Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-01-25
Virginia Organizing and Arming.

Virginia Organizing and Arming.
A Military Convention was held in Richmond,
Va, last week, to take steps for organizing the mill
tia and for dffnsing proper military spirit through
out the State. About two hundred officers of all
grades were in attendance Major General Taliafer
ro, who commanded at IIarper's Ferry and Charles
town, was unanimously elected President of the
Convention. On taking the chair Gen. Taliaferro
said:
81 can but thank you for the courtesy and kind
ness you have extented to me, in selecting me to
preside over your deliberations. l see before me
evidence of action and not of simple resolutions
In the physique and in the moral feel that have
here the evidence Of the gentlemen and the soldiers
of Virginia.
The time of action has come; we are tired of
firing our blank cartridges. We have stepped back
until We have placed our backs upon the wall of
honor; now, forward IS the cry lfyOu were not
resolved to act, could flee to the rather than
see the evils which may befal us.
Let us carve out military system. Let us have
perfect order; such as military men are bound to
observe. Let us begin at the head and descend to
ton.
We find in the Enquirer report by the Military
Committee of the Senate of the cost of organizing
and arming five thousand men, as follows:
"a corps of five thousand men, organized into
five regiments of - companies cach with 80 men
rank and file to each company, might be constituted
as follows:
Thirty companies of Infantry, twenty companies
of Ritiemen five companies of Cavalry, five Batteries
of Artillery, of six pieces each:
80 Companies of Infantry, armed with Min
ME muSkets, 24nO mllskets at Sl365c S32, 760
90 Companies of Riiemen. armed with
Minnie Rifles, 1000 rifles at sl66Sc. 26,6SS
3 Companiesof Cavalry armed with revol-
pistols, 400 at $2l. S,400
And 400 Cavalry sabres at So. 2,O0D
) Batteries of Artillery would REQUIRE IS
gun carriages and caisons complete to
mount Is field pieces, now owned by
the State. at $tOu each. 1900
IS Navy HowitzerS at $500. 5000
1880 cartridge boxes, pouches and belts,
at 81. 5000
400 pistol belts. at Sl.25c. 500
400 Artillery sabrcS, at IS. 1000
400 revolver pistols for Artillery at s21. s,400
400 Dragon saddles. &C., at $:5. 14,OO0
21O Sibly tents at SIS. 7.Goo
Ammunition. 25,O0a
Total, $l4S,342
.. For corps of 10000, or for one of II, 900
men less Artillery would be required, and more In
hntry and Rileinen, but the proportonate cost for
purchasing the arms &C., would be about the same
Wis: $l4S542 for every 5000 men. The above
prices are fixed at the government charge for the
Minnie muSket and Mime rifle, but it is doubted
whether these arms can be purchased at this price
1t is recommended that proper Commission be ap-
pointed by the proper authority to decide what
| arms should be purchased should it be decided to
purchase any.
g. With the view of giving more satisfactory in
formation with reftrnce to the cost of manufacturing
the Minnie musket and rifle in the State, the under
signed have made careful examination OF the
ArmOry, and the accompanying report Of Col. Bar
hour is given the result of that eXamination.-
The comparative cost of making and purchasing
these arms is greatly in favor Of making them, be-
ing in the proportion of $40 to $l3 %. when ln0po
or more are annually made.
4. The cost of altering the Virginia or Harper
Ferry flint lock muSket to percussion locks and
threading, is estimated not to exceed 81 81 EACH y