Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-14

der, and edged with halfinoh worsted braid.
color OF the corps the strap to be the same shape
| out wider than that on the old infantry fatigue
JACKET should be substituted for the metallic scales
a' present worn The metallic scales are ditncult
" ADJUST, and, with infantry troops, with knap-
sacks, are frequently forced and torn of by the
weight OF the knapsack. They bruise the stock
OF the musket when carried on the right or left
shoulder, or are themselves scratched or broken
| With knapsack, or on drill or parade, they are
an encumbrance; and close observance of three
| years confirms this opinion.
4 InfdHtry Sngsants' S,cords-The present
infantry swords for sergeants is a most awkward
weapon to carry In active service il is ge neralIy
turned into store, or lost and paid for In march
Ing, unless constantly held with the left hand II
Is getting between the legs, tripping the wearer,
&c. Its place should pc supplied by sword
bayonet for sergeants Of infantry which should
be carried in scabbard hanging from a waist
belt. For sergeants and musicians the shoulder
sword belt should be discontinued-and for the
former, the present bayonet scabbard and frog.
| "a more effective weapon than the present must.
clans 'word) should be adopted-see No. : in this
| connection).
| 5. Leather Stoeks.-The stock at present issued
should be replaced by some more pliable and
softer material. The discomfort Of leather stock
very great, and tciH not toear them If tAsy
| can auotdit. Thegreatest amount of comfort con-
sistent with useful dress IL what we should seek
for. The pressure on the external jugular vein
produces congestion, thereby predisposipg the
! man 70 sunstroke while on drills and parades T.
| 1of one, can say, from experience, that leather
| STOCK 10 d leather instrument of torture Surely
something can be adopted to do away with this
relic Of the times Of ee-breeches and powdered
queues. No man can be an Efficient soldier with
a leather stock on his neck. lis great cause of
| complaint among soldiers.
D. Leather Caters for Foot TToops-For cam
paigns, marches and scouts gaiters of buff (un-
blacked) leather, to buckle on the outside of the
| leg, and with strap passing under the foot,
| shouio pe1urnlsned TO troops Dirt, sand, gravel,
| &c frequently render soldier unable to march
by getting into the shoe, and being neglected by
the man produce bllsters, Inflammation, &c The
gaiter also prevents the tapping and rubbing of
the bottom Of the pantaloons, which, particularly
In wet and muddy roads, is so excessively IA.
| tiguing to men on foot. The importance Of such
an article has been recognized in the French army
| Tor foot troops. Why should not we have it,
| Not for garrison, but for field service Men will
roll up the bottom Of their pantaloons, or stick
them In the boot leg. II they wear boots, because
| they walk easier they say. have no doubt that
a man with CATERS can walk twenty Ave miles as
| easy as another without them can march twenty.
all other things being equal. One pair Of CATERS
should be issued to each foot soldier yearly.
| Z. FtsId Musicians for Infantry Regiments
instead OF ffeu and drummers, infantry should
nave TWO buglers. The tactics now In use (Har-
aees Kline Tactics) cannot be thorous bly, taught,
| q speak now Of the skrmish drillD without
bugles Each bugler should be armed with rife.
Nh a.
mounting, &c, the word-bayonet will be all that
Is necessary-but on all Inspections, and particu.
lafly In Held service, be should carry his rife
| Another strong reason 10 that drummers and ffers
as al present armed, cannot even defend them.
serves, much less act extensively; but bupler can
sonnd the necessary calls and still do good service
with his rifle. ffer without a drummer, land
you frequently find such is the case il Of no use
whatever In company, whereas one bugler 1,
able to sound calls without any assistance
| III such change should be made Il will add
twenty effective men to a regiment and the ten
infantry regiments will make an aggregate of two
hundred men able to act defensively and offen-
slVeiy In time OF need, fact Of some importance
bugien should be effective men, and not boys
who are unable to carry rife or take care Of
themselves. The hght infantry bugle IL a very
difficult instr ument to FILL and the trumpet used
| by the cavalry should be adopted
The changes suggested will cause no adj jtionaI
| expense, as the soldiers allowance of clothing
money remains the same-but a small animal
saving Will probably arise, by discontinu!ng the
manufacture Of cartridge box belts and metallic
| scales OF w
NAVY YARD.
Atrial the Flag-Eseape of Prisoners
This morning, TIE United States steamer Flag,
Commander Sartori, arrived at the ward for re.
pairs, having been run into by the usquehauna
Inc lag had just been TO Pbiladelphia, where
she was newly coppered, and In going down to
Hatteras In the night was mistaken BY the Sus
| quehanna for the privateer Sumter The frigste
Immediately bore down upon her, Intending TO
! cut her down, which she would have accom-
Pished had she struck few feet nearer the fore
mast, as In the short chopping sea the Flag would
have been cut open and sunk Immediately. The
oowsPrit and forward rigging was entirely swept
away, and the iron davits, three inches In diam
| eter, twisted like a reed The Susouebanna suf
fered little damage, which will render II neces-
sary for her TO visit yard for repairs as soon az
she can be relieved. The Flag is one OF the finest
vessels In the service trim, fast and effective her
armament being quite heavy. She left Hatteras
| "wednesday for Washington, and reports all quiet
along the coast, at Old Point and with the hotilla
| The steamer Baltimore from this city with stores
| and the Peabody, were entering the inlet when
the Flag left. The susquehanna lay of outside
short distance, and inside the sound Confed.
crate steamer was impatiently putting I'D and
down, unable to escape from her prison, as Hat
teras Inlet 10 the only way for her to get out II
Is believed that she is either the steamer Gordon
| or the Winslow
The Resolute, Capt Foster. came up last night,
bringing three Federal officers captured at Bull
Run and who had escaped from Richmond
They were on the sick list, and being allowed
outdoor exercise, succeeded In eluding the guard
| and escaping to the Potomac where they were
| picked up by our fotilla. They were several
days on the route from R Richmond, and report that
the Confederates have plenty Of provisions of GER
tain kinds. One Of them is captain, Of an Ohio
regiment, and another is quartermaster Of one of
| the northern regiments
NOT long since II was stated in the papers that
mutiny had occurred on board the Resolute.
| inis is mistake, no such occurrence having
transpired on board this vessel There was. how
/ ever, slight difficulty on board the n eliance