Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-29
Grorsrrows, June %. 1851.


Mr.. Editor: Your Georgetown correspondent,
In bis letter Of Wednesday says .that the attempt
to assemble the companies Of the Eighth Regi-
ment OF District Columbia Militia was decided
failure.n Ii 10 generally conceded that men indi.
viduslly brave, acting without concert. are over
come like flock Of sheep; while towards, drilled
TO act In masses, are efficient, because each man
relies on the steedfastness Of his comrades, and
would rather face the vengence OF his enemies
than encounter the ridicule Of friends. Consider
ing the unsettled state Of the times and the
slty resting upon every man to De well prepared
for the protection Of himself and his family, and
In view Of the military enthusiasm everywhere
prevailing, the drilling OF militia throughout the
county, and organization of an efficient Home
Guard In every city and town, 10 1t not rather
humiliating that the raising Of three volunteer
companies should so far exhaust the military spirit
Of population Of 10000, exposed to all the
casualties Of q war waged at their very doors, as
that when drill Of eight companies Of militia IL
ordered, but three companies are notified by their
captains, and the notification is responded to 90
feebly that fifteen or twenty only answer TO theft
names at one place Of muster, six or eight at an
otast and at the third the roll Is not even called
The writer has taken some pains to ascertain
these facts, and at the same time has found that a
majority OF the officers Of the Eighth Regiment
D. c. NJ have resigned, and the vacancies still
exist. or the officers who still hold their commits
sions, ten attended the rst drill Of officers at For
rest Hall, and sir the second and last learn
that most OF these officers DESTROYS Of raising
themselves and the regiment to something like
ent defective system, or want Of system with
oencient organization, and some Of the officers
VINO stll hold their commissions without the
time the inclination or the ability to attend to the
simplest duties Of their object Then, again, the
law takes no cognitance Of the personal appeal
ance OF members Of the militia, and the attem ut
at drill on Tuesday was made ridiculous as has
been the case heretofore, by the appearance on
the streets Of the most ludIcrous caricatufes One
miserable specimen presented the appearance Of a
glgantc tadpole on end, being habited in an old
independent Gray's uniform, which (epaulettes
ana all) measured about three feet across the
shoulders, terminating In a short, sharp swallow
tall, below which a pair Of slim legs waddled
ABOUT IL Ike the tail Of the creature. Another was
clothed in uniform the very acme of the ridicu-
lous, and was armed with pop bottle at his side
containing about two inches of corn whisky the
upper four inches having been transferred TO his
digestive apparatus, furnishing him with Dutch
courage to carry out his little masquerade. But
enough OF this.
The whole system ought to be remodeled thor.
oughly by Congress, adopting as basis some one
OF the excellent systems adopted by various States
Until that Is done, the best way 10 to compel the
officers to attend to their duties or resign; fill ex
listing vacancies, and those made hereafter with
active Intelligent men, known to be loyal to the
Government, and rigidly exact the fines and Den
alties for non-attendance, &c. II ought to be so
arranged that for company drills the men could
De assembled In rooms until they learned enough
70 make credttable appearance in regimental
parades on the street; the room rent, &c, to be
paid out OF the fines. The Adjutant Of the regi-
ment and orderly sergeants ought also to be paid
Tor their time and trouble in writing and serving
notices out OF these same fines; whereas, now
they actually have to purchase stationery out Of
their own means, besides giving their service,
gratuitous. / am making this communication
TOO long Tor your columns, and will reserve any
other suggestions for future communication
PRO ARTS FOOLS.