several corps TO be ordered out for "erercue What
exercised What il the object Of the organization Of
the Miliiis Are these military bodies intended for
show proct sscns or are they intended Tor ser
vice in case Of need Whist military knowledge is
Il L.. ..l II % fhauS
through our already sufficiently encountered thor
oughfsree except it he praccing the military msneu-
yer Of "psssirg ds6le in which they should oy
this time be quite perfect No one has ever seen the
present ConDaDdant Of the Division since be has
commanded that body. row approaching twenty
wears exercise his Divirion IN toe way conten-
plated by Law. The very orders issued by him Tor
biz pbra6es imply such intentions on the contrary,
they usually express the object to be 10 celebrate
some bstoricsl event. attend the funeral Of depart
20 hero or statesman receive some koesuth or Paez,
or other thing foreign from the intention OF sne or
gspizstioD. And although scquiesced in by many
in the Division, yet these parsdes are not Authorized
by any law OF the State, although sbsentees from
them arbitrarily called upon to pay hnes for such
preserdeo delinquency. The sight OF the troops IN
their gay uniforms is doubt pleasing TO lockers on
and gratifying TO many in the ranks; aud some make
highly crediisble appearance in military point Of
view and Others quite the reverse These psrafes,
however got mp most generally for the gratinca-
ton Of the superior officers and in total disregard to
the OILY stJeet Oh euch assenpiases W. ANi'o3y
improvement
The proficiency, therefore, Of most of the military
corps in the CRY is not attributable TO The exer-
ei,es" by the General otcers, nor, indeed OF CT n
msLdips oibcerr Of RegiDents-certsinly not by the
e1erci,es' Of the Msjor General. Bat 1t is 'ins
ehiea, to the zeal and sctivty OF company sthcers
that the several regime ut, 10 the City make the re-
spectacle appearance they do in regard to their mill.
tary exercses These officers, finding tsI the men
beu Of Their companies csrive no military knowledge
~ sh.sa ham prpe
pslmea oil a. legal puases, are compelled to resort
TO other means not directed by lag, to attain tbs
knowledge Most of these companies have weekly
ev,Iipg ors for Practice and il s owing q Iost en-
firely 10 these 'eIercsss, voluntarily persrued BY
the company officers and members that the FIRST d.
vpion ttoys The high reputation it has attained rem
deripg the duties of field officers extremely eAy-lt
being Only needful to utter the words OF command to
secure the proper execution OF any Of the military
movements. How much valuable tine, then, Is
wore than wasted BY these nsels.s-so far a. militia
=, exercises are to be acquired BY thsn-ssreet ps
rses 20 crafty ing TO the General officers who not
con,snt vith 4 violation Of the ilteaton Of the law