Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-06


An egregious aud objectionable blunder has been
the selection OF resimental officers. without mill
ta,y skill or experience. reward for partisan
services, or 10 secure that influence ia the future
The late disaster la kentucky is a striking illus
trston OF this error. bu, tie evil influences OF the
policy has been ielt lh,vuchuut the war To ell
courage discipline. 10 .eward deeds of bravery
and daring. the mI8 who gives evidence OF mill
t.ry capacity. genius and skill. should toe prompt
ly promoted no matter how humble the situation
la which he msy be found. Many men ia the
ranks are better fitted 10 command than their
resimeutal officers. and probably many line and
regimenlal officers are more capable OF leading
our arm e. than those in command. Napoeon's
best and most gallant Generals were promoted
from the ranks. He rewarded merit wherever he
found IL. and ii our armies succeed a similar pol
lev must he adopted. The Louisville Journal
his the following comments upon the subject
which ~e fully indors.:
There Is general call on the psrt of the OBJ
serving patrlutS. miiitrr, and unn,iIiary. ia Ia
yor al ItonutioI.s from tue ranks. We have had
something Ot THIS. u l. trse. ln our arm, hut We
ousht Ia have had mOte. We must have ia the
future, II se would have an army of the hast
der of efficiency.
Wess,ee Iu,Iy with the Philadeiplra Inqsirer
on this head Ia the ithcx.b e cute OF the irene h
ser,ice-psirssrs qai msrsd feraf-lie- the secret
ct IT. sul ers,rits. ~,,s the I.qaH.r When Ma
poieon's soldiers could point ct the r Cap
tslns ss.d C"lonsl>. la Slult Nurat AMI Ney. 10
their Lteat Com him-eiT. htViu- risen
i.um the ranks, the, had an incentive a. applics
tiob in the camp AMI bravery the field more
than sufficient to induce the most strenuous ex
ertions aud fearless exposure When each pri-
yate feels that a lea hours brave endurance aud
gallant performance OF duty IN battle may win a
commission and open the say TO an unlimited
ascent, his ears are deaf Ia the saund of Whist
liz. bullets aud shri,king shells. and hs eyes are
b nd 10 SCENES of death and horror. Ia our
my. composed larlels of educated men. with
,e4y MANY in tie rsnk> httei tor nigh POSITIONS,
come Tor tho highest. there y no reason why TINS
feeling should not be io-leIel and gratifed. Let
it be UNIVERSAL, understood that merit IN the
ranks anu merit alone will secure promotion. and
xith a people like ut.rs. ever ready 10 engage ia
any enterTai-e. however hazardous. AMI incur
ANY dana r. however great. that promises al
yai,eeaent there will be little difficulty Ia filling
requssit for additional recruits. And whilst
all honor l. due to him who. without thought OF
himself, shoulders his nusket nj his countrys
call. we must not ignore human nature ~ con
dcmnng one Who = at the same time DESTROYS To
crafty IL promptings
The Government has by means failed alto
gesher 10 recognize and set upon this doctrine
Whilst DJnelson. Shiloh. Will ,msburg. Gaines's
Mil and Malvern HILL brought sorrow IT, many
households. 20 others IL brought joy nj the we'll
eubed promotion of relatives and friends who
had passed with honor through their iery or,leals
We my punt u the grizz ell veteran Sumner a.
assurance that there Is obstacle ia The way
of tbe private soldier reaching even the b ton of
. essrs dsrs<s Ia many of our regiments We