The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-10

funess indeed OF the greatest possible Importance 70 the
service Ono Of the greatest evils entaled noa DIST.
pine and the efficiency OF our forces when ced 90 70"
active duty in the field, from the large number
entirely recruits continually sent forward 20 MI up
the ranks These men, the part have earthly
idea of the duties they will be called to perform or OF
thu discipline they will he required TO undergo And when
to the arduous duties OF frontier campo IN they arc sub
jected to the discipline Of ir and the routine OF soldiers
life they find il more than ordinary exerton will acorn
plsh, and, consequently, they desert If they were
thoroughly drilled before Joining their regiments,
the discipline itself would fit them to overcome those
very difficulties with comparative ease, which, without H.
Under our present system, a dragon recruit NAV bs
sent TO his regiment, Immediately marching against tho
Indians OF the pains whilst his skill in riding is sua
cent 70 sit horse at ordinary trot without
difficulty The arms about the person of such
as useless as they were safely stored away in one Of he
to himself and his horse, his horse is speedily broken
down, and he himself deserts Examples Of this
extremely numerous and Of perpetual occurrence.
These and great many other evils resulting from send
ing unframed the mounted service all be
ed by authorizing the public property at Harrodsburg Ken
lucky to be converted into cavalry depot and school
the mounted service 1t will entail additional expense
The houses sufficient for every purpose and the
stables ample such horses would be Tor
drill and all other purposes The grounds attached the
establishment believe admirably adapted to cayal
~ drlll, being extensive and well situated.
IL TINS measure sanctioned it will not only fill the
gments with men skiltu aud efficient in the management
OF their horses and the use Of their but will be
measure OF economy and prove great saving in money
! to the public service.
merated. 1t is situated ia a rich, healthy grain produc
ing country. where forage can always be purchased
abundance and at fair prices and the horses of that
gion Of the very best II very accessible and
sufficiently the frontiers of the West for recruits
to reach speedily, by railroads and steamboats, any N
the posts at which the mounted regiments would probably
be stationed.
The frontier service requires every possible means
should be resored TO to make our little thoroughly
efficient and no measure, am confident, would contrl-
butte more TO il than the one proposed
SCHOOL or ARTILLERY.
The Artillery School Of Practice at Fort Monroe
long an object desired amongst the military Of the
country has been established, and bids far to realize all
the benefits TO the service which its friends anticipated
1t will give to the service presently corps of officers
certainly equal to these OF any other service II
the world The officers under whose charge it is al pre-
sent, thoroughly competent and fully imbued with an
| anxious desire for complete success in the school.
There is small tract OF land in the vicinity of tho
fort which ought TO be purchase. for the purpose of
giving sufficient range for practice with heavy guns.
With this land large saving could be made, by tho
recovery OF balls used IN practice in the course Of
| time The range without this land i iequate %
| school, The reports upon this point, to which I
refer will give IN detail the particulars which thus
! Recommendation Is predcated
GENERAL
Tho Cutes oil Inspector General among the
| fIl and important OF any pertaining the service
Through these officers all abuses and defects the service
ascertained and made known to the department aad
from him that sort OF information derived which would
| in fact, be mpraccablc through any other source.
Our immensely extended Territories render this sort u
inspection of our numerous military posts aud depos
matter OF vital Importance and It is quite impossible
those duties can be properly performed without the add
ton Of another Inspector General the already au
thorized by law therefore recommend that the appoint
ment of additional Inspector General be authorized By
law.
sTAYF
call again your special attention the recommenda
tons submitted in my report last year upon the subject
OF the staff Another years experience has convinced
than OF the great benefits which would flow
from the adoption Of the suggestions and recommenda-
tons therein set forth.
There arc two corps of engineers attached to the army
designated as Engineers aud Typographical Engineers.
This division OF corps accidental somewhat at FIRST
has persisted from mere habit In my judg
men, Is useless and uncalled tor and ought
be abolished
The present arrangement, founded in no good reason
whatever. and productive Of benefit the service
whilst entails considerable expense upon the depart
ment altogether useless aud unnecessary. is derogat
ing nothing from the corps OF engineers 10 say
| that the Typographical corps is quite their equal
BY this proposed union Of the corps, IT would
| always furnish a sufficient number OF this
staff to accompany troops in the field. This, in turn
the reformation OF what is growing into an
abusethe absence Of many officers from all ser.
vice with troops IN the field
Nothing, my judgment, would result in greater bene-
fiji TO the service than 10 require all staff officers from the
heads OF bureaus down TO the youngest breve second
lieutenant TO serve periodically with the troops in the
from duty the field, have very faint percep
tons Of what useful and necessary for troops
brourh infor nation derived from others II is obvious
hen, that those best informed should be the ones en-
trusted with the staff duties
| GENERALS
wherever Two regiments are brought together in
i ofisaut, OF Brkuue should be
mission TO command it, II our whole army were
now organized for the field, we should need nine
generals Of brigade and in the necessary arrangements
Of peace, the three in commission are not sufficient To
command the frontiers and in the military depArt-
mcnts These brigade commands, therefore, in our army
are generally dcvolved on the senior regmenta officer
who thereby withdrawn from the proper duties OF his
own appointment and commission But las rcgimcnta on
GERS are not by right OF senority be commissioned
generals neither ought they by such rule to exercise the
functions Of generals In all armies generals selected
| for commands by government. 4 sufficient number
should always be In commission NJ.
tached by law or their commissions to specified com.
mands, regime tal officers are The assignment OF
beyet officers TO breyei commands does always serve
the purpose, and where does IS only by copferring
two commissions and two offices officer who can
only discharge the duties Of the expense govern
melt IL the same whether the officer exercises command
by brcyet or by proper commission. There great
need OF three additional brgadcr generals those nov in
| commission and recommend their appointment.
WASHINGTON ARsHSAI.
Commentators OF the Washington Arsenal nave been de-
vered 10 the government and enclosed with slight
temporary fence Suitable buildings for extensive
operations at this place ought 10 be erected and is pro
per that the plans should be at adopted which could
be gradually completed IN the Progress Of Some u
the workshops now IN there uon ground
reclaimed from the water and very unsubstantial
The walls giving way and the roofs are sustained in
places with props These buildings insecure and will
become dangerous.
CLAIMS ~ VOLUNTEERS
call your particular attention 20 tie necessity OF pro.
vidng by law, for payment claims brought against the
government by different states Territories Tor ser
vices heretofore rendered BY volunteer forces sup.
aud amount, IN the aggregate. to very large sum.
Whcre they are Just, every principle of equity and fair
ness requires their payment II any should prove upon
src, examination 10 be without foundation to pronounce
this Judgment promptly, and settle the question definite
", would bring relief 10 those presenting the claims
10 tbs i would seem they Al least entitled.
ENPENnrIryte ARMY.
desire 10 call particular attention 20 the subject ~
army expenditures. think there Is some misapprehen.
sion ~ the public mind upon this point. which be
moved by succnct statement Of facts.
The disbursement 81 money through the War Depart
mont embraces many subjects entirely disconnected with
the army proper but all of which IL general apprehen
sion ascrhcd wholly 10 the army All work done upon
lortlhcatons along the coast in which many millions
arc spent has n fact 20 do with the ope Of
the army than the ships of which built at the
navy yards. Nor has the army, such any thing DO
with the expenditures Of money annually appropriated for
rivers and barbors too Of the buildings and works
public character put IN charge og army officers for con
siructon. II certainly not Just 10 charge 10 the
tho millions spent mon the aquclnct for bringing xaier