The New York herald., 1865-12-06

small per cent OF eniisteu men content 20
All who desired therefore been DISCHARGED
and supernumerary officers mustered out
THE REGULAR Army
Recruiting to I'LL tho regular regiments has continued
Several thousand applications for commissions In the
regular service are on e These hitherto
have been conferred only by promotion from the ranks
But the requisite number Of competent officers
board has been appointed to examine applicants and
determine their relative merit From the list selected
by the board, and in the order of merit appointments
to be made Two years actual service In the is
Indispensable for appointment
MILITIA SYSTEM RECOMMENDED.
The establishment OF we'll organized militia system Is
one Of tho most important subjects that viii demand the
attention OF Congress This subject has already received
careful consideration and s believed that after con-
ference with the appropriate committees practical sys
tom may be agreed upon.
Measures for the establishment OF homes, and some
provisions for the aid and relief Of wounded and dis
abed soldiers ia also subject that will commend itself
strongly TO every patriotic heart Whether this duty,
which the country owes to patriots who have suuered In
the national defence best be performed by the
tiona government or administered by tho respective
b an Increase OF pension or by establishing homes arc
points on which opinions differ and which can only be
settled by the wisdom OF Congress-
THE WET RKroRr
The Board or Visitors to the Military Academy a West
Point in June last made elaborate report which is
herewith submitted They recommend reorganization,
and number OF measures which, in their opinion. will
enhance the benefits Of that national institution. To
these the attention OF Congress- 10 respectfully invited
with the recommendaon that the number OF cadets be
Increased, as recommended and that the superintend
ence OF the institution be longer confined to tho Eng
at present well conducted and that their responsible du
ties are efficiently performed by the officers professors
and instructors charged with the institution.
WAR APPROPRIATIONS.
The war appropriations tho last session Of Congress-
as has been stated amounted to the Of $516 240 31
me estimates for the next fiscal year. commencing Juno
80 1865, are $50, ,s14.46l.
These estimates based upon standing force OF
fifty thousand men, organized to admit OF in
crease without additional organizations TO troops
OF all arms.
This estimate has been made after conference and care
ia halia ha ntn
national exgency If the country should be blessed with
peace, The reduction OF the national military force in
there be any alarm in the public mind because this reduc
ton Is made VIII lie grave questions at home and abroad
are unsettled, brief consideration of the subject will
snow that there Is no cause for apprehension
PIX FORCE RETAINED n THE SERVICE
the force to be retained is smah compared with that
wh ch was organized TO subdue the rebellion. But the
only reasons demanding greater force are1st renewal
OF the nsnrrecton; ID foreign For either or both
emergencies the national resources remain ample The
Chief demands for shown by experience,
ls troops; 3D. arms and ammunition; Sd, clothing; 4h
transportation, and 9th, subsistence supplies
CHARACTER OF riiK TROOPS ptsBANDED.
Yhe troops disbanded were chiefly volunteers. who
went to the ed to uphold the syst Of FREQ govern
to bcqueah to their children Their tolls and suierings
their marches battles and victories have not diminished
the value Of that government TO them so that any new
rebellion would encounter equal or greater force for its
reducton and none spring up with such advan
tages at the start be conducted with superior MEANS
ability or prospect of foreign would in
tcnsfy the national feeling and thousands mis d.
