Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-06
rPor The GallipOli. Jourpsl.l
TO THE CITIZENS OF GALLIA CoUS.
TY AND VICINITY.
Mn. EDrroR.-DEAR SlR: sn a 5-


Having opened recruiting rendez.
vous in GaIIipolis for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning recruits for the ''Regular Army
of the United States, deem it my du-
ty to lay before the public such infor-
nation and facts, as will enable all who
contemplate joining the army to do SO
understandingiy. A knowledge of the
advantages to themselves and at the
same time beneficial to their country is
surely not undesirable.
At the close of the Mexican war, the
Federal army was reduced to fifteen
thousand men. This reduction, while
it lessened the expenses OF the General
Government, il at the same time rem
dered it almost powerless to resist an
invasion from abroad, or prevent rebel
lion at home. Hence the President OF
the United States at the commencement
Of this rebellion in 1851 deemed it
necessary to call into the field five hum
dred thousand volunteers, which num-
Der is probably sufficient. The Presi-
dent only adopted these energetic means
for the suppression of the rebellion. In
order to provide against such contin-
gency, on the third of May last be or
dered an addition to the "Regulor ar
my" Of twenty-five thousand, thus in
creasing the number from fifteen to for
ty thousand men. In this addition to
the Regular Army are nine new regi-
ments of Infantry, each regiment con-
sisting of twenty-four companies and
each company of ninety-eight enlisted
men and three commissioned officers,
or an aggregate OF about twenty-five
thousand, or nearly twenty-five hundred
men to the regiment. Over siz hun
dred thousand men have enlisted in the
volunteer service, since the above ad-
dilion TO the Regular Army was or
dered, Jet but few if any of the above
regiments are full. If the many ad-
vantages Of the regular over the volun-
teer service, be considered, this would,
without explanation, seem strange, but
is accounted for in the following man
ner.
Generally any man (regardless Of his
military qualifications, who, by his
perseverance and energy, succeeded in
getting up company received com
mission as a reward for his labor, and
having many thousand such persevering
loyal citizens in the Union, the result
has been in proportion to the amount of
labor performed. Hence the largest vol-
Unteer army the world ever saw. On
the other hand, in order to render the
new addition to the Regular Army as
good and efficient as the old, many of
the officers from the old, have been
transferred to the new regiments, some
selected and added from the volunteer
service, and some from civil life, and
many places for commissioned officers
left vacant. to be filled by meritorious
non-commissioned officers TO be appoint
ed from the ranks.
Hence the efforts made by the off
GERS of the Regular Army to obtain re-
cruits, have not-equalled those of the
uu"iu the VQiFureerservice, from
the fact that on the success Of the one in
obtaining recruits. depended his COM
while the other held his COM
mission without it. Taking it for grant
ed, that every able bodied man in the
country, will voluntarily join the army,
if the Government shall require his SER
vices, my object is simply to show the
recruit the advantages of regular over
the volunteer service. The regular
service is preferable because it is the
desire OF every man who enlists to rem
der his Government all the service in
his power. No one questions the abil- !
ity Of a skillful workman to excel a !
novice in the same business. Neither |
will any one pretend to deny, that,
while the regular soldier is, first, thor
oughly instructed in his duties, the vol |
unleer is often hastened from the re-
cruiting station Immediately into active
service, where he is either confronted or
surrounded by the enemy, and in many
has been taken into engage
ments without even knowing the "man-
ual OF arms" to say nothing Of the
''maneuusrs Of tie company and 6ottol
liOn." so essential to the safety and eff
cheney Of an army in the field. Re-
cruits in the Regular service with
me) will be clothed, paid and subsis-
ted. from the day of their enlistment,
and as soon as they can arrange their
affairs. and the good of the service re-
quire it, they will go to the city of In
dianapolis, where they will have the
best Of board and accommodations,
fbeing quartered in one of the best
buildings in the city,. They will be
placed in an excellent school of instruc
ton and drill, and remain there a num-
Der Of months or until he thoroughly
understands his duty as regular soldier,
when (if the war is not previously ter
minated he will go to the scene OF ac-
ton with officers well skilled IN the art Of
war, and that know how, not only to
take men on to the field Of battle, but
il necessary bring them off, without
discredit or disorganization. AS to the
movements OF volunteer forces under
above alluded to, Il
would refer the reader to the past his
tory of our army during the brief pc
riod Of the present war. No impartial
person will pretend to deny that we
have lost more men In almost every en-
(from the battle of Bulls Run