Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-05
AlistfIlallp.
The Atalntle Monthly for September.
Our Future Militia System.

Our tutufe Mllltla system,
During the first few days Of the war in that
strange epoch OF thrill and shudder r-wher
there was mounting in hot haste, aud warlikC
jctlzsns looked t) there re7olyers, and peaceful
citizens looked up eligible diseases for the iami
ly physician, ere examining surgeons yet were,-
in the midst OF that general sense Of untitled
powers and uncertain destines who does not re-
member the sudden sense Of relief which diffused
itrelf over any given community, on the an
nounoement that BrigadIer- General Blank of
the Blank Division Of Saate Militia, had arrived
in town ? Hero was one at last who could speak
with some authority. This man had slept three
nights upon the tented field, on occasion OF
muster. He had once formed battalion in
line, or at least been present at that myetc pro-
cess. lie had been heard to quote from the irst
volume Of Scott, and had been known to nod
lsiynihcantly, on en allusiJn to Hardeo. Here
was man Tor opinions. Now we should know
wAa. tie rebels meant 70 do, snd precisely hoW
many we're killed by the firing from Sumter. We
lsboud ascertqin The measures already taken for
Ide'eusc. and the aclual number Of military over.
coats in possession Of ,he State authorities.
| Of course the local authorities waited upon
him without delay. They found him at the
headquarters Of Rife Company y. Al mper-
foctly developed tiGaman, with coat uuJuttoned
aud gun held anIiously, stood sentinel in the
entry, taxing no notice Of any one, and looking
a. II he would be profoundly grateful if no one
would take notice OF him. Presently the great
man appeared il5 wore around n.s martial
breast blue cloth cape, VITA festive lining Of
white silk Ills usually g00d-nataled couute-
nance was atuned to au aspect Of pro.0under
thought. Near him stood bis only luggage,
large epauiet-b0x, of shape inexp!icab.e 70 the
uuWarlike. Behind him appeared the members
J lf his staff, wearing white cotton gloves, and
maintaining attitudes Of unw0nted stiffness, az
liz, though conscious d no! carrying c great
many guus, they would at least contribute to
1 their country 8 cause the needtul quota Of ram.
rods Tho whole scene was enough 10 awe the
e.ou.esg heart, and the humber and shorter
among the selectmen or aldermen were observed
70 whisper naujbly to each other, in the back
ground and 90 cough behind their hands sol
emuly, o. at funerals
! Al that day no one had as yet dared 10 sug-
gest that Bng4dior General Blank should accept
any military rank lower than that to which hls
previous services had ertlted lin. Anything
higher than that-a Major-Generalship, i0T in
elauce--hl would prefer 10 waive for the present,
/ in order not to excite foolish jealousy among the
/ West Point men. But it was an act OF uaex-
pectei condasconsion, when he finally consented
| 70 tako command Of regiment and it was
doabt.ess this lowlness Of spirit which cre4led
some slight embairassmsnls ln his discharge OF
the duties Of even that command. A man OF
larger a.tainments should not be remanded to
duues so small. lie 1t was therefore, who, while
drilling his battalion, and having given the pre-
hmnary order Right about, omitted the
fnal order March, unll most of the men
were percned, Z3uave-lke, upon the high board
fence which bou ded the camp. He 1t was who,
IN his school OF instruction, being questioned by
the juniors as to the proper position Of the sol
der without arms, responded sternly that a true
soldier should always have bis arms with him
and on being further asked in regard to the best
way to " dress T. line Of soldiers, answered
with dignity, that Others might prefer fancy col.
ors, but give him the good old army-blue.
Mr.. Pitt was OF the opinion, that no man
could be really useful to bis country in posi-
uon below bs powers. II was doubtless a sim
liar conviction, combined with sudden illness,
50 severe that be could not admit his surgeon,
which led our hero 70 send in q reluctant resig-
nation JOS; before his regimen. reached the seat
Of hostli,es He enlisted for the war, but he
has never got TO IT, Ho has since, however,
served his country sutler oi O camp Of insiruo.
uon-where there is said to be no question to
his profits, though there may be as to his prices.
Remote as the OLD French War seems now
that epoch Of cjnceted ignorance. The brilliant
career OF many militia trained officers has more
than atoned tor the decline aud fall OF Blank
while the utter delencelessne.s of any commun-
ty, under such military leadership is lesson
thoroughly learned by The present generation.
Yet that educational process has been too costly
10 be repeated. We must use it while it is fresh,
or pay yet higher price for its repetition
Every State IN this Union, which does not adopt
come effective mllitia-system within the next two
years, will probably slide back into the old in
difference, TO last until another war brings its
terrible arousing.
For it is 10 be observed, that the effect ut re-
cen: war Is to make any such system appear for /
the time superluous huudred returned vater.
ans Ia every village, with an arsenal lul Of rifles
in every State, might eaem to supersede the nt-
cessity OF all further preparation for many years /
to come. Why give the time and money to ere.
ate an ineffective military force, when these
heroes can al any time, within two days, impro- /
yi,o good one No doubt, after the close Of /
the Revolution, the same thing was said Yo. /
even tho Revolutionary veterans were not immor.
tai al,-though no doubt there we're moments when
they seemed so, to the Pension Agent and ours
will find their lease OF life to be bat little longer
What is to occur then Twenty Eve years hence,
cur whole present army will he beyond the ago
Of ec,ive military service, and will have left %
th1ir children only their example, unless We c.
tablsh by their aid, sDmo system OF warllke
training that shall DO available Tor the future.
It is one thing TO have military generation,
and quite another thing to have q military peo-
pie Accidental experience has given us the one,
but only permanent methods can guaranty The
othst.
10 another way, also, the war will pova
drawback upon forming IN effective militia sye-
tenn We ehall have, for some years 10 come,
no class dspo % 10 take part IN IT, For ar,-
turned soldier 70 lind pleasure in drilling is as
a w0od-sawyer, at the close OF his week work.
should bring bis tools into his sitting-room, and
saw for fun. 0n the other hand, those who have
not served in the army will feel some natural
scnsiuyoness about playing soldier in presence of
veterans, and being satrliad, perhaps, asa mere
homo guard, Thu5 experience aud inexperieuce
will equally toad to depc,e the classes available
for tins form OF service.
These obstacles will ho increased by the iici
tha. such duties under eny conceivable arrange. I
meat, mus. involve sa'uhoe both in time AMI .
moncf Reduce the pe,Od o, annual service to .
It's minimum, and It may still occur al such |
time as 10 cost an employer his contract, or an |
smpiogc his place. Oar young men eio to meet |
The problem Of increased taxes, crowded ocoupl- |
tons, and great competition. Who shall make
the needCul saeFldco2 The returned dodlersi
But they have given precious years of time oil
ready. The inexperienced But they will nat
| t...iir xa.,nn that thav have nlready borne the