The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-30
JEFF. Davis on Incompetent Army
Officers.

Jen' Davis on Incompetent Army
Officers.
We do not often find anything TO en-.
dorse In The messages Of the rebel Presi.
dent, but the italicised portions Of the fol,
lowing message Of that funciionary, ara
50 very applicable to the Federal army
that we must give them our endorsement
We trust that the the Confederate Con-
gress may not have sense enough 70 purge
its army Of worthless officers, and we
trust that our Congress may learn wis
dom from an enemy There would be a
wonderful thinning ont Of officers from
Generals down, If the process of purea-
ton were begun. Our army is packing
too much dead weight at present too
achieve much success If we could eIe-
vate some @a0e and industrious private
soldiers to the places now held by pop
pinjay upstairs, il would be glorious
thing We beseech the Administration
10 effect this reform which is of para
mount Importance
TO Die Sa'ate and House of Representatives
Of ate Confederate States
The near approach Of the dav fixed
for your adjournment, induces me to re-
new certain recommendations made AZ
the commencement Of this session and
Tor which legislation has not vet proyi- |
ded. The subject of the efficiency Of
the army is one of paramount impor- |
lance and the letter Of the Secretary |
OF War, herewith submitted, has been |
elected by correspondence with the GEN
erals in our armies in the field whose /
practical experience of the evils result
ing from the defects in our present
system, entities their opinion to great
weight.
On army 0citbom discipline and ilstyao-
ton callaot be relied on jtr purposes Of de-
tense, stSH less for operations ta an eaepaD's
country ~ is IN 0uin 10 add men anil NIL
nations, Unless zoe can al the same time aiae
to the aggregated mass the character and en-
Pacny Of soldiers. The discipline and in
struction required for its efficiency can
not be impaired without competent Off
GERS. No power now exists by law for
securing such officers to fill vacancies
when election and promotions fail TO ac-
complish the object.
Extreme cases ought not to furnish a
rule, yet some provisions should be made 0
to meet evils even exceptional in matter y
90 vitality affecting the safety of our troops. 9
Tender consideration far worthless and iatog,- =
'etent officers, Is bit another name far c12te1ty
oaoGrd 6e Jgare men ,olo fail sacrifices to
hese defects If their leaders. 1t is not diff
'ult TO devise a proper mode of obyiat-
ng this evil The law authorizes the re-.
usal to promote officers who are found
TO I'll vacancies, and the
promotion of their juniors in their stead:
nut instances occur in which no officer
in a regiment is fit to be
promoted to the grade of Colonel and no
heer remaining in a company is compe-
emit to command it as Captain. Leeis-
alton providing for the selection, in such
asses, Of competent officers from other
'giments Of the same State affords
lady remedy for the evil, as well as fer
le case where officers elected are found
nit for the position TO which they NAV
chosen. Ills selection can be made in
lch manner as may seem to Congress
ost advisable; but this or some other II
NEEDY is indispensable for filling nu-
erous vacancies now existing, ce'
While the deficiency Of competent Off CHI
re- exist in some cases, there is a large we
Icess in Others Numerous regiments nlo
I'd companies have been so reduced bv r.
sualtles Of war, by sickness and other '"
uses, as TO be comparatively useless hal
der the present organization There inn
companies in the army in which the
mber Of officers exceeds that of the
iVatos for dusy, and regiments in which
g number of such priyates does not ex- lob
ed that which is required for a single an,
ective company,
Inc cost OF supporting the army, al ''
ady very heavy burthen on the re- mel
lrces of the country, is thus increased
an extravaganza extent. But this is of
'ondary importance, compared with
ineiliciency which results from this the
ldlton OF things, Some legislation rob
Iich shall provide for the consolidation ne
companies and regiments when thus -
'uced in numbers,and when conscripts era
lnot be obtained from State in SUN ma
nj numbers for filling the ranks, is Of
ssing necessity and aaeep sense ofduty
pels me 20 repeat that no consideration I
ne officers solo may BE unfortunately de gre
yea o. commands, ought on can SAFELY be TO
7''ttet to o5stra2 his alltarg REFORM. die
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