Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-24
Military Company.

We are pleased to learn that an effort is now
on foot to organize Military Company. 1t is
important that every community should have
well-disciplined and armed corps Of volunteer
soldiers, not merely for show and parade before
the public, or the amusement of its own mem
bers, but to act as protective police in times OF
danger. In Staunton we have ample material
to make up first rate company, and it has been
q matter of astonishment to US that the town
has been so long without one. Military enthu-
siasm apparently died out.with that venerable
corps, the Staunton Light Infantry, and we have
not for years heard the sound OF the spirlt-stlr-
ring drum and shril fife in our streets. In the
palmy days of the Infantry and Highland Rifles,
the streets were lined with interested specta-
tors when Southards tapped his drum and
band of fine looking volunteer soldiers answered
to its call. The gallant militia too created a
wonderful excitement when Fulwider whistled
the martial strains OF memorable Smoky Row
and Major Watts stood impregnable within the
living walls of the hollow square, or conducted
his brave men with delightful accuracy through
all the intricate windings of the famous "Boa
CONSTRUCTOR evolution. Who has forgotten
those glorious times, and who does not wish to
see them revived? Then there was some mill
tary ardor among the people; the volunteers
painted for the bivouac and the militia men long
ed for the training days and the regimental
musters. Then the 4th of July was day to be
celebrated" and the glorious "22nd" did not
pass away as it did but yesterday without the fir
ing of single gun to the memory of Washing
ton.
We should be greatly pleased, therefore, to
see this effort of the young men of our town
entirely successful, aud hope that those to whom
they have the right to look for assistance will
not be backward in lending it. 1t is proposed
to adopt the old Continental uniform, which is
said to be very handsome; and we presume
that if the Company should be gotten up, the
excellent band which we have now in Staun-
ton will be obtained for all public parades.
While on the subject of military organizations
we may express the hope that the Legislature
(Which now has the matter under consideration
will revive the militia in some form. The old
system may be, doubtless, much improved, but
even that would be- better than no soldiery.-
We are not sufficiently familiar with military Of
fairs to venture suggestion ofanyplan in detail
but it seems to US that system which would pro-
vide for the thorough instruction ofthe officers o.
companies, commissioned and non-commission-
ed, would be much preferable to the partial
training of the companies themselves by a set Of
officers who are almost as ignorant of military
science as their men. Let the companies be
large, and the officers placed under the instruc-
ton of competent tactcians, to be paid for their
services by a small tax upon the men, who are
exempt from tedious military drill. BY this
plan, when necessity demands the presence o.
the militia in actual service the private soldiers
will be under the control of skillful and educa
ted commanders, guided by non-commissioned
officers equally familiar with military move
ments. Each company will be found manageable
and regiments of raw men may be led through
all sorts of evolutiops and thrown into all posi-
bic combinations. Though entirely ignorant
the men cannot go'wrong, their simple duty
being to follow their file leaders. We heard
this plan suggested some days since by an old
and experienced officer of this county Captain
Harper) and it strikes US that it would work
admirably.