New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-23
DISCIPLINE OF THE VOLUNTEER
ARMY.

ARMY.
General Mcclellan is evidently an accom-.
plisbed soldier. There is a quiet, transformations,
but decided spirit in everything that be does,
aud an earnest, basiness-llke purpose in his
efforts to bring volunteer army under disci-
pline. With the quick eye of an energetic aud
experienced commander he has seen the defects
Of its organization, and has commenced the
work of reform at once In military science the
custom men to prompt and rapid action in a
mass thus making companies, regiments, brig
AIDES, and divisions move as one man. The
school of the soldier begins, therefore, with the
instruction of the individual who learns the
facings and the manual of arms aud ends in the
drill of the squad in which the principles OF
marching aud wheeling are taught Next in the
order OF progression, the recruits having passed
through the school of the soldier, comes the in
struction Of companies; then the drills BY regl-
ment or battalion, aud at last by brigades, each
step bringing every man in regular order to the
great poOt of losing individuality and of bee
ing simply part of q powerful and effective
machine. The brigades, after proper Organiza-
ton and drill, are then assigned to divisions,
whIch constitute majOr-seDerars command, aud
tue result of thorough instruction is that dl-
vision OF 10000 men, or brigade of 1900, can
be hurled in a single resstless mass upon any
asssllable point in the enemys lines. Until this
essential feature in the organization Of an army
is introduced, its numerical strength will be
greatly reduced or wasted.
The Stone Bridge or Bull Run battle furnishes
conclusive evidence Of the absolute necessity Of
thorough preparation in drill and discipline, and
We shall probably fnd the lesson of defeat use
iul and instructive enough TO make the next en-
gagement o success. The regiments when at
taching the Bull Run batteries were generally
formed in column Of companies, and in this
formation opened fire successlyely by companies,
the head of the column constantly advancing as
each company discharged its yolley. This would
do very we'll in street firing, but in the face of
a battery, when the shot Of q riaed cannon
NIGH. rake tho whole column, il seems
very awkward formation, la line Of battle
larger surface mark would be presented but
cannon are lot sufficiently numerous TO play
upon O line with the same effect as upon
column. An effective shot in one case, perhaps,
makes o hole through ten companies, while in
the other 1t makes gap in one. If it passes
over the heads Of the right wing in column, it
may rake the left, while in line Of battle it
would perhaps pass harmeSsly over the whole.
This mode of charging batteries, therefore, seems
a blunder OF the first magnitude.
1t is melancholy fact that in Que instance at
least, this column movement was attended BY sad
results an eyewitness stating that one OF the regi-
mcnts fred in column of companies simultaneously
and in a direct line the rear companies decimating
the ranks of some of the front by the fratricidal
volley. This bunder was partly the result OF cA.
citement and it was rectfed as soon as possible,
but il tends to show that the attack Of batteries in
column formation was in some respects pRiortunsto
Against infantry supporting batteries, 'rhaps the
disposition of the attacking forces in column is the
best; but the Bull Run battle according TO all ac-
counts, was mostly fight against the batteries and
the most serious casualties were probably from shot
and shell. The infantry Of the enemy were scarcely
visible during the action in the open field; aud,
except during the retreat we doubt if bayOnets
were crossed in the battle The advantage of fight
ing with raw troops behind intrenchments and
under cover Of masked batteries, is evidently well
by the Rebel officers, and We infer from
various reports that General Mcclellan proposes to
take hand in the game of artillery also No
better material for an army can be found in the
world tLan that now gathered in the volunteer
forces of the North but needs the instruction aud
disc pine which render a body of men effective Like
a powerful machine, the component parts of which
must work harmoniously aad steadily together OF be.
come useless. If General Mcclellan succeeds, as
we believe he WILL in molding this splendid material
into the symmetrical proportions aud working
efficiency of u wedscipined army, it cannot fail
pf success.