The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-06

10 Tina ~. 1. nave been carried .n,d admit
, us 'h- rxigencicso OF the sp.fiee woua tina
WIZ be seen ran the report Of tlaase already bee n mus
ools 10 tle numeer ole. Further reduction Is con
p'a ou pun the discharge Of troops The services
tgrtat number M staff field aud general officers were u,
longer required or these some have resigned and other,
| were honorally mustered out No doubt in man,
Instances has been painful for gallant and
oncers 20 leave that service to which they have been
enstonea and where they have won honorable distinc
ion But " u 10 the credit of the volunteer service thai
they have Recognized the obligation of the government [,
reduce the military establishment with the occasion that
called i into existence, and that their wishes on
interest have not been approximately urged against
The disposition of the veteran corps presented
some considerations Of peculiar nature. It the
cnaten OF the department to retain in service until
the meeting of Congress- But inquiry showed that very
small per cent Of enlisted men content remain in
service All who desired have therefore been discharged
and supernnmerary officers mustered out
Recruiting TO ill the regular regiments has continued
Several thousand applications for commissions in the
regular service are ON file. These commissions, hitherto
have been conferred only by promotion from the ranks
But TO secure the requisite number Of competeD officers
board has beenappoined to examine applicants aud de-
erinne their relative merit From the lisi selecteb by
the board, ami in the order Of merit appointments to
he made. Two years actual service in the indis
pensable for appointment
The establishment ofa well Organized militia system, Il
of the most important subjects that will demand the
attention Of Congress This subject las already received
careful consideration and it is believed that after
ference with the appropriate committees u practical
system may be agreed upon
Measures for tho establishment of homes and some
provisions for the aid and relief Of wounded and disabled
soldiers is also that II itself strongly
to every patriotic heart Whether ilis duty which the
country owes 10 patriots wo-have suffered in the national
defence can best be performed by the national govern
nent administered by the respective State authorities
and whether reefcan best be afforded by an increase of
pension on BY establishing homes, points which
opinions differ, and which only be settled by the wis
dom Of Congress,
The Board of Visitors to the Military Academy at West
Point, in June last made elaborate report which Is
herewith submitted. They recommend reorganization
n af sls fh.fp
enhance the benefits Of that national institution 10
these the attention Of Congress is respectfully invited
with the recommendation that the number Of cadets be
increased as recommended and that the superintendent
OF the institution be longer confined to the engineer
bureau. 1t is believed that the Military Academy at
present well conducted and that their responsible duties
efficiently performed by tho officers professors and
instructors charged with the institution.
The war appropriations al the last session of Congress
as has been stated amounted 10 the of f5G20 ll 10
rhe estimates for the next fiscal year. commencing June
80, 1865 are 1888 S1I i61 20.
These estimates based upon standing force of fifty
thousand men, organized to admit of an Increase
without additional organizations, 10 $4,000 troops all
arms
This estimate has been male after conference and
careful consideration, and is believed adequate for
any nat onal exigency if the country should be blessed
with peace the reduction of the natl ona military force
N It's ,apidity and numbers, Il without example and II
there be any alarm in the public mind because this
auction made while grave questonsat home and abroad
are unsettled Of the subject will show
that there is no for apprehension
The force to be retained Is small compared with that
Which was organized to sbduc the rebellion But the
only reasons demanding greater force are-1st,
renewal Of the Instruction I'd. foreign war For
either or both emergencies the national remain
AMPLE The chief demands for war shown by our en
pereIce are LIST, troops; "a, and ammunition; Sd
clothing: 4t, transportation; and 9Th, subsistence
uppos.
The troops dsbanded were chiefly volunteers wba went
o tho field to uphold the system of free government es
abiished by their fathers and which they mean to be-
ueath to their children. Their tolls and sutt,rinps
heir marches battles and victories have not diminished
ne value Oh hat government to Them SO that any
eneuon would encounter equal greater force for its
reduction; and none can spring up with such adj
antages at the start, or be conducted with superior
Means ability, or prospect of success. foreign war
you'd intensity the national feeling and thosauos once
lisled would rejoice to atone their by raying to
he national flag. The question of time in which arn,.
Duld DO raised quel insurrection or repe ia
therefore, the only question relating to troops Our ex
erehce in this point ID significant When Lee army
en were discharged from recruiting stations and rem Il
ezyous in every State. On several occasions when
oops were promptly needed to avert impending dsaster
gorous exertion brought them into the field from re-
ote States, with incredible speed. Official reports show
lat after the disasters on the Peninsula in 1862 over
ghty thousand troops were enlisted organized. armed
uipped and sent into the field in less than month
xty thousand troops have gone to the field within four
eeks And ninety thousand infantry were sent to the
mics, from the five States of Ohio Indiana Illinois
WA and Wisconsin, within twenty days.
When the rebellion commenced, the nation was n | a
ranger towar Onicers had little experience pryates
I'd none. But the present generation of men in this
,untry are now veteran soldiers. For the battle the
arch, or the sege they are already trained They are
much at home In the tented field as in the farm on.e
le manufactory or the shop No tins is required TO
ain them; aud the speed of the railroad and telegraph
It rmines the time required to raise army In the
nited States. N
Second As to arms and ammunition Tho dislapdsd mr. u
lies allowed to take home their arms at nominal
rice. Rust is not likely to gather on the mlsket or
bre borne through the campaigns Of 1861 and 1885 The
lvernment retains In its arsenals more than million |
the best quality of arms and equipments The ar At
llary on hand tasks the department for its means of