Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-19
New MExlcn Fen IL Isl;

heoF90h'sdte9H 81 NE miLttd 81 JTytntd-
Changes desirable in e,trairy Mciics -.srhon.
y military science .1or ogicsrs ntcisd.
New MExlCu, Fci, II, 1851
| The existing organization Of our State mill
tin is not such as inspirrs confidence in our
ability to meet immediate war. The CorS;de
ration OF the Question uf its reform and re-
organization is Dt vast importance and rcspon
slbilIty, and II should at 0Ece bc submitted tG
commission of clever and experienced.
tary men. IT seems altogether probable tha
some such course will hc decided upon by the
Legislature; butperd:ns i;s adoption, il NAV
not be amiss to keep before the pubic, though
in Il desultory and superficial way, the discus
sion ofsuch changes Of military policy. organi
zation, regulations and tactics rs seem most
ilDperatiyely called for by the times
The traditions Of Virginia. and her condition
as vast agricultural territory, rapgrt more in
iereSt and moro importance to the cavalrv tl.ar
10 either Of the other great arms 0f service
And Is the tactics established for that arm and
used in our federal army, is considered ty
.nany officers behind the improvements OF the
age and unsuited to the American service we
will call attention TO Some changes which seem
10 he very desirable before tina, system Gail be
come what it should be-
About 2J yeurs ago the war department
caused the French Cavalry Tactics TO be trans
lated, and established il as the system Of i'm
Slruction for the cavalry nf lhr U. 5. a,rnv. It
IS the tactics for light and htnvy cavalry (dru-
snonS, hussarS, lancers, cuirasS'crs) according
| 10 the ideas of the service Of those corps de-
rived from the wars Of Napoleon, and was well
adapted to the rather ponderous formations Of
| the great masses winch he used to launch,
! sword in hand, against his enemy, ard which
decided the issue for him on many hard
fought field, from the campaign Of 1905 10 his
! final defeat at Waterloo II sIitel The aye in
which he fought. .and served h,m wall; ht
the military inventions of this day, and the
pcculiarities Of American service alnl OF Anne.
rican institutions call for fundamental changes
in these tactics
We need a system. the simplicity Of which
wlll commend it to the use Of citizen sO!d!ery,
and OF regulars, whose term Of service will nj
ways be short, and whose opportunities for in,
struction will always be limited; while it will
impart to cavalry the power Ct the most active
skirmslIers, without tuo much impa'rng lis
force in the charge.
1t is well.rstablishei fact, that no iire-arm
except the pistol, can be used effectively by a
man who is mounted, and no trooper should
ever he permitted to discharge bis rifle, except
when he is upon the ground And is Tactics
should always provide the means Of using
every weapon, in its most effective manner,
WE should make such changes in our Cavalry
Tactics, az will best combine the effective use
of the rifle, the pistol, uHd tie sabre. In other
words, should secure for cavalry g:ea; freedom,
simplicity. and rapidity Of movement, with in
creased facilities for mounting and d!spcnut
ing without compromising due force IN the
charge.
There is TN: little doubt, TINT cavalry or
ganized in one rank, instead Of in Two, as is
now required by the Cavalry Tactics Of the
u S. Cavalry, will best meet all of these cond:-
tions.
Indeed, it is understood that to distin.
guiShcd cavalry officer Of our own Stats has
been entrusted the important duty Of review
ing the Tactics established for the L. S. Caral-
ry and Of adopting it to the single rank or
ganization. And for two years past the War
Department has sanctioned the Use Of this or.
ganization by our cavalry, while on field SER
vice, and has adopted 4 system Of skirmishins
based upon it, and calculated to facilitate
mounting and dismounting, in order t" fight On
foot.
All of these matters doubtless viii bc brought
1t an early day before competent committee,
with the view Of considering the changes
which are desirable. and Tie best means OF
remedying existing defects.
We are glad to perceive that the thinking
men Of our State are arousng themselves 70
the importance Of these subjects. An article.
signed RIP Rars," recently Published in Il
Virginia newspaper, urges with great !nrcc the
soundesI measure Of military preral a.cn wllieh
Virginia can make.
Commencing at the right end Of the subject.
"Rips Raps" contends that We want military
education for our officers ,frst-und we want
it nt once. In his cogcnt and concise paper he
leaves but little TO be said upon the question.
We will, nevertheless, enfeavor to enlarge
little more upon the subject than he has thought
necessary to do.
Ofnll the measures, looking to efficient mill
tnrv preparation, none can be SO wise ms those
which ensure good education for the officers,
who are to instruct and to lead our troops.
The school at Lexington is an admirable
military College. Virginia may well bless the
day when she established il. and placed Col
Smith at the head Of it. For thanks to the
Lexington Academy, under his able and ener-
getic superintendent we have now several
hundred Of vel educated officers, thoroughly
competent to train and lead our troops
Unhappily, there are Indications before Us
that the day is not far distant when We may
require the services Of some thousands Of edu.
Gated officers, and that several military Colleges
may he required to meet the demand for them
Such as that Of Lexington are the growth Of
years, and our time for warikc preparation may
be very short Therefore, let Us consider how
we may cngraft upon the University such q
course of military study as will be useful to
the State AT n time like this, the creation o.!
school Of military science would increase the:
influence and the popularity Of that institution,
and We believe could be made 4 great public
benefit.
II could not 20 to the extent of Tic Vest
Point or Lexington Academies, in thoroughly
educating officers in the d ills Of soldiers
duty, nor could il incucate ri:itary scIcnce by
means of military discipl;n:. The principles
Of the University forbid thu. But the theory
of war could be taught as We'll as that Of Ma
theulatics or Chemistry, and according to the
same process. And muh could he done 10
diituse sound military information throughout
the State and to guild: o,i: young men, who
arc seeking such knowledge, into the best
channels. SPoTsyLvASIa.
che Significant Ke.nlt In Petersburg.
The Petersburg "Ex;"csa" thus cl"se> its
notice Ct the election which caEls OF! in ,lia;
city on Wednesday, Thursday ard Friday OF
last week:
The majority, it will be sen, is very deci.
sive, and declares, in most emphatic aud un-
mistakabIe tones, the trnc position OF Petersburg
in this great contest which is now being wagcd
in Virginia. When it is recollec.cd that the com
bined vote III Petersburg for Union on the 4th
Of February last, was l,039, the powerful re.
action that has taken place in public Sentimen.
appears almost incredible. 1t has been brought
about solely by the unScrupulous and defiant
course OF the Black Republican leaders and
their cohorts--a doninee,ing and insolent com
binaLion, to which Virginia can never submit
with the consent of Petersburg. We append
the vote of the past three DAYS As follows: