Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-29
Volunteers and nElIitIa.

There are some excellent practical suggestions
in the following communication, which We think
require immediate action. We entirely concur
with the writer, that the militia ought to be drilled
regularly and frequently, in squads and companies,
and that efficient penalties ought to be enforced to
secure the attendance of every mittiamsu, so as
70 make every soldier, ready, when called on,
TO rush into the field in defence of his country.
We Join with him in insisting upon this plln being
carried into immediate practice, without moments
delAy. Officers can be procured, in almost every
neighborhood who sre able and willing to instruct
squads and companies in the drill.
But with Difference to the writer, we must think
that the intention Of the Executive is clear. 1t is
this as we understand it. Gen. JOHNSTON has called
for thirty thousand men, if they can be armed.
The Executive prefers volunteers for twelve
months as they are manifestly better for the pub
lie service. If he can get as many volunteers he
can arm, well, the services of no militiamen will
then be required and the details from the militia
will not be ordered to go into camp. But if the
Executive shall succeed in raising more arms than
volunteers efer their services, then he will be COM
PEELED, by the the exlgency, to call the militia into
the service of the country for the defence Of our
soil. No patriotic man will object to this. IL is
right, and viii be approved by the country in the
end, though some may be impatient under it at first
We think the volunteers will be obtained, and that
there will no need for employing the militia. But
whether this is so Or not the men needed by Gen.
JOHNSTON for the defence of our homes must be OBJ
tanned:
>CrrIzgNs--I MEAN, FEI.nOw- soLDIEKs ~
We have yet failed to meet man who can divine
fhai into of the Eyaautiva a1ati 10
posed draft of the militia. 1t would seem that as
soon as half of the effective force is drafted,
they will be held in readiness fOr,marchng orders
Without arms? without equipments? lt IS simply
impossible. But why should there be any mystery
about it?
Our people have abundant military spirit, and
need only arms, equipments and proper degree
of drilling to place them the field able and eff
fective soldiers as ever followed Napoleon. Arms
and equipments sAFe not yet ready, but why do we
not proceed and acquire that precision in drill
without which, with the best of equipments in our
possession. Iand clothed in the gsyest uniforms we
would be but armed mob?
Let the GoVernor-we suggest it in sill respect
order the militia TO drill three or four times every
week-we do not pean such drills we had of late
at the Sulphur Spring, but company and squad
rIls-and let the Orderly Sergeants be directed to
fine every absentee without proper excuse prevl-
ously obtained. There are many persons here who
are well acquainted with military tactics, who will
eheerfuliy offer their services as drill officers to be
assigned to duty in drilling the different companies
in squad, company and subsequently battalion move
ments. By immediate attention to this course, in
few weeks certainly before there will be sutii~
cheney of arms obtsined, the militia Of the State
will be in condition to protect it from invasion, or,
if necessary to go out sEd meet the enemy their
own soil and entirely without expense to the Gov
ernment.
The militia Of the cities might be drilled every
other day without much injury 10 private interest,
while once or twice week is IS often as the peo-
pie of the country coud be assembled without great
inconvenience. By all means let us be drilling
General johnson said in his speech at the Capitol
that we were all soldiers let US make his state
nent good as far as possible. Y,
The Vickshurg San of the I'D says: Nothing
was talked o. in town yesterday but the threatened
derstand that the various military companies ofthe
city called meetings last evening to offer their ser