The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-13
From the Maine Teacher.
OUR SCHOOL ARMY.
Letters to the Governor.-No.v vi.

Ny DEAR SIR You have just dispatched
to the seat OF war another regiment, said to
be not inferior in soldierly qualities to any
that has before left the State and com.
mandcd by an able officer, Col. Caldwell,
drawn directly from q captaincy in our
school army. We have released him, and
Others with him, from important posts at
home, only because the country has, just at
this time, a stronger claim to their services.
While this regiment was well furnished in
other respects, it was u matter OF surprise to
some persons, that they were allowed to leave
entirely unarmed; especially when there are
so many arms in the State,-muskcts OF all
descriptions, rifles and smooth borcs shot
guns, long and short, -iowling pieces, double.
barrelled and single,-aiit.lOcks and percus-
misunderstanding and Misunderstanding
to say nothing OF few old kings arms,
which would respond with blaze OF patriot-
ism, should they be summoned again into the
services of the country These arms, no doubt,
would he cheerfully contributed, or could be
bought up at u low figure. and thus large
expense be saved to the State and country
But the absurdity Of serious proposition
to economizc in this way, IN the arlning OF
our soldiers is obvious to child. 1t is ex.
pected that arms Of the very best kind, with
the latest well tested improvements, will be
mt into the hands OF our men with references
both to their. personal safety, and to their
efficiency in the field. No reasonable expense
/, to be regarded in procuring them. The
friends of the men who were sacrificed in the
unfortunate affair Of Balls Bluff, were ex.
cited to the highest pitch of indignation, by
the supposed discovery that some OF the com,
panies engaged in that fight were supplied
with inferior arms. or u kind OF arms not
adapted to the service required.
Is the equipment of our school army q
matter of 80 much less importance, that the
arms which have come down from former
generations, however inferior IN quality and
various pattern, are good enough for our
youpr soldiers on the fields Of knowledge p
Because many an old volume which did our
fathers and mothers good service, may still
bc found in excellent preservation, and be-
cause with them the young ideas Of that time
were taught to shoot well, must We be com.
pellcd to retain them still in every camp and
drill-room?
On the other hand, the opposite evil OF
having aside a really efficient weapon,-one
towhich q soldier has become accustomed, fol
another not essentially better, and to which
be Is not accustomed, would be equally un.
wise. II should be known first, by the mos,
careful experimenting, tn ut the change wil
he an improvement. Government proceeds
in this way in ordering a change in our arms
or an improvement in their construction
The old dint.lock, for example. was retained
until II was demonstrated beyond question
that the percussion lock was far SUPERIOR
Then, the change was made throus hout the
entire service, US fast rs 1t could be done, and
the old pattern entirely discarded.
In this way only could be avoided third
and greater error, namely the use OF different
kinds If weapons in the same department. ol
the service. A rifle OF long ringe, and a
horse pistol are not adapted to the same sort
ofservice. and should not be used by soldiers
Of the same company. A broadsidc dis.
charged from guns Of unequal range and
calibcr would be but poorly effective in the
reduction Of well-manncd battery.