The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-09
TIE Amy

| OeuefH Cnerinhn give ueLAlled bJdIOueHOS vi
the present organization of the army of the
United States and they make a number of
important suggestions by which it's efficiency
may be much increased. The territory of the
United States is divided into twelve depart
ments and three military districts, which are
under the command of experienced and able
Generals. The duties to be performed are
many and arduous, including the garrisoning of
the various coast Notifications, the preserva-
ton of order in the late rebellious States,
and the protection of the settlers on the
Western plains from the Indians The pre-
sent maximum of the army is 3d. en-
listed men, who are divided into Eve regi-
ments of artillery, ten of cavalry, twenty-five
of infantry, q battalion of engineers, and the
cadets at the Military Academy. General
Sherman states that there is not at this mo-
ment single regiment in reserve, and that
there is continual call for more troops that
cannot be granted, and he urgently asks that
Congress will not any further diminish the
military establishment, because of the great
extent of our country and the unsettled char
acter of the regions of the great West, in
habited by nomadic tribes of Indians, from
whom it is necessary to protect settlers, and
because a large force is also required
to guard the various roads that traverse
that section of the country. The arduous
character of the services of the officers and
men who are on duty in the wilderness be-
yond the Mississippi are set forth IN appro-
pirate terms, and the consideration of Con-
gress is invited in their behalf.
IA : ~ L.
which the army is governed is very antiquated
and obscure, and so encumbered by orders
and regulations that it is impossible for the
officers to decide what their rights and duties
are, and Congress is asked to sanction the
new code arranged by Generals Sherman,
Sheridan, and Augur, which was submitted
in January, 1868.
The Freedmen's Bureau has concluded its
labors, with the exception of the educational
and bounty divisions, and two hospitals for
freedmen The number of officers, agents,
and clerks has been reduced from nine hun
dred to one hundred and fifty-eight, and no
further reduction is considered practicable so
long as the present operations shall continue.
During the existence of the bureau the
general average shows that about one in NO
hundred, or one half Of one per cent, OF the
freed people have been supported by the Gov
| ernment.
The last Board of Visitors to the Military
Academy expressed themselves highly graft
fed at the condition of that institution, but
they considered its facilities inadequate to
the present condition of the country. The
board therefore recommended that it be
greatly enlarged, that the number of cadets
be increased, that the standard of admission
be raised, and that the cadets be divided into
two classes--one pursuing an ordinary course
of military instruction, and its members re-
turning to civil life upon graduation to spread
knowledge of the military art throughout
the land; and the other, selected from
the most promising members of the former
class, and equal in number only to the yearly
wants of the army, pursuing their studies to
the very limits of military science.
The Inspector of the Military Academy
does not concur in all of these recommenda-
tions, and does not advise any present en-
lareement of the institution. He suggests,
! however that the number of cadets be in
creased to four hundred, which is two-ffths
law. With regard to raising the standard
for admission, the Inspector does not con-
slider any change expedient, as every addition
to the list of preparatory qualifications ne
cessarily restricts the circle from which cadets
can be drawn, and because the present list
embraces all the attainments that can be
obtained by a large proportion of the you'll
of the country. He recommends, however
as a substitute for the propositions of the
board, schools of application for the
several arms of the service, such as exis
in Europe, the nuclei of two of which msy
be found in the artillery school at Fortress
Monroe and one of the three engineer de
pots already in operation.
General Sherman thinks that the regula
J tions with regard to the staff and enginee
} corps should be SO modified that thes
branches of the service can be more imme
diately under the control of the Geueral-ir
Chief, instead of being nearly Independent q
him as at present.
With regard to the perfection of our sea
coast forts, General Sherman cordially endorse
, the notifications suggested by the Enginee
: Department, which include the use of barbett
, batteries of earth, with deep parapet, an
liberal number of bomb-proof and maga
} zine traverses; the use Of the heaviest gun
practicable, with carriages admitting of tn
8 guns being depressed below the parapet fc
loading; an abundant supply of heaV
mortars; and the use of torpedoes and entanglC
I ments to hold feet long enough for destruC
| l., Il,ok ;,,,,,