The New York herald., 1869-12-07


On recruiting service. ce........................0 90
On Indian service. ........................... 90
On reconstruction duty. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. %
As professors IN civil colleges.
On duty at United States Military Academy. s
A. aldes-de-camp to general onicers. 20
On duty In War Department. ent................. II
On duty at neadquarters Of divisions, depart
ment8 and districts. s......................... 20
On duty IN Quartermaster and Subsistence
A. acting signal officers. rs..................... 10
Bureau OF Freedmen. Refugees and Aban-
dOned LANDS. .....................-.. Is
yA cDkiuceI uuly. .........................
On ordnance duty ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Commanding military districts-reconstruc-
tiOn.. .......................
Commanding posts. .......................
On duty with General Sickles. s................. /
IOtaL Observation-Disclosures. 1858
Balance awaiting orders". rs"..................l l58
Of this latter numter there are reported physically
dlBquallned, twenty; incorporate, seven; under
SUSPENSION three; In arrest three; ineiiicent two;
~ home Ut their own request, ninety-six. H dis
Candment n must come-and | suppose il is inevita-
these last named. But the 1853 unattached officers
are among our very best, who have baltIe earned
their commissions, and who are lily qualified to be
thrown out OF their chosen profession to begin life
anew. Their claims are emitted TO the generous con-
sderatl0n OF the government and ieei assured
they viii receive it. and to this end win endcayor 10
submit oil the facts Of the case with such sugge5-
lions lions as seem appropriate and likely 60 facilitate
their retention III The military service.
In the first place. In the reorganization OF the
army In 1866 the law provided for our regiments OF
chosen because they had become disabled by wounds
IN the war OF the rebellion. In the consolidation
and several OF the olfcers though wounded and
disabled, are provided for in the new ORG aulza don
stli the great majority have been LETT out and IN fact
are disqualified, by the loss OF limbs or other physical
disability for the exposure and activity OF our In.
fantry regiments. They would be entitled to be
retired under existing laws 1t not for the fact
that The number Of Olicers to be retired s limited
~ the sixteenth section OF tiW act approved May
g. 1861, to per cent OF the oilcers OF the whole
Of In
service was fixed when the army was very large;
and now that it is reduced the number that can be
retlreu Dy reason OF age or nHrmty or by OF
wounds. Is comparatively small. earnestly recon-
ment That this limit be removed, and that the Presl-
for wounds in battle, or age; If 1t be deemed pru-
dent to ix hmit, that it be fixed at some specific
number, say 250. The number now retired is ly1.
ny the present organization OF the army the artl-
lery anu cavalry have TO eacl regiment one colonel
one lieutenant colonel, three majors and twelve
companies, whereas the infantry regiments have one
'cOlOne, one lieutenant colonel, one major and ten
companies. l am satisfied that all regiments should
have the same organization, viz: one colonel one
lieutenant colonel TWO majors and twelve conpa-
MES, l0r this organization admits OF subdivision
1nIo tnree Dattalons Of four companies each, com.
manded by hentenant colonel or major. Moreover
the artillery companies have each two first lieuten.
ants whereas the cavalry ana Infantry have but one.
All companies should have the same organization,
viz.-One captain, two first lieutenants and one
second lieutenant. II all the officers could Kept
with their companies, one captain and two licaten.
ants would be sufficient, but the army organlz
never did provide for detachments and details,
Tor recruiting service for the Indian service
1Or duty at West Point and civil colleges for details
as aides 20 general officers &c. 1t is Tor this reason,
especially, tnat ask for an extra Lieutenant to the
companies OF cavalry and infantry, the same US
already exlst in the artillery. The extra eutenans
Quartermasters and c0mmissares could then be
omitted ana detailed from the list OF first lieuteu-
ants.
l herewith submit table showing the organiza.
tlon as proposed; and assuming t1e number OF regi-
ments to remain unchanged wiz: forty, ana allow
-nU lUOf 70
each each COMPANY IT. would give US lor the
that no army can be kept up to It's legal STANDARD,
ana that two-thirds is as large proportion as can
We viii have for actual service about 70 15o ocers
and mcn-a number that no one acquainted with
the subject can declare to be above the necessities OF
the country.
1t also seems unjust to permit the whole blow OF
reduction to fall upon the infantry arm OF service
alone The cavalry and artillery should share In the
consequences; and / therefore recommend, after
Congress has enacted the necessary laws, that the
Pres mt assemble board OF dsinteresLed general
Officers, 10 whom shall be committed the whole
matter OF reduction and reorganization, with atl-
thority TO transfer unattached infantry oilcers to
vacancies that exist or may be created In the regi
ments OF cavalry, artillery and infantry alike after
which TO recommend for actual disbandment the
officers found IN excess OF the new organization In
splte OF whatever may be done there will be,cases
OF hardship and seeming injustice; but 1t ia all-im-
pOrtant tlat the rule that cuts Oil all promotion
should be removed as possible for no army
can be efficient without folding out TO the junior
OncerS Tile nope OF pr0notiun.
STAFF OF THE ARMY.
This term applies to those officers aud men who
administer TO the wants OF every military establish
ment, and are in our service classified as adjuiants
general inspectors general bureau OF military JUS
tice, quarter masters conmissaries, surgeons, pay
masters and ordnance departments, corps OF cnQt-
necrs, cnef signal officer and post chaplains.' The
names imply their respective duties and the Organic
law OF 1865 limits and prescribes their number. The
heads OF these departments reside III Washington
and submit annually q written report OF their opera
tl0ns Tor the past year. lt SO happened that was
Secretary OF War during the month OF October when
by law the5e reports were made in order to reach
the Public Printer by the 1sr Of November, and
required oil the annual reports TO be addressed, like
all other military reports TO the Adjutant General
for the perusal OF the General OF tho
Army, who could make use OF such information as
they contained ana then lay them before the Secre-
tary OF War This Is, in my Judgment the course
that should always be pursued-though different
one has heretofore prevaned-for otherwise we
should have the absurdity OF general comman6 ,n
the army with his chef stan officers re- r,,,,, o
somebody else. The General can ...ve na onlectlon
.mv imposed upon these
depar,mcrts ~ Cong NV te ffes'aeh. o s.as seoss
tary OF War; but all orders ana instruc,vu, ,v...
General Of the Army, That he may may Know what
IL transpirIng. t5ee section 2, act OF Congress
approved March 2, 1s61.) This matter has al
ready attracted the attention OF Congress- for
l nnd printed report on army organization was
made on the 26th OF February, 1859 by Mr Garfield,
from the Committee on Military Affairs, TO the
house OF Representatives. This report, with the
testimony OF the several officers Herewith contains
mucn matter tIat ~ worthy OF the most aerous
sIderaton. need only refer TO some OF its con-
c1usions-"The star departments corps are in
the opinion OF the committee too large In proper
tion 10 tne line OF the army. Tncre has been for
long time tendency toward the multiplication OF
departments. increase OF rank and Independence OF
control In the star thai ought 10 be checked.
''Ihe stan departments by custom rather than by
legislation, have become almost absolutely inde-
pendent Of generals commanding military depart
ments and districts, and even OF the General-in-
Chief OF the army.
'In the opinion OF the committee all officers OF
the star departments should be directly under tho
control ana supervision oi the General and the de.
partment commanders, as ollcess OF the limo now
are THIS reform can he effected better by admins
uAton than BY legislation, Tor this independence OF
sie sian departments finds no warrant IA law ex-
cept in regard to engineer officers Who are, by a
c.ause IN one OF the Articles OF War, made subject
Only 10 tne orders OF their suporiors IN their own
coIps, ana TO tho PRESIDENT