Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-04-18

quently, every volunteer when he puts on his
uniform, puts on at the same time all the
the qualities Of a soldier. Add to this that
West Point officers, simply because they
have received a superior education and recog-
nize the necessity Of subordination, are con-
sidered aristocrats. Now, everything aristo-
cratic il bad. Such officers were good to
command tue mercenaries who agreed to obey
them and to keep guard under over the Indi-
an tribes on the frontier; but to put under
their command great army, subjected to the
subordination Of camps would be to incur
great political risks. A government isnot vi
olently overthrown by volunteers. Having,
therefore, everything to create, the Govern
ment resolved to create an army cf volunteers,
and ephemcral army, comparatively inefficient,
and, more than all, ruinously expensive. for
the American volunteer is richly paid. His
pay is thirteen dollars (more than sixty-fve
francs) per month. Besides, monthly pen
sion Of forty francs is given to his wife during
his absence, which, by the way, has caused
many sudden marriages on the eve Of the de-
parture of recruits for the army. Ordinarily,
there arc no deductions made from a soldiers
pay for clothing or other supplies. Every
thing is provided for the volunteer, and he is
fed SO luxuriously that he daily throws away
part Of his ration. One may imagine the
cost of such an army Yet even such an ex-
penditure might have been profitable if it had
secured good service; but il did not, through
want of discipline not that the military laws
and regulations were not severe enough, but
because they were not enforced, and could be-,
on account Of the primary organization of the
regiment and the composition of its corps of
officers. And here We come to the essential
vice of an American army.
How is regiment of volunteers actually
formed? When Congress has voted the re-
quiste number Of men. a calculation is made
at Washington how many each State must
furnish according to its resources or its popu-
lation. Thercupon each Governor announces
that so many regiments will be raised within
the limits of his jurisdiction. The regiment
OF single battalion, is the American military
unit. Things are managed as follows: some
persons present themselves and offer to raise
a regiment. Each one sets forth his claims;
his influence in the State, or among a certain
population of the State, which will enable
him to raise easily tho desired number of men;
his devotion to the party then in power, &c.
From among those who have thus presented
the Governor makes his choice.
Usually he on whom it falls has made it a condi-
ton precedent that lie shall have command of
the regiment; and thus Mr.. So.and-so, physi-
clan or lawyer, who has never touched a
sword. but who experiences sudden call, in n
trice becomes colonel, and puts himself in
,.,.t1 Ill II
all the farnisllers employed to equip and clothe
the future regiment. Soldiers must now be
found; which is difficult, for there is much ri.
valry. They apply to all their comrades !;
they traverse the country; they try various
All this is we'll aud quickly done
in America, where the inventive talent exists.
Most frequently, some friends are found who.
seized will, the same military ardor, promise
to bring so many recruits, if they are made,
one captain, another lieutenant, another a
sergeant, and SO forth. The framework is
formed. and is partly filled up; it only remains
to complete it. Recourse is then had to ex-
traordinary means; gigantic handbills setting
forth in pompous terms all the advantages
to he gained by entering the corps. Catholic
priests arc applied TO for lrislmen. The
regiment is then organized; the lists are car.
ricd TO tho Governor. who approves every
thing. The regiment meets. is clothed and
equipped, and is sent off by railroad to the
seat Of war. Sometimes, often indeed, the
grades erc decided by election but most frs.
quently this is but a formality; everything
has been arranged beforehand by those inter.
csted.
The Inconvenience Of this system are ap-
parent. The officers, from the colonel to the
bottom Of the ladder, do not know the first
word of the art Of war, and if they have any
aptitude for it, if they have warlike qualities
they have yet to prove it. The soldiers are
not deceived about this. They say Of those
who command them, "Tlley know no moro
than we do; we know them WE'LL" The off.
Ger has, then, no superiority over the the sol.
der in knowledge. nor in social position, in a
country where no such superiority is recog'
nized. Most frequently. too. the officer has
taken up arms with ah idea Of becoming po-
litical candidate, with which view he wishes
to distinguish himself in the eyes Of the voters,
Now these future voters are the soldiers.
which he desires to acquire among them, if he
were to be rough with them, or it he were to
be too exacting in the service aa
From all these causes resulted want Of au-
thority among the officers. want Of respect
among the men; and therefore there was no
subordination, no discipline. All this has
been much improved since. under the pressure
of necessity and in the school Of experience.
Even in the beginning there were some ex-
ccptions. Some colonels, impellsd by real
vocation or animated By ardent patriotism.
succeeded In overcoming the obsticles in their
way. Sometimes an officer Of the regular ar
my. desirous Of distinguishing himself and
having influence enough in bis State. raised q