Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-07
YOLrNrEERS. OFFICERS. sd
IA n. Eiilor Of ths HRiq:

Looking over some old papers the other day, met
with the suboiued extract from letter Of Lieut. Gen. Sir
Caarles Napier addressed few years since to the Brit
lb public on the defsnces OF England. 1t is worthy OF
reproduction now and contains suggestions especially
valuable to such officers will have train
eruits fer in period limited Fix eight weeks
At rhes Aud here let ask no under the sage plan
of military organization proposed by the Committee of
the House Of Delegates, BY which raw militia men are
to elect raw company officers from their numbers
and these latter who will almost invariably choose frou
their own numbsrs) to elec. field officers,
have any earthly prospect Of obtaining such Tegmena
olc r. as will have the capacity and experience rsqui
size 10 drill their commands in the simple elemeu.
tAry mlnuer proposed by the great British General: No
mare fatal blow could struck at the efficiency of the
army than by the introduction Of the general elective
system worthy only OF the demsgogue and the cbaa.
tau and from which, in civil affairs, We trying 10
escape BY the proposed amended Constitution.
Sir Charles Napier says
with regard to you volunteer corps, let
each MAJ carry small boxes made to slide
on girdle round the waist that one may be carried
before and one behind. each holding thirty rounds Of
ammunition thus the weight, would be divided, and
consequently more easily carried.
Get old soldier to teach you, not long
OF drill but Just seven thiogs, namely:
To face right and !eis by word OF command.
To march in line and ia column.
To s-t,nd and close files as light Infantry, with
'support'.'
l. To change front in extended and in close order.
6 To relieve the skirmshers-
&. To form solid % larts and rallyiHg squares.
To form advanced guard.
These seven things all that you require do not
let any one persuade you to learn more. Habituate
YOUR corps to take long marches irOu fifteen to twenty
mil a. With your arms and ammunition and also in
ruuuiug or what is called double quick time These
must be arrived at by gradually ncr,siug from small
stances. No single man, much leSs a body OF men,
aan make these evoutIons without training. :.
The fifth point that would speak OF is to forget
that sntRuasBi though good il under command is mis-
ehisvous il il run rotous. Enthusiasm il coed when
il opposes sfshness and makes devote themselves
10 the service of their couutry but il IL gets into a
he vv IRE Il geneTaly-ruGs IL is sort OF Dutch
s5GrIss When i. arises under heavy FIRE, and upon
an order 10 charge bsyoaets it not very Injurious
oat Il il begins With MIME ria, a, two miles dis'acce
from the enemy it will ge' cut Of the head ard ato the
AsrIs a. he approaches Dfin and discipline dun
"a ugs bu, they beat enthusiasm 10 6s in a cAnpaigr
l. enthusAsm and courage unite in man, he Jumps
ogsr val and gets shoE he IS not enthusiasts, bot
is veil drilled be koees down behind wall deliberately
and With conf safety ga over IL and shoots his
anemy But a great spirit without boastiug and well
brought urder the poser Of rcd cou ia the character
sic Of our vJnntr, men aud this Split you ought at
the present crisis to call forth all over EagAnd."
And now, M Eiisors, let our legislators learn
thing from these sugges Of one OF the greatest mill
tlry men OF the ag. Especially let theu avoid plupg
log Us into system in which there will be no p7os.
pc. and scarcely chance OF getting competent 6sli
oihcsrs. Let them do j1'i three thins':
A. Have inmsdAts returns OF the number OF voiun-
tssrs Who will reenst for twelve moaibs' service.
= Embody instantly, all gusarrsd between the
ages Of 20 ard !. and all Others between the eyes Of
% and So Eho have not heretofore volunteered and let
these he detailed for two years service.
g II the fifty CT seventy thousand men required
no; ob;aced 10 this way let the dedency b. supplied
b. draft from the ~hol, remainder Of the militia be.
tween tac ages Of 20 aud IS. including the returned
vJua esrs Bl, give any volunteers Who may be draft
ID credit for their previous service.
S1rsly no yollleeT Sln Of Jet tbs plan which puts
an On fair and l.t footing Of equality with the res.
their fylou-Sitiz 4ad certainly they claim,
account u one years service to be exempted fer he
,..aainIsr Of he war. We need the very best
have aud tor the longest time cimpstbe with justice
an fairness We hsve NEE, Ljucolas troops trsir ed
for "a or eglt months, and enl sed for three ssOrs
Any plan which ps,suapcsss a short rar, is swfully
hazardous Ary plan W. ch gives stplings, elderly
mon and raw ,nts affords match Cor the "Criled
aai disciplined" blsts Ct tie Northern despo'. But,
zhaeye. tie General Assembly may do, let /: be done