The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-05

The National Guard and tho Fall Inspections.
With this week commences the annual in
spection of our State militia and our citizens,
who have wisely encouraged the development
of the system on which our National Guard or
ganization is based, will follow the proceedings
with much interest It will, we are confident,
be proved by these inspections that . most
gratifying Improvement has been made in drill
and discipline since the last annual muster.
The material of our regiments Is not inferior to
that of any troops in the world, and for intel
lgence, patriotism and esprit do c0rps they
are unsurpassed. The desire to excel in mill
tary tactics, which is the natural result Of tho
late war, animates the rank and file as well ~
the officers, and commendable spirit of emu
lation prevails in every regiment. 1t is worthy
of remark that the Seventh, which has so long
enjoyed the reputation of being the best drilled
and disciplined regiment in the service Of the
State, is likely to lose that enviable distino-
ton, not through its own fault, however, but
because many other organizations are making
such rapid progress In drill that 1t will be difa-
cult to decide which regiment is the first in the
order of excellence.
But although the present condition Of our
State troops affords much cause for con-
graduation, we must not close our eyes to the
fact that there Is still great room for improve
ment. The want Of Q proper parade ground
in the neghborhood of the city is serious
drawback to the efficiency Of our militia, and
the absence of facilities for artillery and rifle
practice on the right principles Of instruction
is greatly to be deplored. The want Of riding
schools for our cavalry regiments is also Sc
verely felt. No people in the world have
greater reason to appreciate the value of the
English maxim, GIN time Of peace prepare for
war, than ourselves. 1t is quite possible now
to so raise the efficiency of our National Guard
that in the event Of a foreign war our State
need not have to ask the general government
for single officer or man to defend her.
Before the late war broke out the Fifth regi-
ment Of New York artillery militia obtained
permission from the War Department to drill
at Fort Wood, under the instruction Of Lieu
tenant (now ColoneD Sinclair, Of the United
States Army, in artillery tactics The result
was most gratifying the men went to the
drills with as much eagerness as to an ordinary
target excursion, and rapidly acquired know
ledge of artillery practice, which was found Of
much benefit to the regiments In which they
volunteered when shortly after the first gun
from Fort Sumter summoned them to the field.
The same instruction can be had now IL an
effort 10 made to obtain It. General Grant,
who understands the value Of well instructed
body Of volunteer artillery, would, without
doubt, very gladly detail some Of the onacen
who are now unemployed In the forts Of the
harbor to instruct our militia in heavy and
light artillery practice. We throw out the hint
to our artillery organisations In the irm belief
that the establishment Of schools Of instruction
in the forts Of the harbor would be productive
Of very beneficial results.
A movement should be set on foot ct once
in the National Guard for the establishment Of
number Of rife butts In New York or In tho
vicinity, where infantry companies could prsc-
tise with the rife at long range. The English
volunteers receive every encouragement from
the British War Department.. Rifle butts, with
ranges from two hundred to thousand yards,
are provided for every regiment, and an un-
limited supply Of ammunition ID furnished them
for practice. Prizes are also offered yearly 10
the best shots, and the annual rifle contest al
Wimbledon has become national institution.
If our Legislature Is unwilling to offer similar
incentives and encouragement 10 our NaionA