Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-21
The National Guard.
GEsKaAL HKlpQUARTERs, STIIE og ONO,
~ADJpTlrr .GENERlI's OYrIcE
Militaru Committee.


To Military Committee.
Under the law oil March 3lst, 1864, or
ganizing the. National Guard" applica.
tons are being received from different por
tions Of the State for authority TO organize
companies. These applications will, ia all
cases, be referred to the Military Commit.
tee Of the county in which the new company
is proposed to be organized For this rea.
son desire to call your attention to the or
ganization Of new companies, and to offer
some suggestions, which shsuls be coDsid-
cred, 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 National Guard" let the
danger Of being called into active service be
ever SO imminent. The only danger is,
that We shall have too many, and their very
number will impair their efficiency. Far
better a thoroughly organized and drilled
force Of thirty thoa1nd, easily handled and
prompt to assemble at the tap of the drum,
than a scattering, undisciplined, immobile
cro,ed OF an hundred thousand, whose ineffi-
cheney and general worthessHess would bring
the militia system into disrepute. In these
days we want men who will work, and Who
are in the National Guard in earnest, anxi-
GUS to excel in all soldierly qualifications,
aud whose galantry will prove a safeguard
against INVASION; not men whose disregard
OF ali discipline and subordiuation only in
vite an attack.
In all our counties there are more or less
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 neighbors know the history of their
honorable scars, and have full faith in their
gallantry. Let these men be selected TO
organize drill and lead our National Guard
to the field. .-..... ...
In many counties the patriotism of our
citizens oyershadows their prudence, and
.hey rush enthusiastically into the National
Guard, without rejecting that there are
other duties that should not be neglected..
Heretofore, belonging to military compa-
ny meant the signing Of roll, and the peace
ful meeting of the company or battalion to
practice the manual of arms, the school of
the company, &C.; out it may go further
than this before another summer is past
1t may involve the suspensioB of business,
leaving home, days and nights in the tented
field, the tiresome march, the bivouac and
the battlefield. These things must be met
fairly and seriously. The National Guard
must be no fanciful, holiday display for car
pet knights-no revival of the 'corn-stalk"
musters of times ''lang syne," but work,
hard work, where bullets may be shot and
blood may be shed.
Another consideration of no little mo-
mant is the financial view of the subject
Every volunteer company of Infantry or
cavalry that shall conform to the provisions
of the law will be entitled to 5000 annually,
and every section 1.-TWO guns) of artillery to
800 annually, for rent Of armpries, and
other incidental expenses. To afford proper
encouragement to companies, this fund
should be promptly paid. But if too many
comnanies are organized, the military
fund arising from fines and communication,
will be insufficient to meet the demands on
it. This has been source of great com.
plant heretofore, and the insufficiency of
the fund has wrought injustice to officers
who have become responsible for the Incl,
dental expenses Of their companies.
Advise the commandants of companies in
your counties to prune cut all men who are
unfit for the active duty Of the field, and
then use your utmost endeavors to fill the
ranks with able-bodied, earnest, patriotic
men. Encourage in every manner you can
full attendace Of members at the stated
meetings for drill, and impress upon them
the importance of the business in which
they are engaged. In short, use your whole
influence to make the present organizations
efficient and prompt, before you advise the
raising of new ones.
Your earnest attention is respectfully
called to the matter, and your valuable SER
vices to the State in other directions. is
sufficient guaranty that it will not be neg
lected. | am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
... B. r. CowEN.
s Adjutant-G General of Ohio