Smyrna times., 1861-05-02
Organization and Parts of the Army.

Oi6dl3AAdI4Uu duu dE u VI Llto ALuly'
Solmany persons, unacquainted with the Or
ganization of an army, are making inquiries
upon teat subject that we copy from the Gin.
cinnaR Gazette the following outline Of its
elemenis, as recognized in the French school
and in our own, so far as we have had armies:
A company is the unit of an army, and is
supposed to average, on the war basis, one
hundred men, officers included. The general
rule for the organization of such a company
gives pne capita in, two leutenapts, five SER
geantaand four corporals and eighty-fve men.
formerly each company had an ensign, who
earrled the flag; but his place is now supplied
by the color sergeant. There is one more ser
geant than corporal, the first sergeant being
called the orderly sergeant, and is, next to the
captain, the most important man in the COM
Pany-carrying the books of the company, nd
calling the roll morning and evening. The
company is formed. when in column, into two
platoons and four sections, each platoon COM
manded by q lieutenant, and each section by a
sergeant.
A regiment is regularly composed of ten
companies, or two battalions; a battalion be-
! ing hall regiment, composed OF five compa-
MES lone of them called a light or rout COM
|
outsldeOf the heavy columns as flanking par.
ties, guards, etc.
The officers of regiment, independent Of
company officers, are a colonel, lieut.. colonel,
two ma jors. adjutant, qua srtermasIer, and COM
missary. Each separa te body of troops must
have commissary and quartermaster, but in
large army they are apportioned to regiments
or brigades. A regiment, when oDstitu ed,
will be formed thus: colonel, l Lieut.. ditto,
l adjutant, l quartermaser, l comnissaiy, 2
majors 10 captains, 20 lieutenaut', so serg
eants, 46 corporAls, and $50 pr vlte meH-ma-
king 975. out in reality there are some others
each company has regularly drummer and
fifer, which make regimental band of 20, be-
sides the drum major. Then the regiment,
when tuil, is made up regularly TO 1000 men.
A brigade should be composed Of two regi-
ments, u squadron Of cavalry and a corps of
field artllerys If these were all full, COM
pltte brigade operating alone, would, in our
service, or in the French, make 2400 men.
6 A division is comp posed of two brigades, with
additional corps of cavalry and artillery, ma.
king in ouf army, including the whole staff and
: music, About 6, ,00o men. This is the highest
element of organization in our service; but in
France, as they organize, immense armies
there is one other.
The corps is composed Of two or more dvis-
ions, frequently of four or five. The corps is
in the French service, properly comma nded by
field marshall-an officer unknown to oul
country-snd the corps is properly complete
army in itself.
10 Napoleon's march on Ruesia, he had
eight or ten of these corps in active service
> ma king a field army of from 250,000 to 300,.
: 900 men. From the elements we have given
it will be seen that however large the army
may be, it is so organized as to be perfect in al
it's parts, and moves with exact order and dis.
. cipline. In the field all orders and operations
are carried on through the staff of the army
! and when we come to active service, the stat
g the most important part of the army for
5 his being a vast machine, of which each par
e is perfectly obedient to and directed by thG
> head, it is evident that all must depend on th
a skill, ability and dscernment of the stat
: through which it acts. 1t is in vain that Scott
8 or any great general commands, if the sta
: officers are incompetent.
: The staff consists of the aids, the adjutan
q general, the engineer, the quartermaster, an
q commissary generals Through the adjutan
9 general all orders are conveyed to each part
}, cular part. By the quartermaster general a.
e transportations, and vehicles, and horses, ar
" furnished by the company all supplies; by tn
D engineer The topography OF the country
5. thoroughly examined, the practicability of pal
W ses determined, fort6cations built or attached
e, Then the staff Of an srmy becomes it's eye
e and all its faculties, the general simply dec
of ding the movements of the army on the fac
}; and elements thus furnished. In the graz
G. French armies there was a Chief. of-the-s
h or head of the active military bureau. ln M
te poleon's time, this chief ot-the.staH was Mo
s- shal Berthier. deemed one of the ablest Of of
D. GERS of the French army. Napoleon knew Il
IN value Of good staff. and had abler men in
I'd than were at the head of the divisions.