The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-04-27
1 dJutnnt-Gemeral's Circular.
GEN'L IlDogs, STATE OF Quo, !
ADJrrANT-GENERAi.s 0FFIcE,
CoLvNBrs, April IL, 1864. J
r. Military gOmmifices 1.

CoLrNBrs, April IL, 1864.
To MGtdry Committees:
Under the law Of March 3lst, 1864, orgaas
iz:ng the National Guard" applications
are being received from different portions
of the state Tor authority TO organize com
panies These applications will, In all cases.
be referred 10 the Military Committee Of
the county in which the new company is
proposed to be organized. For this reason
desire TO call your attention to the organ.
i2ation OF new companies, and 20 offer some
suggestions, which should be considered,
before the applications arc granted.
There is no reason to fear that wo shall
not have q sufficient number of men willing
to DO duty in the National Guard, - let tho
danger of being called into active service
he ever so imminent. The only danger ia,
that we shall have too many, and their very
number will impair their efficiency. Far
better a thoroughly organized and drilled
force OF thirty thousand easily handled and
prompt to assemble at the tap Of the drum,
than scattering, undiscplined immobile
croird Of an hundred thousand, whose in
efficiency aud general worthlessness would
bring the militia system into dsreputo.
In these days wo want men who will
work, aud who are in the National Guard
in earnest, anxious to excel in all soldierly
qualifications, and whose gallantry will
prove n safeguard aguainst invasion not
men whose disregard of all discipline and
suhordination only invite an attack.
In all our counties thcre are more or less
discharged officers and soldiers, who have
been wounded aud are now recovered.
These men know what war means, and
will not hesitate when the time comes for
action. Their noighbors knowthe history
of their honorable scars. and have full faith
in their gallantry. Let those mon be select
cd to organize drill and iedd our National
Guard to tho field
lnmany counties the patriotism Of our
citizens overshadows their prudence, and
they rush enthusiastically into the Natiepal
Guard, without rejecting that there are
other dutos that should not be neglected.
Heretofore, belonging to a military com
panymoant the signing of the roll, and the
peaceful meeting OF the company or battal-
lion TO practice the manual of arms, tho
school of the company, &C.; but it may go
further than this before another summer is
is past 1t may involve the suspension of
business, leaving home, days and nights in
the tented field the tiresome march, tho BIZ
vouac and tho battlefield. These things
must be met fairly and seriously. The Ma
tional Guard must be no fanciGul holiday
display for carpet knights--no revival of
| llle COIH-Slulk nuStVIS Oh tiluCS itllR
| sync," but work, hard work, where bullets
may be shot and blood may be shed.
Another consideration of no little moment
is the financial Wow of the subject Every
volunteer company 81 infantry o. cavalry
that shall conform to tho provisions of tho
law will bo entitled to 5000 annually, and
every section 1.-TWO Suus)os artillery to Sl00
annually, for rent of armories, and other in
cidental expenses. To afford proper encour-
| aGemeut to companies, this fund should DO
promptly paid. But if too many companies
are organized the "militury fund" arising
from fines and communications, will bc INSULT
cent to meet the demands on it. This has
been source of great complaint heretofore,
and the nsuliciency of the fund has wrought
! injustice to officers who have become re-
sponsble for tho incidental expenses of
! their companies.
Advise the commandants OF companies
| III your counties to prunc ont all men who
are unfit for the active duty of tho field,
and then use your utmost eudeavors to fill
the ranks with able-bodied, earnest, patri-
otto men. Encourage in every manner you
can full attendance of members at the
stated meeting for drill, and impress upon
them the importance of the business in
which they are engaged. In short, use your
whole influence to make tho present organ
izatons efficient and prompt before you
advise tho raising of new ones.
Your earnest attention is respectfully call
od to the matter, and your valuable servi-
ces to the State in other directions, is a
sufficient guaranty that it will not be neg
lected.
am, gentlemen, very respectfully, your
obedicnt servant, b. r. CowEN,
Adiutant-General of Chic.