, 1861-06-14

Deilef next tine. Il general oluci assueu
by Gen. Blair, directs the formation OF
camp ut Fort Wayne, Detroit, for thu IN
et,uction Of oDfcers 1t is ordered that all
ihe officers, commissioned and non-com~
missioned, Of the 5th,: Gil and 7th regs- i
ments Of volunteers. Numbering about
$50, including sergeants and cofpofa.s'
assemble at the >sai ID camp to remain for
the period of ten weeks, unless sooner
called into service, to receive instruction In
the school of the soldier, school Of the
company and rcgimenta1 movements, from
West Point cadets or other officers Of the
regular army. Before entering the camp
they must each pass a medical examina-
ton, and after their ten weeks Of camp
duty they must each pass military exam
ination. Those qualified for their rcspec-
tive posts will then receive diplomas and
proceed to their commands.
The advantages Of this encampment It
officers are perceived at once. The three
regiments 18th, 9th and 7th) are not yet
called into the service Of the United States
The State cannot afford to lose their serVi-
ces in the field and the forest during the
season Of harvesting and saving. BY taxi
ing charge of the officers during this i'm
portant interval and giving them, if not q
thorough military education, at least a
thorough acquaintance with the prin-
cipics Of military science, the labor
Of the priyatcs is saved, and practically
no time is lost in putting the regiments into
the field. It Is Of the utmost importance
that the sergeants and corporals Of the
companies should be perfectly acquainted
with their duties when the men 60 into
camp. If all the off1eer, commissioned and
non commissioned, understand their busi-
ness, the labor Of drilling companies, bat
tallions and regiments is not at all difficult
or complicated. But when the colonel
major, adjutant captains and sergeants
are as green az the priyates themselves, the
labor Of putting regiment into condition
for active service is long and difficult,
and the result extremely dangerous
to all concerned If Michigan has
her share Of political colonies, she
is determined that they shall not
hazard the lives Of her soldiers by reason
Of their inexperience in military affairs.
There is no valid reason why civilians
should not accept these important com
mauds, but there is every reason why they
should not be placed at the head Of thei,
regiments until they have mastered the
role which appertains to their responsible
stations. Bissel1, Hardin and Shields o
our own State we're civilians when tn
Mexican war called them from privatel life
but they did not lead their men into actio1
until they had themselves. undergone 4
thorough and rigid discipline
There seems to be one defect in Coz
Blair's arrangement Unless all the officer
sent into the Fort Wayne encampmen
should pass their subsequent examinatio
there would still be deficiency Of educs
ted men. This oversight, If it be an owe
sight, Hay be- rectided by the appointme1
!: Of few officers for the State at large,
fill possible vacancies created by the exam
inipg board. If the war shall be protracte
sufficiently to call out the 5th, 9Th and II
regiments Of Michigan volunteers, we pr
: dict that the results Of this school for Of
: GERS will be Of marked value, not only
the soldiers themselves, but to the gre
cause for which it is instituted