Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-23


THE ORGANIZATION OF CoMPAEIEs FOE
THE NATIONAL GUARD.-We have just rsceiv
cd an important circular from Adjutant- Gen.
ersI CoWen addressed to military committees
concerning the organization of companies
for the National Guard, which ne publish
below:
GENERAL HEADoUARTERs, STATE OF ONO, !
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
COLUMBUS, April IL, 1864.
Under the law of March 3lst, 1864, organ
izing the "National Guard" applications
are being received from different portions Of
the State for authority to organize COM
psnies. These applications will, in slI cases.
be referred to the Military Committee of tho
countyin which the new company is prop. IS
ed to be organised. For this reason, I de-
sire to call your attention to the organization
ofnew companies, and to offer some suRges-
tons which should be considered before the
applications are granted
There is no reason to fear that We shall not
have sufficient number Of men willing to
do duty in the "Nationsl Guard" let the
danger of being called into active service be
never so imminent. The only danger Is that
We shall have too many, and their very num-
bers will impair their efficiency. Far better
thoroughly organized and drilled force of
thirty thousand, easily handled and prompt
to assemble at the tap Of the drum, than a
scattering, undisciplined, immobile crowd of
an hundred thousand, whose ineficiency and
general Eorthlessness would bring the mill
tia system into disrepute. In these dsys we
want men who will work, and who are In the
National Guard in earnest, anxious to sxcel
in all soldiery qualifications, and whose gal
lsntry will prove safeguard against in
Vasion not men whose disregard all dis.
cipline and subordinstiOn only invite an
attack.
In sll our counties, there are more or Iess
discharged officers and soldiers, who have
been wounded, and are now recovered.
these men Know what war means, and will
not hesitate when the time comes for action.
Their neighb0rs know the history of THAR
honorable gears, and have full faith in tbe;r
gsllsntry. Let these men be selected To or
ganiEe, drill, and lead our National Guard
to the field.
In many counties the patriotism of our
CITIZENS ovorshadOWs their prudence, and
they rush enthusiastically into the National
9uard, without rsAsoting that there are 9TH
or duties that should not be negIecto5
Heretofore, belonging to militia oomnanv
meant the signing of a roll, and the peace-
fuI meeting of the company or battalion TO
practice the manual of arms, the school of
the company, &c but it may 70 farther than
TINS before another summer is past. Itmav
involve the suspension Of business. LEAVING
nome, days and nights in the tented feId,
the tiresome march, the bivouac, and the bat.
tle-held. These things must be met fairIv. and
seriously: The National Guard must be- no
iSneliui' holiday display for carpet knights
of times" lang syne," but work, hard Tort
whrre bullets may be shOt,and blood NAV be
shed.
Another consideration Of no little moment.
is the financial view of the subject. Every
volunteer company Of infantry or cavalry
that shall conform to .he provisions of tbe |
law, will be entitled to $500 snnualIv' and
every section two guns, of artillery, to 800 |
annually for rent Of armories and othsr In
Oidental expenses. To afford proper epcour- |
agenent to companies, this fund VhouId be !