The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-12-14
SEIA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY DECEMBER a. 1865 @.

I'll A, WlSCONSlN,s ! !
and Grants campaign against Richmohd
land PGtersburgh described. y7'aA 'a'a ,a'4'
REDUCING THE ARMY.
! The operations having been brought down
to the surrender of the rebel armies and the
close of the rebellion, the report proceeds to
detail the measures that have been adopted
for the reduction Of the military establish
nent. 1t is stated that
These measures have been carried into
effect from time to time, as the exigencies
of the service would admit 1t will be seen
from the report Of the Adjutaht General
that troops to the number of 500 963 have
already been mustered, paiL'off, and dis
banded. Further reduction is contemplated.
Upon the discharge of troops the services Of
a great number Of staff field and general
officers were no longer required. OF these
some have resigned, and others were honor
ably mustered OUT No doubt in many in
stances it has been painful for gallant and
accomplished officers to leave that service
to which they have become accustomed and
where they have won honorable distinction !
that they have recognized the obligation
of the Government to reduce the military
establishment with the occasion that called
it into existence, and that their own wishes
or interest have not been UNFORTUNATELY
! urged against the necessities of the service.
4 rs The disposition Of the Veteran Reserve
Corps presented some considerations of a
peculiar nature, 1t was the inclination Of
the Department to retain it in service until
the meeting of Congress. But inquiry
showed that very small per cent. of en-
listed men were contentste remain i'm SER
vice. All who desired have therefore been
discharged, and supernulnerary officers mus
tered out. y. .aara1 aa5 - "ai1nGsgz4 u
THE NATIONS READINESS FOR WAR. -
The Secretary assures the people that none
] need feel approximations of alarm because the
| army is 50 suddenly reduced to peace
! footing, even while grave international
questions are threatening to disturb the
I quiet of the country. Ills remarks on this
point are somewhat significant 81,
Fs "Fhe troops disbanded were chiefly vol
unteers, who went to the field to uphold the
system Of free government established by
! their fathers, and which they mean to be-
queath to their children. Their tolls and
sutferlngs, their marches, battles and Victo
ries have not diminished the value of that \
| Government to them; SO that any new re-
beliion would encounter equal or gretter
force for its reduction; and none can ever
spring up with such advantages at the start;
or be conducted with superior means, ahiIi,
ty or prospect of success Aforeign foe would
intensity the national feeling, and thousands
once misled, would rejoice to atone their err
ror by raIIying to the national flag The
question of TIME in which armies could be
raised to quell Instruction or repel Invasion
is therefore, the only. relation to troops -
Our experience on this point is significant
When Lees army surrendered, thousands of
recruits were pouring i'll, and men were dis 1
discharged from recruiting stations and ren
devious in every State On several occa-
sions when troops were promptly needed to
avert impending disaster, vigorous exertion
brought them into the, field from remote
States, with incredible speed. Official re-
reports show that after the disasters on the
7 Peninsula, in 1852, over 80, 900 troops were
enlisted, organized, armed, equipped and in
the. field in less than amonth- Sixty thou
sand troops have. repeatedly gone into the
field within. four weeks. And 10000 in
fantry were sent to the armies from the five
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois Iowa, and
Wisconsin, within twenty days. S uuI
''When the rebellion commenced, the ma
ton was stranger to War. Officers had
little experience, privates had none. But
the present generation of men in this coun
try are veteran soldiers. For the battle, the
march or the siege, they are already train
ed They are as much at home in the tent
ed field as in the factory or the shop
No time ID required to train them; and the
speed in the railroad and telegraph deter
mines the time required to raise an army in
the United States. aa5a 1.z 1.ss..a. -.
80. AS to arms and ammunition The
dishanded armies were allowed to take home
their arms at a nominal price. Rust is not
likely to gather on the musket or sabre
borne through the campaigns of 1854 and
1865. The Government retains in its arse
nails more than million OF the best quality
of arms and equipments The artillery Oh
hand tasks the Department for its meaus of
storage The manufacture of ammunition,
requires materials for which we. have In
some degree relied upon other countries be
cause they could be mad cheaper. For this
reason, and to guard against any inischauce
three years stock Of material for ammuni
ton has already been kept Ill store, aud the
supply on hand is ample for any war that
can be waged against us by any nation.
''3. Clothing transportation and subsist-
euee After selling or distributing among
freedmen and refugees all damaged or r-
regular clothing, the stock of clothing an
material in the Quartermasters depots is
sufficient for any armies that may be called
into service, The water transports and
rolling stock, mules, wagons and horses held
by the Government were adequate to the
movement and supply of larger forces, in
less time, than had heretofore been known
in war The Government has disposed Or
is disposing Of this transportation, but it re-
mains i'll this country, and can answer any
exigency
He apprehended no difficulty III procuring
subsistence, and concluded that however
sudden the exigeucy calling for an exbib-
ton of military power. it could be promptly
met. With our education, habits and ex
perlence, the nation, while IN the aidst OF
peace, is prepared for war" -''""
The present military organization, with
its nineteen departments is then described.
with which the public is already familiar.
| TIE REGULAR ARMY.
Recruiting for the regular army still goes
on, and several thousand applications for
commissions are on file. Heretofore, these
have been conferred by promotion from the
ranks, but aboard has. now been appointed,
in order to secure the REQUISITE. number, to
examine applicants Two years actual ser
/ vice in the war is indispensable for appoint
ment. d.. 5 a.as. . HE III.
THE MUSTER OUT OF TROOPS. -s.ga ~.
The arrangements for mastering out the
troops are then detailed with the results Of
which the public are familiar.
|. The entira mum her of neorn trnnns enlist