The New York herald., 1869-12-26
MILITARY NOTES.


parties are actively preparing bill to be presenter
to the next Legislature providing for the reduction
OF the term or service In the National Guard from
seven TO i've years. The opponents OF the measure
contend that anybody who knows anything aboug
the State militia, the elements Of which it Is COM
posed and the dncuty encountered by good officers
In preserving wholesome state OF discipline and
efficiency in their commands knows perfectly well
that the proposed change would do most irreparabe
damage to the National Guard as a wen organized
body. To member OF the militia who has the well
fare OF the STATE troops at heart the mere assertion
of this fact Is all sufficient, they think, without
being backed mp BY proofs but those who are not in
the militia, and who have therefore, not the same
opportunities for Judging OF the question as members
have, may desire little light on the subject. IN the
nrst place the length or the term OF service is
seldom or never mentioned as an objection pY
recruit. As competent authority the SUBJ
ject puts It, shorter term Of service would
necessltate O much larger number Of eniistments,
while on the other hand, even II the term was liked
az ten years, the number Of enlistments would not
be materially diminished. The second rate regi-
ments that is, those which require very little military
service srom taeir members aud which do not aspire
10 any particular efficiency III drili or disci pne,
might temporarily increase their numbers by the
reduction or the present term but should tue well
fare OF the hard working regiments be endangered
CAM The same authority above referred to moreover
justly says:"A shorter term OF service directly ana
positively encourages frequent changes. Good
officers are the result Of long and faithful service,
and within the short period OF five years L. Is hardly
possible for any one to pass through the school Of
the soldier and the various grades or o.ice aud
secure the necessary experience for commanding
position in a company. The time devoted to drill in
the National Guard Is necessarily limited and 1t Is al
nafar nanh haen
accomplished private soldier. Members OF The
National Guard, with very few exceptions,
tire at the expiration OF their term or service,
II they continue their connection bey ond that peri
they cannot be relied upon Tor the monoonous
absolutely necessary duties of the dri room. Su
VIII naturally and inevitably he the fact, whether
term Of service be three, i've seven or ten yearA
But whatever the term Of service members of any
character value WIN generally remain In the
ranks untn the END that term, II, during the first
two years, IS not clearly demonstrated that they
are untitled physically to perform tneir dutlei.n
The odicers OF tue hard working regiments of tae
First division are onsly opposed TO the change
on the grounds ABOVE stated, aud they should know
Tne onicers OF the one Hundred and twenty
seventh New lorK volunteers ned their second
reunion dinner Wednesday, the l5th instant
General j. ). Woodford Ia the cAair. After tbs
veterans had done justice to the good things iald
before them speeches were made and the following
toastS were hoDorei:-- "Io the memory Oh lata
comrades who noDiy fell while IN our ranks" 'Lhe
abseaiees;i tne rank aud lie or the late one Hun
dred and Twenty-seyenth;" "Long Island, which
contributed so largely to the ranks OF tie conf
mand.n Absent ol1cers were ordered 10 hold theIl-
selves in readiness Tor the muster OF 1870.
The commissioned Officers OF the seventh regl-
ment win assemble at the regimenial arnlory, IN
fatigue dress with side arms, Wednesday, the
29tn INST, at eight O'Clock IN the evening" for theo
retlcai and practical instruction Colonel clark has
ordered battalion drills, by division, follows
Friday, January Z, 1870, Companies and II, Thurs
day, January 10, Companies and /; Wednesday,
day, January "a, co@paales i aud +; Moaday,
January 81, Companies and g. Roll cali of com
non-comnissoned officers have passed the Board Of
Examination OF tins regiment and nave received
warrants as non-commissoIed oihcers:-tirs Ser
sesnt J. W. Clark; Sergeapts j. II. Allen J. K. Van
Rensselaer, and w. Z. Waters Corporals A. ID. Bald
win, +. q. Brown, f. n. Rowland and J. II. Llyings-
ton.
