Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-09-04


the army and upon the people. recommend, fberefnre
that they be included in the Exemption Act
The a ten 10th
consorp Act and By the Acts Ct the Gen
rule valid objection could be made if provision were
made for exceptional cases in which It becomes
and the rule is applied to individuals who by previous
their position. In armies there is little difference
in the experience of officers and test applied to
ascertain ther moral or intellectual fitness for commis
sion.
AS the provides that commissions hall be granted by
!he President il supposed that this intended
safeguard against the admission of unqualified persons to
important public trusts.
herewith returned Boards of Enquiry dire ted to
be all cases of promotion election where
only keeps unfit persons but makes no provisions for
filling vacancies in there be unfit person in the
corps, all entitled to promotan decline IT, Such
and they contribute element OF dsoganza
ton and neficiency in the army.
earnestly recommend therefore, that in s cases where
election promotion by seniority fails TO fill vacancy
with qualified officer, such vacancy may be filled by ap
p0Dtent 1t be objected that this increases eXecu
tive patronage. and by the intervention of examining
boards that promotion by seniority and by election ma
be cut off If the increase Of executive patronage be
cessary TO remove great evil possible abuse poor
argument against such increase Il Is unWse to prefer eer
tain evils to contingent abuses. Practically, it has been
found difficult TO the examining boards to be rigid
enough they are too apt from Incidence good nature to
scruniz slightly they qualifications Of brother officers, snd
would prove to be " ~ urht S executive usur-
| patton.
| i
caneles will be MENTIONED 1t IS generally supposed that
the rule prescribed in the l0h section OF the Con5crp Act
applies only to corps organized under that act; that the
rue prescribed IN the act approved December M 1851
applies ony 70 organizations Of re-ensted corps,
few of which reorganizations actually took place
that the approved January I'D 1862, applies or
to troops aseduuder an act approved ay 6h ls6 But
1th 1861 and August Sh, 1851 ard questions arise
what act troops GENE under and what rue OF ronoonir
provided for which IN under ne act c6 men
toned. 1t sid shat troops mustered directly iato the
States service receive their laws Of promotion
from Congress, nd that Those raised by the Governors Of
States under qcisition the oy the PTesden gov
erned by the laws Of their respective States 1t @aa
taned hat the latter class militia and hat, under the
Constitution Congress cannot provide for frg vacancies
occurring in the milf
Great confusion. uncertainty and in quality result from
this state OF things and it is very important that uniform
RUE SHOULD be applied al know of better Ju.e than
that already adopted, providing she power OF appointment
be given as recommend and there BE no constitutional
mpedments to its general application. M uiy crises
from the act authorizing the appointment Of gCGcre officers
which should be removed he 9th section OF the att
proved March 9Th, 1861 anh0rzas the President
ize B g0des and DVi.ons ard appoint command a Of
fces Tor them who are to hold ce only while such Brig
aces ana DVs 1ns are in service Ii the casualties Of
vice destroy Brigade Division the commission of the
General expires ana separated ron Lis c0mm2nd y
i'll health wounds, detached service it is left WhOuta
head, there being authority appoint Successor with
ont V8cating the commission OF the ct appOintee.
The moreover requires the service of Generals not
attached Brigades and Divisions. There certain du
ties which can oe better by general officers hsn
by officers OF lower grade but the merit for the
discharge of these duties promotion the line
officers OF the line are therefore unwilling to surrender heir
positions for staff appointments Brigadas and Divisions
sometimes temporarily deprived of their ndes
by the casualties of service, and is desirable to assign gen
eral officers to such commands Il will be we'll therefore
to increase the number of general officers definite cx
ADORE the whole number exceed or 10 per
cent for the purroses above mentioned.
Congress- ST it's last session authorized the appointment
OF eighty artillery officers ordnance duties the addition
Of fifty engineers to the provisional coTr3 and the gap
cation Of a signal corps, and a ntre corps.
l. All of these have been carried into execution Fig
ty artillery officers for oIdnance duty have appointed
and heir duties scribed and sysematized. Gen raj Or
ders No and 49, herewith returned require thai every
shall have ordnance captain every brigade
with the rank OF first lieutenant, every regiment an
ordnance sergeant These form corps under the Chief Of
Ordnance at RiChmoCd to whom they required re-
button and preservation OF arus Ordnance oaer5 81
required for areena. For the proper discharge Of
nance duties at arsenal3, and in the field viii require
corps of at least one hundred and fifty.
recommend therefore, that appcqtion be made fer the
tee number be authorized with tbs grade Of maj for
vice with army corps.
Most of the additional ergie RS have been appointed and
higher grade than that of captain while the othar corus
corresponding corps in the Confederate States army. This
discrimination is unjust and impoic II men talent and
requirement needed in this corps promotion should be
offered equal to that aatnabe in other branches Of the
service
Engineering talent is of high order of endowment and
should be simulated by proper rewards l recommend
therefore, that the grade Of the Provisional Engineer Corps
should be made to conform to these of the same CORPS il
the Confederate States army.
Signal Corps has been ganized BY General Order No
40, copy Of which is herewith returned the purpose
OF systematic Instruction. confidential pamphlet las been
prepared by member of the corps printed with due
pr IL. TO- Hondp g n Should " fan
contains the principles Of the merely ana does net dis
close the key to any signal Or cipher.
Nre Bureau has also been organized, and under its
able and indeat gable head hPjor j. St john is doing
good service General Order II, herewith comnuui-
Gated issued to facilitate the operations of the Bureau
The production of Nre is already thousand pounds
day, ard there is coed to think that it reach
three thousand ounds day and supply consumption
map Of Tecouno aDce, and Major st. Johns report
are herewith returned. The Bureau has been directed
turn ifs mining such material as are re-
CURED for the army and will do much develop their pro
duct0D
The Act authorizing bands of PartizD Rangers has
carried into aion ApprehendiDg tie novelty Of
the cation, and the supposed freedom froIn control
would aGtack great numbers into the PartiZan Corng the
department adopted lule requiring recommendation
from Gene al commanding department, before granting
authority to raise part z1ns Notwithstanding this re
stricton there fear that the number of Par1
Corps greatly exceed the requirements of the service
and that they seriously impede Recruiting for regiments Of
the lne
The pccauon has been taken to equiro their oaaniz
ton conform al respects that OF other troops and
will be only necessary to brigade such of them
needed for psrtz service to make them fact troops
the lne ali hougk ncmnay partizans Irec0nmend that
this be authorized,
Since the adjournment Congress- cur stock Of arms ha
been largely Increased by importation and capture Cur
small arms alone, have decreased from these
also be increased by importation and nanufacture and
as already stated may at distant day that the
active and methodca operations of the Nitre CORPS viii
supply our demand and make independent of loreign
portation.
deem unnecessary say anything Of the operatons
OF the army since the adjournment Of Congress. The time
has appeared the ability our Generals and the
courage and patience Of cur troops.
regretted cannot reward such geryicee
the army has rendered. they infinitely above ell com
pensation out something be done to show appre
citation of them Courage and skill cannot always com
mand promotion, Happily for US, they far exceed our
of reward, if confined 20 material benefits II
would, however, be dong heightened soldiers great in
justice to Suppose that rank and pay are only incer
Ves to ezerton think that medals conferred rewards
for good conduct in the field cultivate spirit which dis