The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-24

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l The weather, oh the weather. Gold stormy
/ weather, chilly winds moaning through leaf
| less trees, sweeping in boreal blasts alope
| barren mountain aud meadow; fitful showers
| drixzling destruction on the fair snow; thick
| fogs stealthily looming up from tho semi.
| thawing earth; gurgiing troubled streams
swsliing o'er dessicated fields; sad and tinid
/ stars lured by 'the momsntary blue sky;'
| struggling frowning clouds giving dismal
l xlimpses of the pale sky moon; dying camp.
| fires emitting spasmodic sparks and a great
| gloomy silence prevailing all around are tha
| chief fentures that marked my Journey from
our out-po line to this my resting place
this night. Yet, let the sound ''to arms - be
given and this silence will be ruthlessly
| broken by shouts Of joy; the cold and stormy
| weather braved, by our patriot army, and
| like the magic movement Of the Rhoderick
Dhu men, vale, mountain and glen, will be
| alive with true men "to do or de-"
/ 1t is singular to see what our army can do.
The past few days touring has taught me
more Of the spirit OF endurance that nobly
obtains With our men, than any previous ex.
perience have had in this campaigning.-
| Encamped where the birds'eye view finds
| them not, they are adapted now to all things.
Since the winters advent, they have been
better managed in all things apper tanning to
| discipline, health, and condition. They are,
as a body of troops, in better circumstances
| than any have had an opportunity Of wit
Messing, and it has been mine to see the ar
! mics OF Europe in the field on more occasions
| than one. This condition is owing to more
| causes than one: The material OF our army,
the like no history records, "the choice of the
| land" the cause for which they fight, tho
greatest gift and boon of a nation, indepen.
dence; the we'll organized condition and ef.
fectiveness, minus some exceptions, where in
/ fiuence overslaughed qualifications, of the
l Commissary Departments; the character and
| bearing OF our officers, minus a few gilt
l shoulder strapped boys and petted parvenues,
who are too ignorant to be officers in fact, and
| too lazy to be soldiers, even in fancy-our Of
| ficers, who see an example worthy the most
grateful emulation in our beloved and "peer-
less Beauregard - the admirable and anti.
red tape system Of our all.seeing Secretary
| Of War, Mr. Benjamin, whose ruling spirit
| in the military menaSs, Is highly gratifying
| to our men and commanders, and whose cor.
| rect course, irregardless Of aura popnIdris, has
| placed the War Office in that smooth work
ing state 1t req uired, the country demands.
An old German writer says, let but the
| chief machinery be worked by strong muscle
| and good Oil, aud 1t lssts logger ard gives
more satisfaction. So let cur departments IS be
| and our army will last longer and give more
satisfaction. With these, the leading causes,
is our army in its prerent excellent condition,
| and by ard by, when the "Committee Of In
| Of com missaries and quartermasteys, and
| when the Military Examining Board sf all
have rid US CT the fungi-the gilt shoulder.
| strap boys and parvenues-the first that
! practice a quasi patriotism, that literally
J | means plunder; and the second, 4 system Of
| | tactics that Is "dragoonine,'' we shau have
| arrived at the nearest stage OF perfection ever
, l known iu the greatest of armies of modern
. | ages. That such committee and board will
, bring this about, l am credibly informed
y from the best authorities, and that a reforma.
9 | tion is needed, particularly in the commissa-
! ~ Department. Of some regiments anu battal-
sons, / positively know: Inefficient they
i God hVyh ltNd inAn
= | son commence pdr etrs dupe, fnit par err
4 tripon."
These statements OF our position are not
from any "fattering or splenetic quill" ]
have seen and been with our army the past
| eight months, and / do not presume upon
| truth when I say l have visited every corps
I OF this command from Leesburg to Aqua, and
have learned their sentiments and condition.
j.. | scamp Hollins.' the camp of major Wal
I tons Artillery, am placed In possession OF
| the following extract OF the report which
was submitted in November last to our Con-
q sress introduced by the Secretary Of War,
Mr. Benjsmin Itwill interest your artillery
9 readers and the army generally:
"7. The act Of Congress establishing the
regular army provides for corps of artillery
). with certain officers, and does not seem to
: contemplate the organization Of field bate
D service 1t is known that it rarely If ever
. occurs that field batteries are used In organ
lied battalions or regiments.
}, "The act 'to provide for the public de-
| fence while 1t authorizes the acceptance ol
| volunteers rs artillerists In companies, bat
| talions, and regiments, and empowers the
i President TO unite them in such organiza.
| tions when rendered in separate companies
i does not require that he should do 10, mol
r | would the good Of the service be at all pro.
!, m oted by such action on his part.
UIf then the battery or single com pany bl
o | tbe hest oreanization for artillery, as seem,
q | tn be unouestionable, it results that under
the present legislation the Executive IL with
cut power to reward eminent services In tina,
Q arm by promotion. If we take for example
- the battalion Of Washington Artillery, which
| (being mustered into service as battalion
,, happens to be commanded by l, ajor, 1t II
9 found that Major ) b; WALTON; H. whose sesvi VI
i | whose prom otion has been recommended BY
q his Generals and is desired by the President
9 is deprived of that 50 ostantial mark OF aPpro.
| val for eminent ser vices " htcn 10 the cnernnec
hope Of the true soldiers!
r "Ihe remedy seems 60 be the appointment
;, Of artillery cfncers Of higher rank than Il
Il suggest that Congress permit the appointment
+ Of oficers Of artillery in the provisions
| army and in the volunteer corps, not to ex
ceed in number one Brig adler. General General TO- 1
every ten (lo) batteries. one snant. Col
onsl for every six (e) batteries, and one MaJo
Il for every four "a batteries, without referenc
!, command OF the oflcsrss % appointed.
al Secretary of War"
This scheme IL quite desirable. believe
|, | by the leading artillery companies. From
"a | information / conclude that the commands
- Of the Washington Artillery Battalion, MAJ
J. | J. b. Walton, who 10 now chtef OF artillery
y Of this army, will be the frst on the list o
: promotions TO the highest rank named In tn
., | above extract. Such promotion ~. ak
D. merited by the metropolis Of the South, New
Orleans, a. we'll as by the battalion com
l mAnded by MAJOR Walton.
This from all learn, II tho desire, nay, Il
fact, the request OF the President and tn
| Chief Generals Of tho army, who are no
| slow TO recognise the services OF q corpaAk
\. | the New Orleans Warrington ARTILLERY
brought to its efhcisncy BY the military rul
D | Of Its commander.
II This corps has been . greater number Q
!. days ION active service" than any othsrN Nnc
y Jane last; and alnce the 2ist Of July, save Il
u ono instance, cat Drainsvtlle iatelyy hay
= alone e artillery bean engaged with the enc
;" my. With their achievemonts on the 1St
y and their services on the 9lst Of July, tn
o llth and 18th Of esptsmbef, and tAsir unbro
| ken period Of outpost dnty and sklrmishin9
Q | from July Sth to December 18th. they sr
4 Justly entitled 70 the 1Est constderatloR 10
/. tho dllou's share"
This u no more than jast. IL serves -
+ proper tmpet ~ - the young canAoneoSn Q
= / 3Ais 1amO6s corpo-the cAanoneers Who d
IRaIn sro really and solely TIE 1epReoenta
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