Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-13
Adiutant Generals Report.

Ad1utanL Gen6rai 5 nepoit'
II will be recolIected that we stated few
weeks ago, that the Adjutant General had
been instructed by the Governor to make
tour of inspection through llarper'ss Ferry
and the surrounding region. The General
has performed the duty imposed on him, and
has made 4 report to the Governor.
The report after giving an elaborate ac'
count of the whereabouts of the arms, their
condition, the appearance o! the men III each
company and SO on, goes on to say: ne
foregoing inspection return exhibits the tact
that of the Il troops and companies lnspec-
ted, Ii mustered below the minimum requlr-
ed by law. OF these Is, however, there are
two troops of cavalry, two companies OF
light infantry, and four companies OF rifle
men which are in fact up to and some above
the miniraum, though from particular cir
cumstances mastering below it. The rest |
have no reason to believe will ever reach it.
But the general result of the inspection
shows Enthusiastically the utter folly OF au'
thorizing an unlimited number OF volunteer
companies in every regiment, and the new,
table result of having large number OF
fragments of companies instead OF limited
number Of full companies, and the conse-
quent arrangement Of the companies OF the
militia of the line, upon the effective organl-
cation of which rests the foundation OF our
whole system of public defence. lnspec-
ton certificates come on to general head
quarters, exhibiting always the minimum,
and often more than that, in companies APP
plying for public arms. Nearly all aim at
the highest number, upon the expectation
that every man upon the roll will uniform
himself, but when brought to the test OF IN
spection nine out Of ten fall below the mini
mum. The arms and Announcements brought
to muster in too many cases cannot pass IN
spection, and rs for the surplus, (overdratts.)
they may be set down as lost Such, at least,
has heretofore been the case. There Is
general tendency in the volunteer corps to
oyerdraw arms, and | regret to say as gener-
al a habit to neglect, waste or destroy them.
Much of this is chargeable to the negligence
or incapacity of officers, in regard to the per-
lormance of duty enjoined by law, towit:
rigid inspection Of arms and accoutrements
at every muster, and report OF all del!n-
uucnts to the reglmental court Otenqulry."
After some remarks on the notion enter
tanned that volunteer companies cannot be
subjected to restraint, "a notion which he
denies, and on the military spirit in the State
and the large force that could be brought
into action, the Adiutant General says
considering the position Of some OF the
regiments inspected, lying along or near the
Northern border Of the State, and covering
the scene Of the extraordinary outrage OF
October last, | respectfully recommend that
application he made to the Secretary OF War
for an adyancen pon the quota OF arms which
will become due to the State in 1861, 1.-THE
amount he suggests is 225 rifle muskets,)
and adds ain addition to domestic clrcum-
stances which. in my opinion, render 1t ad-
yisable, the large government property at
iiarper's Ferry must derive incidental pro-
lection from having the State troops IN the
vicinity, we'll armed. There are from 25D
to 300 men employed permanently Or occa-
sionaly in tho works ut that place, who re-
side on the soil Of the State, vote in, and often
control the elections, and yet are not enrolled
in the militia. ! submit the question whether
| they do not owe militia service to the State,
as other citizens"
In conclusion the report says. $50 FAR as
| my tour extended the system OF inspections
and returns by Brigade inspectors and AID iu-
tants has been put in complete working order
In lhe Brigade inspections we ought TO have
and we must have an Inspector General in
every Brigade. Without them our whole
system of public defence would soon fall to
pieces, as past experience has fully demon
strated, and, in view Of the permanent ne
ccssity Of commanding the highest military
qualification, the compensation allowed these
officers is wholly inadequate. Fifty years
ago the Brigade Inspector received eight
dollars day, now he receives but five"
The report is very elaborate, and from the
manner in which the inspection Of companies
is narrated. we can see that the Adjutant
General did not permit sand to be thrown in
his eyes, nnd that hehas done his duty rigid
" and tcaressl .-Rtchmond Enq"ner.