The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-26

the necessity OF dividing regiments ana OF Thus breaking
down their esprit du corps and is besides in accordance
with the skeleton theory long maintained by a
cession Of administrations and Congresses
For these the mode of increase by regiments is
far preferable to the mode provided for in the bill
The subject is the special order for to-day ut l2t
o'clock sl -ala t.
ARMY AFFAIRS DETERMINATIONS OF THE
ARTILLERY
WASHINGTON d. c., January %, 1858.
III the Editor Of the Uhion
SIR: | would respectfully ask place in your columns
to call notice to the bill for the increase of the army
that brought up in the Senate to-day, providing
for addition of two companies to each regiment OF in
fantry cavalry, dngoons and rihemen now in service
that promotion higher grades shall take place regi
ments and certain other points of minor importance
This is all very well for the necessity of increase in
apparent that there will he but few to
oppose it, upon technical grounds.
This increase is not only economical one, but one
which in the shortest time be rendered the most eff
Gent by being made part and parcel of regiments
service all ready organized drilled prepared for the
field This addition looks principally to the increase of
the line of the army where its necessity is the most
felt But let say, that it's provisions SUCH
CARDS promotion, must eventually and materially affect
that corps of the line which enters very essential ee
ment into military organization namely the artil
lery and for the following 1t is natural sup
pose that the corps to be increased will receive their in
crement of officers principally from the corps to be in
creased This is very we'll The rate of promotion in
the artillery from self evident causes known be
slower than in any other corps in the line Of the army
and requires but little reflection to that this retr
daon unless special provision shall be enacted
couneract it, will be increased and the relative rate of
promotion be rendered still slower
In March, 1883 Congress enacted law making every
officer of engineers, Typographical engineers and ordnance
captain after fourteen years service This was very
well; il was wise law. But why it passed One
among other successfully urged in its behalf was
that such law necessary in order to equaze
the rate of promotion Of those who entered service about
the times and by comparing the length service of
officers in the line with those in the staff corps above re-
frred TO- it found that fourteen years was the aver
age from the date of officers entrance into service
fore he attained captancy and in order to equalize
equally distribute justice to all this provision asked
for, and Congress, in its wisdom, granted it,
Again in March, 1855, the Secretary of War asked for
an increase Of the army, which granted by the addi
ton of regiments of infantry and regiments of
cavalry Following the rule which here refer to as the
possible that may be carried out in the present in
crease, the increment Of officers came principally and
properly from those corps in which the increase was
lily glance the increased rate of promotion 1t gave
to infantry and mounted regiments. This too was
very we'll Again, after interval of three years. an
other increase is asked for applying exclusively our
infantry and mounted regiments and hence increased
acoeeraton to promotion This too, is very well. But
ut the time, shall forget the rule to equalzc
the relative promotion in the different corps that a-
piled with such strong force five years ago. and allow the
officers of artillery regiments to struggle they
best may and best With thirty-six leutenants to
each artillery regiment does not each eleventh first lieu
tenant occupy the position towards captaincy in
his regiment the senior second lieutenant in each
mounted and infantry regiments, and shall we allow
this relative rate Of promotion to remain as it now is
when advocate the distribution of equal Justice to
alY Thus see in all the special provisions So of So
and 3d. every corps in the army, regards the element
promotion has been benefited with the single exccp-
ton of the artillery for each of the other staff corps have
given them increased rank by breve the lowest in the
corps being captains and in oil generosity and charity for
Others would ask why these things should be3 Why should
subatern ofenginees typographical engineers and ord
nance be made captain by special provision, and
this continually accelerated promotion be given to our
foot and mounted regiments and the artillery alone
main free from its beneficial provisions and not equally
legsated fort Are not its services aruous its po-
son importantg Where is artillery serving,
and how occupied! The everglades of Florida region
that long years bat faithfully testify to their labors
the prries Of Minnesota the disturbed Territory Kan
sas the interior OF Oregon and California all reply
They here =; while regular artillery stations are
either abandoned or left but too poorly garrsoned With
-four regiments Of artillery have ninety six first lieu
tenants and with regiments of infantry we have only
one hundred thus compelling each junior first lieutenant
in artillery regiments TO occupy by far chance
for promotion TO capaincy than the junior second leu
tenant in any OF our foot or mounted regiments and