New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-27

byht for his cigar on the ground that he did not
slider our volunteer officers gentlemen. His defenseless
position alone saved him from punishment for the insult
Tie Honduras steamer f. Saler, from NewYork,
and intended 10 run between Truxillo and Havana has
put into the Roads for a harbor.
"THE RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT PLACE"
To the Editor O The NJ y Tyi5uEe
SIR: "The Colonel if he be the right man for the
right place will see that every subordinate in the
corps does his duty"
If due weight be given 10 this sentence in your leader
Of Monday, it is timely true, and complete. The
Union 10 IN greater danger fom lazy Colonels than
from anything else. If the Colonel understands the
businesses of all his suboriinates aud is able and
willing 70 patiently instruct them and watch them
closely he can overcome almost all difficulties, and
bring his regiment to such condition that he need not
fear 70 lead it into action. But If be neglect to In
struct and supentoud his company commanders in the
details of snN' special duty, the regiment is equally
sure TO fail Ia the hour of trial This il the secret of
the efficiency of the Rhode Island and Connecticut
Regiments-Col Burnside in one and Col Tyler
in the other setting example with the first regl-
ments from those States which has been followed with
greater or es. industry by the Coones Of those raised
subsequently, TO theirs.
This instruction Of the Captains not being, under all
circumstanccs necessary duty of the Colonel, how
ever needs 70 be said that our troops really suffer
more from the ignorance and azness Of their Captains
IN regard their SPECIAL duties, than from all other
sources combined. IL IL essential that the Cap
tans attend 10 their special duty than anything else
and under ordinary circumstances, the influence Of the
Colonel is felI for good evil, mainly according 10
the degree Of efficiency with which he secures proper
attendance TO this special duty the part Of the Cap
,ans In Germany the Captain is called the soldiers
mother" and the condition Of our army at this time
proves that soldiers with incompetent and lazy Cap
tans are ar helpless children who have lost their
mother.
To show how true this is let refer 20 certain du
ties Of The Captain. sorry that have not copy Of
the Army Regulations with me, that could cite the
orders Of the Secretary OF War and the President for
what shall say You can easily satisfy yourself,
however, that am right by iDquiriLg Of regular
officer.
1t is the Captains duty TO make requisitiOn for the
food of his In the regular army this ishe foun
dation Of the Commissariat system. Blanks are fur
nished which the Captains fill in ten days these
passed to the Colonel, and upon them as vouch-
err, regimental requisition is formed.
Not one Captain in o hundred, probably, Of those
now in the field has yet made his first official demand
for the food TO which bis company is entitled You
therefore give insufficient credit 10 the Commissarat
in your article. Ii is the neglect of the Captains 10
which the want Of proper supplies ofood may, inevery
case, be primarily attributed. This duty of the Cap
tains to be sure, has got to be a matter Of
form, the whole responsibility of supplying food being
at present assumed by superior authorities but it s
because of the neglect Of the Captains that it is
sumed and s fair to suppose that s because Of the
extraordinary duty thus forced upon the superior Off
GERS that they are not always found equal to their
task.
The Captains are responsible for the division, subd
vision and proper economy Of the food of their compa
nies In maDy-indeed, must say in most-regiments
the food is unfairly divided and 30 improydenty used
that one supply often wasted before another arrives
This in most cases. the explanation OF the complaint
of insufficient supplies The ratons, well taken care
Of are more than can be consumed.
IL is the Captains business that the ratons
properly cooked BY the regulations, each Captain is
ordered TO yiAit his companys kitchen daily for this
purpose. He is especially epjoined to sec that the
utensils are kept clean. The regulations order de-
tinctly that beans shall be boiled five hours Now, 90
TO the camps and visit the kitchens and you will never,
by any chance meet Captain there; look at the uten-
sils not one in hundred will you find cleani ask to
taste the soup and you will find that the beans have
not been boiled the half OF five hours swallow spoon
ful, and you will soon comprehend the saying that
beans kill more than bullets. This is all the Captains
fault. II is not the Coonels except as the Colonel
negects to follow up bis Captains. IL is not the Sur
eeons except as he negecs to report to the Colonel
the Incidence of the Captains and to warn him Of the
consequences. 1t is not at all the Quartermasters.
II Is the Captains duty to carefully Inspect his men
daily 10 see that his commissioned officers have
attended to their duty of forcing the men to wash
the hcmselves clean their clothes, and comb their hair
Il is the Captains duty as, in turn, officers of the day.
70 sec to the whole police of the camp. need not
partcuIarze. Go 10 leeward Of half our camps, and
YOU viii need no further evidence Of the special inet
cheney Of the captains.
Time fails me TO proceed further but l beg you
TO observe that what is wanted for q Captain is not
military knowledge be need not be good drih-
master; be can leave drill mainly to his eutenants
and sergosnts no doeE not need the professional edu
cation Of a surgeon he does not need TO be book
keeper. He needs 10 be of iorethought, of
economy and of patience, and he should be able TO
read aud write and to make simple arithmetcal cal
culation.
The captain is an administrative Office, and 1t is adj