The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-05

their transit Experience smsll posts are
nearly poweress oey ono their lmiss Some OF the
most nsgfsns depredarons have been committed on par.
III IN the vcnity OF sucn military posts, their ius-
bih,y 10 porsoe and puDh the offenders has tended 20
BRING into dt epue the and energy OF the Untef
States whose cltizsls The victims OF predatory at
tscks Indeed II ID quite suppOssoe tn these posts be-
n liked points ID the route OF emigrans a1Td tue In
diAIs the opportunity Of observing each train which
passes, and thus enable Them 10 Determine upon future
oIersticps.
csvaay c&nno, be sustained In q state OF efficiency
uress provided during the winter with stables grain aud
bay Al some OF the remote posts the ateria for
construction must transported great distance and
the forage only be furnished prices which extreme
necessity alone viii justify for example, delivered
at Fort laramie costs about i've dol0s bushe Iafau
try garrfons are less expensive because less forage
u required but under such circumstances neilher Dan
be sustained, except al great cost
may be proper further to consider the comparative
value OF troops thus distributed and OF those wing by
deachments from large garrisoDs quartered in eligible
positions II .suthcent grrisons were kept at all the
posts now established for the purpose Of making expet
tons at any time from them among the neighboring
Tribes, which would require o very considerable aug.
mentAtion Of the present military estabishm aud
commcnsurate OF appropriations its support
II h not believed that they would be equally effective
with ma ching detachmeuts OF the Hme numerical
strength Their position would be KNOWN their peepa-
ratorr TOR taking the field would DO observed, and
considerable force would necessarily be len behind for
Tie protection OF the pubic property at each military
poet. The Instruction AM discipline In quarters would
be To that Of larger sons and the capacity OF
the troops, suddenly emerging from quarters 70 begin
the forced marches OF would be than that OF
Injured by long march and frequent bivouac 70
bear augue and project tue mseiveS against
incident to service In the dcid The policy OF distri
button, u pursued also involves the frequent
constr uction and abandonment OF posts and with such
gsrrsons as we may expect to have with the present
prooaole size Of the army involves the employ Of
all the troops for long periods at constant labor,
son,en,ment Of the aoasy n. @ 'as
ouch times Is far inferior 10 tina. OF the common
sborer the frontier, and the prospect OF abandoning
the position soon after he has made Ii comparatively
comfortable leaves him without sdequ Alto ment
Tor the sacrifices he IA called on 10 lsoorer
without pay or promises OF Improvement in bis conti
op-a colder without the ns aud excitement OF mill.
ary life, IA hardly TO be cred that or
hinge should Lad TO deser'ion, which has become 50
frequent 10 be OF the great evils OF the service
unaer the other policy which has been suggested, the
troops would be CONT rt.bly quartered in the midst OF
CIVILIZATION, their summer campaigns whouid be the Geld
practice Of their profession the temporary dangers and
hills Of which give zest TO soldiers life, and If these
be added the prospect return TO the comforts asso
of instruction Of a large garrison II
vel established post s not scen why the service could
be rendered attractive 70 persons Of military spirit
and Ia believed that the efficiency Of the troops would
tint N would be aimnisned
care having much parailelism TO that OF sstern
yoneY and affords US the opportunity OF prodnug by
me leave the desert region to the possession Of The
nomacc tribes their ouposts hAvag strong
established the limits Of The cultivated regoa I'D
their services perormed oy large detachmens making
expeditions into the desert regions required.
The marching columns being sufficiently strong 70
tnaict punishment whenever 10 aeser ved inspired
II sad the native tribes with respect for their
power that has seldom been found necessary chas
tise any tribe o second tme
A. our present pocy rests upon various acts OF egs
hon and the concurrent views Of several preceding Ad
mnistrations chsnge as RADICAL % that which 70 here
suggested should receive critical examination, and per-
hsps, requires Legislative action before being atoped
The department. left exercise or Its judg.
ment, would have abandoned tho policy present fol
lowed, by adopting few eligible positions, easy Of &C
and In the mdet Of region productive
tain large settlements from which the bulk OF the sup
piles for the garrison could be drawn.
