The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-29
Plan for Military Defence OF Arscnals.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

NEW IOhk, OCt- - 1917
II suggested in Of the journals Of the
try that government troops should hereafter be staonedat
the No reasonable doubt the proprety
course and of surprise that Immense
stands Of and munitions of should have 50 long
remained untouched, being so entirely unguarded
In the South the danger of servile instruction is
slight but is the danger of fire well appointed
man war; and yet the commander would be liable
to cashierng who should fail to provide for the con
tngency In the North, especially in the large cities,
mobs are not unusual Religion politics, nationaies and
other fruitful sources Of disturbance may and een 10
stir up tho passions OF men to such pitch that blood
must flow. The shleah the revolver and the bowie
knife, aided by steel knuckes and sung Shots appear to
suffice for the loodetng present but who can sly
that in such moments infuri ,ed men will not SEIZE on
muskets and cannon emptingly spread TO their glze
guarded by workmen employees subject themselves 10
the same influences which have driven their compatrio;
10 fury The matter needs no argument and the object
of this letter to make suggestion as TO the troops b.
employed on that service.
Our artillery regiments are now fully occupied
in guarding our and what may cali our inner
Eronter-that s frontier either navgable waters
or within reach of them Our infantry and cavalry from
year to year. without change ntermisson, find them
selves on the extreme and unnhabted frontier In
yon washington California, Utah, New Mexico and
Texas wherever the Indian Is to be ound in the grand
but gloomy canons and passes Of the Rocky Mountains
the arid plains, clothed by poets and novels;s with all
the attributes of iovcness but by nature with barely
sufficient to their nakednesshere Will be found the
infantry and cavalry Of service An occasional
derng trapper fallen somewhat from his high estate az
pictured by Irving the grade Of whiskey selerthcs,
the only white who ever break the monooDy o.
Western post But that the cunning Indian with his
depredations keeps mind and body active officers and
men would stagnate and degenerate with such lie.
In most services each regiment distant duty leaves
ut home depot battalion, which Is changed at regular
intervals This battalion, kept full and in thorough cai
cheney, ready, when IL has served its term at the homo
stauon, 10 relieve its comrades in the field allowing
tnem 70 come 70 their homes with their thnned ranks,
there 70 recruit while the regiment in the field is kept
It's proper strength.
Inc advantages OF such plan carried out in our SER
vice are manuold; but do wish TO epcroa III upop
valuable space In your columns will therefore hurry
20 my conclusion Let the infantry regiments keen in
che field and on the frontier each eight active
leaving two companies Of each regiment 70 be brougbt
into civilization giving force Of twenty COMPANIES avai
able for protection TO the armores having every fsc,v
and every nducement for perfecng themselves in drill
target practice, bayone exercise and the niger
OF their profession At the end Of three years 10,
them be relieved by twenty other companies This p,an
will bear analysis think and needs but little arpume
to recommend it, speak Of infantry the corps 10 fur
nish this guard to armories as being suitable il
every way than cavalry and for another reason thai
there Is et up TO the frontier service of cavalry
as one regiment stationed the vicinity OF the Missouri
and Arkansas rivers, with every comfort and facility TO
Instruction. and system Of rotation in that arm cou
readily be adopted