Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-18
The Reorganizntion of the Regular Army.

WASHINGTON, January 16.-The bill providing for
the reorganization of the regular army was to-day
reported from the military committee, with some
amendment. The committee were unanimous IN
favor of the bill as it stands. 1t provides that
the army shall hereafter consist of five regiments OF
artillery-9OOO men; twelve regiments OF cavalry
IL. 0OO men; and tfty-fve regiments OF infantry
30 OOO men, To be known rs the Army oil the United
States that the artillery to have the same or
ganiZatiOn as the present five regiments
The third section adds six regiments OF cavalry
10 the six in service, with the same OrgahlZa-
ton authorizes the first and second and two-thlrds
of all officers above the grade of first lieutenant to
be taken from volunteer cavalry officers OT two
years' service. Provides that four of these regi-
ments may be armed and drilled as infantry, ut the
discretion OF the President.
Section a. The titty-tye infantry regiments are
TO consist OF the ten regiments, of ten companies
each now in service; the remaining nine regiments,
made into twenty-seven by adding two companies
To each battalion, with the same provision respect
ing officers Tor the cavalry regiments except that
they aIe 10 be taken from the infantry or artillery
ten regiments of cOlored and eight of disabled
men, or men discharged by disabilities The OIL
Gers TO be taken from the officers OF colOred troops
the Veteran Reserve Corps, aud other officers OF vol
unteers disabled in the service Promotions in the
cOOred and veteran regiments are TO be confined to
these regiments. The volunteer officers appointed
under this act ~ be appOrtlOned among the States
in proportion to the number OF troops furnished the
army during the war.
fantry to be the the first ten regiments but
the companies are to have only fOrtyeight priyates
making about 80 OOO men, and may be increased to
90, 900 II necessary.
Section gives each regiment band, as formerly
Section 5. Enlistments hereafter to be for live
years. No officers to be appointed until the mini
mum number Of men is enlisted and the command
organized.
Section ~ Bureaus of military justice are not es-
tablished.
Section Is. The medical department to consist Of
one surgeon general, brigadier; one assistant,
colonel; 10 surgeons, majors and loo assistant sur
geons To be lcutenantS Tor the first three years oil
service and captains aftert three years vacancies oil
surgeons and assistant surgeons to be filled by seec
tons from volunteers. Assistant surgeons OF youn
teer of three years service to be eligible for promo
ton to captains.
Section 81 The pay department to consist OF one
brigader general two assistant cOlOnels two deputy
observation-disclosures and sixty majors. Vacancies in
the grade of major to be filled by selection from as
s!stant paymasters who have served two years.
Section %. The corps of engineers 10 be the
same as now provided by law. .ee
inspectors of Notifications, to be selected from the
corps of engineers and to he colonies OF engineers
This is not TO increase the number OF officers IN the
corps.
Section 26. The ordinance department is TO be the
same as now provided by law-one Brigadier-Gene-
raj three Colonies, five LieutenantC Colonies, eight
Majors, twenty Captains fifteen First LieutenautS,
nine Second Lleutenants anu thirteen military STORE
keepers
Section 81 provides one chief signal officer, TO be
a Colonel; the Secretary Of War to detail the oti
GERS and men required for efficient signal service,
were to be detailed until examined and approved
Officers while detailed, to be paid as cavalry, and
the enlisted men as engineers. The enlisted men to
be mounted when necessary.
Section %. No officer of the regular army below
field officer TO be promoted without examination
Any officer failing to pass the satisfactory eXam-
nation, to be suspended from promotion one year
and on the second failure TO be dropped. Officers
failing by of moral dSqualiications are not
10 be re-eNamined.
Section %. Heads of stats and departments to be
selected from the corps to which they belong.
Section 80. No persons to be appointed in the pay,
medical or Quartermaster's department until exam
ined as now provided by law.
Section 81. No person to be commissioned in any
regiment until examined by boards convened by the
Secretary of War; the examination To be in reference
to military history, services during the war, and
qualifications. Appointments to be made without
regard 10 seniority, but with sole regard to qualif-
cations and services