More than the usual number OF designations within
the past year give evidence Of detective orgsnizsonf
policy injurious to professional pride and Of the
sy Of increased compensation Whilst the hard service
and frontier stations OF Office OF the army require
sacrifices which no other officers or the govern
ment called 70 make the expense OF living
same y thai which was nxed more than nfy years ago
in the end drive the more active and intellectual from
service which they adorn. and In which their country
some other pursuiI Az little does IL accord with the
spirit Of generosity or justice 70 ask at their hands the
tscrnoe which % many Of them make 70 professional
their counrys flag But little be hoped until raiioa
changes be effected, such only be suggested
good fortune find The legislative branch prepared .
operate with him, both in the investigation aud the
ppcsaon q . remedy 70 those evils which beloug 70
changes with which tho Iegslaton has not KEEP, pace
Though special acts have from tns 70 time N ais pro
vision Tor the widows and orphans Of oce aud oders
OF the army who have lost their lives in the discharge OF
their drty such general provision has been made for
the army that which subsists relation the wdo
oTpnAns oulceRu ana B64mcn OF Inc navy. thoro
was ever just ground for this dscrminalion MS DO.
loved that II no loueH exists whibt tho army has
claim 70 DO paid By rs for tho capture OF The
public property OF an enemy largo sums have from time
10 time enured 70 the benefit o; our government, from
that source aud the policy which encourages deeds
sailor who falls In msn,Aniug the honor Of his country
nag leaves In his government protector and guard.
an TO the hniD deprived Of his support 70 certainly IN
prscpic end degree equally applicable 70 the soldier,
who pcrs bh lie u tho cause and without tae
chance Of being enriched oy pyo ncurs the hazard Of
leaving his wfs and children TO want would, there
lore again recommend that such legislation be
will place the widows aud orphans OF ooers and soldiers
~ tbose OF the ON ,ers and soamsn Of the navy.
have 70 oen brought forward the necessity OF prov
SIGN, by which disabled officers should be retired from
active service that should be deferred from again
peating H. but for the onvction that Indispensable
10 tho Efficiency Of the amy, AMI that cash year bu,
rom the wan, Of no Measure heretofore recommended
have TO renew tho recommendation heretofore pro
scented for such legislation IN viii give certain aud permA
nsu ruos for the determination OF rank and ana
than which nothing more necessary 10 secure harmony
snd efficiency IN IN army. The act Of september 20,
originally reported by Mr.. jefferson and Mr. John Adams
Tho latter gives . for their adoption tbst
sere vas s,san' one system o. Articles wa, Which
the Roman and the British, for the British Articles OF
war ws1eSply literal rsnslsaon q the Roman" and
cites a. observatiop founded In nndoubted fact that
the prosperity of nations mad been In proportion The
cncplne o, their forces by and land.
The commendauon bestowed BY such high auth ,rty
upon he system men adopted In Connection With s real
merit may have projected II from future criticism and
Innovation; ana did The Circumstances which
round continue 10 be The same ~ ct that time
should not venture 10 recommend legislative revision.
But 81 changes have occurred which give appsi
cation 10 the Hrms then emsoyed the necessity IL exi
gent ant evident either tor the revision OF the suhss
qusnt laws which aaect rules and articles or
tor . modification Of those articles, 70 them
conform 10 The requirements resulting subsequent
legislation and altered circumstance N true that
revision oftbe original oct made IN 1896, but
tanned no important alteration, and snce thea va
rous acts OF hgsAton, chArK ng the orgAnlz ahou
OF The army have given rise 70 questions Of
and orexted such radical difficulties In the application
OF the original rule thai further legislation alone far
nish adequate remedy for instance, the lag
The Rules and Articles Of War recognizes three kinds
OF Commissioned odccre wis., those Of tho line Of thc
army Of the marine corps, and Of The militia II 10
scarcely 10 be doubted that the phrase line OF the
army" meant the army q she confederation, and
cuded alt Of IL officers, whe<her stat reemental
But subsequent Legislation creating special corps do
psr,menn composed q ofcer whose duties Co NOT W
vove the command OF uoops las given rise 10, and
faps ~ oduced, q necessity tor . construction OF he
phrwe Zine Of The army which plsoee regiments and
stat officers IN q atiou inoonsis ant with tho general
r,txr nj -