Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-01-23
TIE MILITIA SYSTEM OF OHIO.


His objections to the Present Militia
System. and Propositions for Re-
form. 4
COLUMBUS, Jan. rs.
The report Of the Adjutant- General
has been ordered to be printed. and,
having frequently conversed with him
about what our militia system is, and
what it ought to be. l am well acquain-
ted with his views, and deem it prop
er TO state them. A modification Of
our present militia system will, without
doubt, be undertaken, and ought to be
aceomplished-indeed not only modi-
fication but q revolution ought to be
accomplished. The views Of Adjutant-
General Buckingham, are those OF a
person of military education, formed
after careful examination and close re-
Election.
His objections to The present militia
system are briefly: 1st. That no
beneficial results 6ow from tit was
no help when the present civil war
began. ed. That it is too eomplica-
ted. Sd. That it affords no adequate
means Of enforcing dicipline. 4th.
That il Is too cheap to be good. 5sh.
That no provision exists in it for the
judieious organization of compsnies--
the minimum number required being
too small; and 9th. That it is deficient
for procuring and preserving arms,
uniforms, etc., as clearly shown when
the present war opened, in the impov-
erished condition Of Ohio in nadteris3 for
war.
In order to provide militia system
that will remove the objections thus
summed up, the Adjutant-General will
recommend.
I. That the entire system OF bri-
gsdes, divisions and general officers be
abolished, con6ning the organization to
companies and regiments, all Of which
shall report to the Adjutsnt- General at
headquarters.
2. That authority be given to off,
GERS to enforce prompt and entire obe-
dence.
5. That men be paid for time spent
in service.
4. That no company be formed
except upon authority from the Gov
eFner and that sober, able-bodied men,
of proper age. be required.
5. That the number Of men compo-
sing a company be not less than the
number required in the United States
army.
s. That the arms, equipments, ae-
couterments. equipage, &c, be in the
charge of Assistant Quartermasters, to
be appointed by the Governor, who
shall be subject to strict account
ability.
In order to make this plan effective,
the Adiutant- General would divide the
State into fifty districts. in each Of
which should be one regiment OF infan.
try, the composition of which would be
the same as in the United States army.
He would also have twelve districts,
each embracing a large city, in each of
which there should be one battery Of
artillery, to have first and second
lieutenant; and he would provide, in
addition, twenty-five districts. with
each a company of cavalry, under the
rules and restrictions which govern the
regular army.
All these districts TO be arranged
and all the troops to be organized un-
der the supervision Of persons appoint
ed by the Governor, and who should
order elections for field officers, the
soldiers being required to give at least
FIVE days in each year to military ex-
ercise, and are to be mustered into
service for one year.
For uniform the Adjutant- General
would suggest that Of the Federal
army, with State arms on the buttons
and on the belt plate. He also sug-
gests the regulations Of the United
States army for the government Of the
Ohio Militia, and would have the Gov
ernor commander-in-ch chief, with an Ad-
iutant- General and Quartermaster-Gen-
eral at headquarters in Columbus, de-
voting their whole time to the duties OF
their Offices. He thinks Commissary
General, Paymsster General, Surgeon
General, Judge Advocate and Aids-de-
Camp should be authorized, TO be
called into service when required for
active duty.
l understand that in his annual re-
port. the Adiutant- General insists up
on the necessity of Military education
among the people, and will re-
commend the establishment Of q militia
ry school. In this recommendation
the Governor joins him. The Adju-
tant- General is in favor Of school to
be established near the Capital. which
shall be in all its main features West
Point junior.
The wisdom and necessity OF the
measures thus to be proposed, will. j
doubt not, be fully discussed 10 the
General Assembly. Public attention
is just now turned to questions afec-
ting such measures and it is good TO
give the people, as well ss Legislature,
some tangible points on which to exer-
else their capacities for criticism,
amendments or amplifcation, therefore
this letter.
CHICAGO, January 18.
i'll A.. IL T..oo f.on, Hoiro