The officers OF the Thirty seventh regiment win
meet at the armory on Monday, 2Tth INST at eight
O'Clock 7. NJ, for theoretical instruction TN atgaej.
Every officer OF the regiment is ordered TO be pre-
sent Drills, by division, OF the same regiment win
De nela ut the armory rs follows:-Companes A, Z
and ii, December 20, 1860; January ) anu 10, 1870.
Compaues and X, December II, 1909; January
and u 1870. Companies ID anu q, Deceinber
1869; January and ~, 1870. Conlmandaats are
aternatively assume command OF their respectil
divisions The non-comms5ioned officers VIII me
for theoretical instruction OH Tuesday, 2lst Inst,
eight O'Clock Z. NJ Captain William Ii. Cox wIll q
How about the proposed change In the muske
OF tue First dtvisionS Is 1t not aoout time thi
those breech-loaders were coming fortns Who
And that field In the suburbs Tor rine practice Is
never 70 be purchased ssn or & donated s na ,ns
togetherG Street parades are all very well In
their way but q fine field day like the volunteers
have In England would be lar more Preferable ~
well as.useiul.
Inc annual reunion OF tho 12Oth regiment New
York Volunteers, took place at Kingston on the tstn
Inst Speeches were made By Generals Joseph
Hooker frelan, Graham, Sharp, Colonel Buras
The several hundred asprants for the brigader
generashlp OF the fourta prgade nave all gone into
mourning over the disDandment OF the brigade. 1t
Is said tnat several of them contemplated suicide
when they learned OF the AdIutant Generals orier,
ana Woua nave carried OUT tueir pians ior seltds-
military funeral 1--WE know not what i day may
brng''-eyen in tho militia.
just TO THINK OF the battalion Washington Grey
cavary being consolidated into one troop! Inis
magnificent Organization turned out IN splendid
strength at the late nspection-twenty-tniee rank
and nie-and now to think ol IL being telescoped
INTO smpie single troop II tweniI-lbree men
make a baItaIi0n how many VIII make uoop, prayf
But, sertousiy, wnat viii become OF Major kentf
Tue Adutant Generals oraer places tue troop under
the command OF Lieutenant Edlngham H. Van Bu-
ren an excellent onicer, vrsually overlooking the
Majors right 10 better treatment.
Would il not DO wei for the Albany authorities to
authorize the organization OF three batteries
alter the fashion of that splendid howizer battery
IA BfooklynY Taey would 10 more to clear tue
/ way'i IN a riot than ten Infantry regiments.
correspondent wants 10 know ana Gays that tae
First dyf.lon would nae TO know whence eonos tbe
authority TOR the appointment or Colonel Teller AZ
.CAief OF Artillery" by Generai ahaor lie says.-~
"The military code desgnates just what the diyision
stan CuAoNst ot huu oSuSl<l Shatt udS ~
power 70 appoint any others. Not word Is said of
any chief oI artlIery or chief OF anything else,
ceptng chief OF stan and we believe Colonel Teller
Is still In ONCE.
"rararraph es4, General Regulations. Is in these
weids:-'No person shall be appointed or elected to
oice not created by Jaw IN the military force OF
that Sate.' Has the Major General been guilty OF
. breach OF discipline or Is the amendment pub
llshed IN q city newspaper without auLhorityW
There ~ no sucn stan oflcer in the National Guard
as "chief of artiefy.n Section three OF subdivision
one OF the addenda 10 the Military Code prescribes
the rank and number OF thc stIif OF divisions. IL
provides for an ordinance oiricer with the rank Of
lieutenant coone.n II that position is already filled
IN the FIRST division stan II stands 10 reason that
"chief OF artillery" in the language OF SamDo, is
t'nowhar.n
MAJOR Madden, OF the First cavalry, who ran
AGAINST CApLaIn uenrY kischer for Iha nosillon OF