would rejoice to atone their by raying to the
tiona flag The question Of time in which armies could
be raised to quel nsrroction rcpe invasion is there
fore, the only es,ion relating to troops Our expe
rience In this point significant When Lees army
rendered thousands Of recruits pouring In, and
men we're DISCHARGED from recruiting stations and
rendezvous in every State. On several occasions,
when troops were promptly needed to avert mpend
Ing disaster, vigorous exerton brought them into tho
field from remote States, with incredible speed ON
ca reports show that after the disasters th Peninsula
In 1852, over eighty thousand troops enlisted,
ganzed, armed equ ppcd and sent into the field in less
than month. Sixty thousand troops have repeatedly
gone to the field within four weeks And ninety thou
sand infantry sent to the armies from the Ave
States OF Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin
within twenty days
When tho rebellion commenced the nation
stranger to Officers had little experience, pryates
had none But the present generation OF men In this
country are now veteran soldiers For tho battle the
march the SIEGE thoy already trained They
az much at home in tho tented field In the farm
hoas nc ,as as or the shop NO time required
graph determines tho time required 10 raise AN army in
the United States
Secnd-As to and ammunition. The disbandcd
armies were allowed to take home their arms at
a nominal price. Rust Is not likely TO gather
1854 sna 1887 TSe Sc0usn
mcnt reians In its arscnals than million Of the
the best quality Of arms and equipments The artillery
on hand tasks the department for It's OF storage
Tho manufacture OF ammunition requires materials for
which we have In degree relied upon other
tries because they could be had cheaper For this
and to guard against against any mischance throc
years stock of material for ammunition hns already
been kept in store and the supply on hand is ample for
any war that can be waged sgainst by any nation
Th'rd-tlothlng, transportation and subsistence After
selling or distributing among freedmen and refugees all
damaged or irregular clothing the stock Of clothing and
material In the Quarermasters depots sufficient for
any armies that may be called into service. Tho water
transports and rolling stock mues wagons and horses
held by the government adequate to the movement
and supply OF larger forces, less me than had here
toforc been known In war. The government has dts
posed or IL dsposng Of this transportation; but 1t
mains in this country, and answer any exgency.
Army subsistence Is derived from the country in which
markets During the war this most vital branch Of the
service never failed II TO the demand and IL
ever ready to meet the national call.
IL Is pain therefore, that the abundance OF means
for war enables tho government Of tho United States TO
duco the standing force TO lower degree than any
other nation Unless war be actually raging the mill.
tary force can be brought within yery narrow limits
However sudden the exgency calling for exhibition
OF military power, Il can be promptly met With our
education, habits and experience the nation while In tho
midst Of peace, Is prepared for war.
THE PRESENT MILITARY ORGANIZATION
The present military organization comprehcnds nine
teen departments, embraced in five military divisions, as
follows
l. Tho Department of the East Major General Joseph
Hooker TO command, to embrace the New England
statos, New York and New Jersey. Headquarters at
New York city.
2 The Middle Department Major General W. s. Han.
cock 70 command, To embrace the States Of West r.
gina Maryland (exccptng the counties OF Montgomery
that part OF Ammo Arundel lying south OF the Annapolis
and Elk Ridge Railroad and excluding the city OF An
napolls. Prince Georges, Calvert. Charles and st.
Mary's the county Of toudon, and the Shenandoah
Vuuy SOUTH ~ ana incluunH HOcklnRnhm county,
In Virginia the States OF Delaware and Pennsyivanla
Headquarters at Baltimore.
D. The Department Of Washington, Major General
G. G. Augur 70 command, 10 embrace the District Of
Columbia, the counties OF Montgomery, that part Of
Anne Arundel lying south Of the Annapolis and Elk
Ridge Railroad and including the city Of Annapolis,
Prnco Georges, Calvert, Charles and st. Marys, in
Maryland, and Alexandria and Fairfax counties In vir
gina Headquarters at Washington.
T. Tho Department OF the Ohio, Major General
/ f. o. C. Ord ~ command to embrace the States oI
Ohio Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan Head
quarters at Detroit
g. Tho Department OF the Tennessee Major General
George Soncman TO command to embrace the State o
Tennessee. Headquarters at Knoxville
O. The Department OF kentucky, Major General John
N. Palmer to command to embrace the state OF Ken
lucky, and Jerersonvlle and New Albany, In Indiana.
Headquarters at Louisville.
4 The Department Of Missouri, Major General John
Pope to command n embrace the States OF Minnesota
Iowa, Missouri and Kansas and the Territories OF Colo
sado Utah, Nebraska, Dakota, New Mexico and Mon
tana Headquarters at 81. Louis
g. The Department OF Virginia, Major Gen cral Alfred
IL Terry 70 command TO embrace the state OF Virginia,
excepting Alexandria, Fairfax and Loudon counties and
Ahonnndnah nj llav fnra nd incl