Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-12-12
66O,07t
The several arms of the service are estimated
$40 $50 1884
TIE READY RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR
TROOPS.


TROOPS.
1t is said of Napoleon By Jomini, that, in the
campaign of 1915, that great general on the / st
of April had regular army of 100000 men.
On the LIST of June he had increased this force
to 4l4,0 900. The proportion, adds Jomini, had
he thought proper to inaugurate vast system
of defence, would have rased it to 700 900 men
bv the LIST of September At the commence
ment of this rebellion inaugurated by the at
tack upon Fort Sumpter, the entire military
force at the disposal of this government was
l6,OO6 regulars, principally employed in the
west to hold in check marauding Indians In
April 10000 volunteers were called upon to en-
isl for three months service, and responded
with such alacrity that 1875 were Immediately
obtained. Under the authority OF the act of
congress of July %, 1861. the states we're ask
ed to furnish 100000 volunteers to serve for
three years, or during the war; and by the act
approved the 29th of the same month, the adj
dition of $4,000 men to the regular army of
the United States was authorized. The result
is, that we have now an army OF upwards of
100000 men. If we add to this the number of
the discharged three months volunteers, the
aggregate force furnished to the government
since April last exceeds 100000.
We have here an evidence of the wonderful
strength of our institutions. Without con-
scrptions levies, drafts, or other extraordinary
expedients, we have raised a greater force than
that which, gathered by Napoleon with the aid
of all these appliances, was considered an evil
dence of his wonderful genius and energy, and
of the military spirit of the French nation.
Here every man is interested in the govern
ment, and rushes to its defence when dangers
| beset it.
| By reference to the records of the Revolu-
| ton it will be seen that Massachusetts,, with a
population of $4,000, had at one time $4,000
troops in the field, or over one sixth of her
people-a force greatly exceeding the whole
number of troops furnished by all the southern
states during that war. Should the present
| loyal states furnish troops in like proportion,
which undoubtedly would be the case, should
any emergency demand it, the government
could promptly put into the field an army of
over three millions.
THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE REGULARS.
recommend that the system of promotions
which prevails in the regular service be applied
to the volunteer forces in the respective states
restricting, however, the promotions to men
actually in the field. At present each governor
selects and appoints the officers for the troops
furnished by his state and complaint is not I'M
frequently made, that when vacancies occur in
the field, men of inferior qualifications are
placed in command over those in the ranks
who are their superiors in military experience
and capacity. The advancement of merit
should be the leading principle in all promo
tons, and the volunteer soldier should be given
to understand that preterment will be the sure
reward of intelligence, fidelity and distinguish
ed service.
The course above recommended has been
pursued by this department, and it is my in
tention, so far as is in my power, to continue
system which cannot fail to have a most BEN
eiicial effect upon the entire service.
BY existing laws and regulations an officer Of
the regular army ranks an officer of volunteers
of the same grade, notwithstanding the COM
mission of the latter may be of antecedent date.
In my Judgment, this practice has tendency to
repress the ardor and limit the opportunity
for distinction of volunteer officers, and change
should be made by which seniority of commits
sion should confer the right of command.
| submit for reflection the question, whether
the distinction between regulars and volunteers
which now exists should be permitted to con-
tinue. The efficiency of the army, 1t appears
to me, might be greatly increased by eonsoh-
dation of the two during the continuance OF the
war, which, combining both forces, would con-
stitute them one grand army of the Union.
wAsI,INGToN. AND A RECONSTRUCTION or
! BOUNDARIES.
The geographical position of the metropolis
, Of tho nation. menaced by the rebels, and re-
ouired TO be defended by thousands of our
troops, induces me to suggest for consideration
the propriety and expediency of a reconstruc-
ZION of the boundaries of the states of Della
ware, Maryland, and Virginia Wisdom and
true craftsmanship would dictate that the seat
of the national government for all time To
come should be placed beyond reasonable dam
ger of seizure by enemies within, as well as
from capture by foes from without. BY agree
ment between the states named, such as was ei-
iee,ed, for similar purposes. by Michigan and
Ohio, and by Missouri and Iowa, their boun-
darie could be so changed as to render the
capital more remote than at present, from the
influence of state governments which have ar
rayed themselves in rebellion against the fed
eral authority. To this end, the limits of Vir-
ginia might be so altered as to make her boun.
daries consist of the Blue Ridge on the east
and Pennsylvania on the north, leaving those
on the south and west as at present. BY this
arrangement, two counties of Maryland (Al-
a leghany and Washington would be transferred