Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-10-06
From the Richmond Enuui,or.


The present military status demands not only the
most earnest effort to recruit the army, but also IN
peratively calls fer thorough and Complete reorgan-
cation of the army. Between Lincoln and Mcclellan
there is no prospect for peace-the must continue
UNDER either candidate. Ii Cean shoad be elected,
we SHALL in a probability witness the reformation of
The United States army into regular GrmH with
regiments Of certain numbers, and always kept upon
good war footag. The Confederacy must reorganiza'
its army, and abandoning the Provisional organization
consolidate the regiments and reorganze the army us
regular army. The teemng millions OF Franc aud
Russia could not support army CrganiZ ID as the
present Provisional army. Its Homework s large
that the effort to keep it together necessarily makes
skeletons of companies, regiments hrigades snd div
si0ns The fraEJ must be reduced 10 suIt the fling
10. There are 100 many ola battle worn regiments,
and, not lighting tor gto y, Du Tor
individuals States, 1t IS lnCl nb mt upon
l.c consolidate these nov wOrndoGu gineuls. IL is
now than ever necessary to husouad
cannot any Logger afford to Er.serve organ
tions because of the glory they have our saf5ty
demands that this sacrifice be made aud who have
won this noble reputation will freely lay this sacrifice
upon the altar of their country Our necessities now
require compact regular army, counting cgis
ments for State than that State can maintaih by
annual accession at tie standard of oeTs TO be
known the 10Gr toolg. s. VlS PGCenl para belum.
Whatever may be the result of the tresd Bta! ceg
tiOn, let prepare Tor lei abandon ever ytnng
that retards acuon and closing up the ranks, pre-
pare to meet the Increased army of the enemy, not
with numbers but with increased efficiency.
There is practical dfculty il this reorganizaton
but it will encounter much opposition 1t Will not take
one nuSket from the army, though it will turn out
some officers The excess OF pthceTs is element of
weakness. A regiment of two hundred muskets has
just as many officers OF one thousand men while
brigade of four regiments OF two hundred men each
has about one hgudred and fifty officers brigade of
four thousand nidskets would require officers
The expense of the Provisional organization is enor-
nous, while its efficiency is much less than THAI OF
regular army.
Adopting one hundred and twenty-five rank and file,
to an infantry company as lts war footing will give
twelve hundred and fifty, rank and fe TO a regiment.
This number can be maintained by con3cpou and the
efficiency of the regiment always preserved. 1t will
take four OF the depleted regiments to make this u
giment, and the one full regiment is worth III
tion and upon Picket than the four skeletons,
while the latter have one hundredocers than
the former.
Desertions are frequent from weak and puny or
ganizations than from those OF full ranks duties
more arduous in weak than in strong regiments; morale
and esprit du corps more perfect and enthusiastic in
fall than in depleted regiments.
The only objection that can be raised to reQrKanl~
zation will come from the number OF officers that must
90 out of commission. Shall this obi ecLion be permit
ted to defeat the great results that would from
reorganization? We believe that many of the officers
will see the necessity and with their usual patriotism
acquiesce for the good of the cause.
The cavalry requires thorough reorganization
The fundamental evil that vitates this of the ser
vice is the a8 requiring the soldier to provide himself
be found. Its ELECTS all H. uric US, aud has
oen fit toredeem it. ii the prVates fud horses,
the government cau Also Ii The cavHryman wilI tais
care of his private horse be be equally
careful OF the g0yernmeb. horse. The curry aDd
brush are much weapons OF the Giy Dau The
sabre and pistol The horse detail Is The ru
Of tue Lumber VI absetee5 lion ta1 cavalry
service. III &c horse details present the premium
furlough to lJne-sick thG induces htDl not to
take care of his horse. The loss Of LUr5e flng Jn
the cavaryElau makes Linn less efficient colder,
than he would be ii he government owned the horse
The evil is gross aid arIng and has not TO
recommend !ts continuance. The same reorganization
required for the infantry demanded io= the cavalry.
One regiment Of eight Lurdred and fifty rank and fe
trained armed and eq1pped caUQlry woaId be worth
more than two brigadss as at present organ zed.-
twenty. tive per cent OF q regiment OF cavalry is
requeed to hold the horses OF the balance who fight on
foot 1he cavalry has degenerated nto mounted nan-
toy and neve- will be cavalry under the Provisional
orgaljZatiOn The character Of tie fighting doue by
tie cavalry nas resulted more from the discovered ne
cency OF that of the service than from any char
acer o. the country in which they have operated. To
establish by law Jain number Of cavalry regiments
Ito be armed, traiDed equipped and fought cavalry
whose number should be kept up to tae War Coiug,
and whose hosas ehould be furnished py tna govern.
meut, would decrease the amount OF cavalry out great.
IL increase its efficiency.
This subject or army reOrg anizaGo1 is one that de.
mands The most ernest attention. We shall continue
to refer 10 1T, and endaaVor to keep the maEec
The country. We invite the attention of the army 10
this matter. We are prepared 70 meet With much op.
position, but we believe the Importance OF the subject
viii bear down all opposition, and that the Provisional
organization has worn out and will De replaced by
regular army compact in organization, efficient In dr
and improved every way.
THE LATE GEN, GOODWIN.
Brig Gen. Archibald q. Goodwin, who el in battle
near Winchester Monday last, was native OF Nanse
Rond county, Va. He Was In Coiforra al the b gin.
cf the hut IA