New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07
Balance Of unattached offcers, Nov.
A,.,u,ttad for 90 follnNVs.


or this latter number there are reporedhyscay dis
qualified twenty l4l incorporate. seven Cl under sas-
their request nine yo) II disband-
fair that the blow should rst fall those last named.
But the unattached officers are among our very best
who have In battle earned their commission aud who are
lily qualified 10 be thrown ont ~ their chosen profession
TO begin life anew. Their claims are emitted to the gen
consideration Of the Government ana feel assured
they will receive IT, and 10 THIS end Will endeayOr To sub
init all facts OF the tease with such suggestions as
appropriate aud likely to facilitate their retention
In the military IN the first place. IN the reorcan-
zaton Of the army IN 1870 the law provided for four reg
were chosen because they bad become disabled by
wounds III the war OF the Rebellion In the consoda-
ton these regiments put on par with tho others,
ahd several 81 tho officers though wounded ana
disabled. provided for In the new organization;
si!ll tie great majority have been left out, and IN
fact are disqualified by the loss Of limbs or other phyri
cal disability, for the exposure aud activity OF our IN
under existing 70 not Tor The fact that the
number Of officers to DO retired Is limited ~ tho sih
ceuth section OF the act approved May ls5l 10 seven
90 Der cent Of the officers u the whole army. Ihis UNIT
f syen ner cent of officers In service was very latge
and now that reduced the number that can be retired
by OF ago iunlty or by reason OF wounds
compgratlyely small earnestly recommend that this
limit DO removed and that tho President be allowed to
any number FOR cause VIZ; Tor wounds IN battle
or age; or, 10 be deemed prudent 10 TX il' tuat
be fixed at some specific number, say 40 Ihe number
retired Ia one hundred and soyehy,se'en uTH. By
the present organization OF the army ng Sr a aa
nut-coionol. three majors, aud twelve eGmp4nies
whereas the Infantry regiments have one colonel. one
IieutcuautcolOu one major, aud Ten companies
STAFF OF TIIB ARMY.
This term applies those officers and men who admin
iser 10 the wants Of every military establishment and
are In our service classified a. uaut general Inspector
general bureau OF military justice. quHrternasers com.
mssares surgeons masters corps Of engineers, chf
signal officer and post chnplans. Ihelr names impV
their respective duies aud The Of 1850 limits
aud prescrbes their Numbers The heads OF these de-
partteuts reside in Washington and submit annually
written report ~ their operations for the past year II
20 happened that was Secretary OF War during the
month OF October when BIS law these reports were made
in order TO reach the public printer by the first Of Novo
her. |
Ike all other military reports to the AdJntanlGencrai
for the pcrnta OF the General VI the Army who could
make use OF such information they contain, aud
then lay them before tie Secretary OF War THIS IT,
IA my Judgment the course that should always be pur
sued though different has heretofore prevailed;
for otherwise would have the absurdlty Of general
commanding tho army with his chief stan officers report
Ing somebody else The general have no objection
20 any Of business being forced upon the depart
ments by Congress- by the Presdent or Secretary OF war;
but all orders and instructions touching army move
by law must pass through the General OF the Amy
that no may know what Transporting lseo section 2 acc
OF Congress approved March q 1900 This matter has
already attracted the attention Of Congress for mud
printed report on army Organization was made ON tue
10th Of February. 1852 BY Mr. Garfield. from tue Commit
Military Affairs TO the House Of Representatives
THIS report with the testimony OF several officers there
WITH contains much matter that Is WORTHY VI the most
serious consderalio need only TO reier 70 some OF US
opinion Of the Committee TOO large III proportion 10 the
line OF tho army" 80
There las been for long time tendency toward tho
multiplication OF department. increase OF RANK ana IN
dependence OF control IN the stan that ought to DO
checked. The staff departments by custom, rather thah
Ivy legislation. have become almost absolutely nhepeId
OF generals commanding military departments ana
districts evcn OF the gentrllnchiet OF the army az
tho opinion OF the COMMITTEE all officers OF the stan he
partnents should be directly under tho control aud
supervision OF the general aud the department command
officers Of the line now are, THIS reform can be
effected better by administration than by legislation for
this Independence OF the stan departments hnds no
warrant IN law except In regard TO engineer Oihcers
who are. by clause In one Of tho Articles u War; m1do
subject only 70 the orders Of their supeors In their own
corps and 10 the President" heartily concur IN these
yieWs and far my authority goes will carry them
out IL would be absurd TO hold Gen. sohOfeld or Cen
Augur, or GEN. Hancock responsible for hfirs IN ther
most important departments. II they have not the hbsO
Lutte command Of their troops and all tho stan officers
who minister 20 their necessities: IL CongtesS
tons heretofore existing will at cease, md all parts
OF the army viii 10 put the honorable foot
by the 63d Article Of War tho Of great
deal OF mischief; but when taken In consideration with
the t6lh Article am satisfied that within the llnn OF
their immediate profession" they much subject to
orders the officers Of the Quarternasers Department
To place them duty outside the sphere Of their proie
sOIal duties IT, In my opinion all that intended
by he esd Article required 10y tho orders Of the Pres
dent yet the conclusion arrived at BY the Commuters
the Interpretation which engineer officers themselves
have usually placed the law and this reason, Ia
altogether. For my part have no wish 20 command
the Engineer Corps or any other corps but II forms
part Of the regular army Of the United States Is all
important that tins Generals who command tho military
departments and are charged with the general super
vision OF all army matters within their limits should DC
e to avail themselves OF this most important branch
OF The army receive rom them tho usual reports 81 inc
status oil the national dfenscs Co. without hskhe III aS
special favor or applying to tho President loo Ills per
Gen. Humphreys gives. In great detail tho condition
OF tho various forts Win whose construction aIteitoh
and repair his department. has been engaged Nearly MI
acoast forts were planned at a time when the eight
iloh gun was tho heaviest Aoa and before rhed guns
came Into use Now however that ordnance oil tue 10
aud 20nch calibers throwing over 1900 pounds tn
weight with velocity ~ 1900 feet per second, haVo
into general use the problem OF resistance Ia en-
rely changed IL is believed that caseate FORTS no.
matter how reinforced With lron ara able 10 resist
these shot andS changes must be n,nde Ia meet these
oranges OF facts Tina engineer officers have carefully
udied this subject and have made many most valuable
experiments and In connection with the officers oI ou