Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-02-11
LRFTER Rnom uAmP.
DALTos, g, FebEuaTy

OALIvas "a EeDruafy D tCo4.
EDIroRs APPEAL: In short editorial, uader
the head Of Reorganization Of the Army .
which appeared in youT standard Journal Of the
4th inst, see that yOu tavor the consolidation
Of regiments upon Che ground that each regi-
ment ebliteysted would relieve or render unHs-
essssry-ofieers and Egn-commissicnsd eff-
eers-hfty-tWo msn. The supposition that every
regiment, however small, has its full quota Of
officers, is erroneous. Tho idea Of brigHde ct
six regiments haviug two hundred and eighty
superDunnary eficsrs, is rev TO any one sc
qasiated with The facts The number Of super
rumeraTies IS comparatively small There is,
however, doubtless some excess Of tficers over
enlisted men. But ss regiments decreased in
numbers, the proportion of cfieeTs also diIaiH-
ishsd. Field and general oficeIs have not per-
mi'tod companies below the minimum number
to fn up vacancies as they occurred. Take for
ins.sGce regiment with the history and eondi-
tion Of which ( am familiar It nnmbeTs four
hundred aud forty aggregate present and Ab-
cent. Forty Eve are ofissrs, twelve ere en-
detached service, i've permanently disabled by
wounds, seven Of those remaining and present
bs.ong 70 the feld SID staff
ThGs leaving only sixteen line ofiesIs to The
regiment i.less than it iB entitled TO. These on
detached service are known TO be doing good
service in ihe eonserips bnfeaa, which must be
sustained By amy effiaeIs, if We would keep "
our umies in he feld F-e Reorganization OF
the army will necessarily leave cut all surplus
f.ld sEd company oficsTs, bu: qasr;eImsstsrs,
medical oficers, hospital stewards and ordnance
se1goants fec+iv their appointments from the
War Department., snd are N noxise affected By
Reorganization.
L1any regiments number from five hundred to
one thousrEd men, others fEom Tires TO five
hundred, and in a majority Of instances the de-
crease Of enlisted men has been attended By a
corresponding decrease OF company officers.
Reorganization viii secure for service IN The
ranks nesrly oil the men that consolidation
would. Again I say We ere aveTse - the lsi
ter, and'would be reduced to baAslious of SIX
or less companies in prefererce, While we are
ready to sacrifice every personal pre!erenes for
cur commoa cause, ne esnHes be brought to
believe that there is sny necessity for consol-
dsiion, or that any good to anybody can result
from The proposed measure.
The gFGndest review ever witnessed, perhaps,
in the West. came off yesterday The army, or
chat portion Of it present. was sstOnished st It's
own proportions and perfection. No inprovired
army Of three years existence ever exhibited a
more magnificent display of discipline, soldisrIy
bearing snd elegance Of performance. The
troops are sPpSTensly well clothed, and certainly
not stay0iHE, if lbe bale, ruddy appearance Of
he men Is any index. The STEADY tramp of
men, aud bright FURNISHED musksss, show that
a mastery hand wields its magic influence, AID
thst subOrdiaais commanders AZ. .tlue to their
trusts.
A few mcT5 weeks and cur peerless chioltsin
VIII bid as up and st lhem.n We irusi that
our response viii be such as to palsy our ersven,
hireIiug foes, and drive their hightsBed frsg-
ments across the border. HARVEY.