The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-10
MILITARY NOTES.

General McQuade, the Inspector General, has de-
clared that the consolidation Of the militia which
has been provided for by law, VIII greatly depend
upon the results OF the fall inspectOns-that Is to
say, that If regiment does noe present fun ranks
as 1t ought. to be considered o regiment at oil, 1t
will be amalgamated with some other organization.
In dealing with tAs sort Of commands Is the inten-
ton Of the General to pay regard whatever to tile
muster rolls OF the regiments, but to Judge of the
strength Of each command BY the number in rank Mt
the inspection. General McQuade's view Of the
matter Ii the correct one There are several re2l-
ments IN the National Guard which boast Of very
long muster roll, but are never seen with anything
like full ranks. The militia does not increase In pros
perity by being composed OF men IN buckram. Shake
up the dry bones, General
the formation OF an alumni OF the West Point
graduates has given rise to great variety OF opinion
among the officers Of the army concerning tue pros
poets OF any such association. General Custer in
long letter In answer to Lieutenant Colonel Parsons
invitation for him to become member, makes one
or two good points against the formation OF the
society. Ills idea, however that 10 long as West
Point continues to exist it, OF ITSELF IN the eyes OF
ell her sons, would be the nobiest OF all Societies
and that "whcn the Military Academy is no more
then, and not until then. wonld the formation OF
such association be necessary advisable is all
wrong. What II the same argument were TO DO used
In regard TO Yaie or Harvard, or Princeton or the
hundreds OF other institutions every enc OF which
Is quite equal, II not superior, 10 West Point
be laugh somowhereY Hsit until there are mo .
more" indeed But General caster does make an
excellent argument against the society when he SAYS
bat owing TO the fact that the civilians appointed
to the army since the war are veterans, sch00ed
an academy Of lner study than West Point. and tina;
the Old cry OF graduates having to compete IN an
equal race for promotion With men who were unfit
or unqualified for their duties having been hushel in
consequence, the formation OF the alumni would
disturb the harmony which now exists between the
two classes OF officers. However, everything nova
days tends societywlse, from the politicians chow
der parties To the ragpckers' picnics so the West
Point alumni will have TO fall In line after all.
A very remarkable finding by q United states
was tried for having appropriated TO his own use
$500 out OF $500 which had been handed to him
men tS epos,t IN bank to their o acco rss
the accused pleaded mot guty'' to the
specification and charge. The court found him "not
charge being mot gullty,n aud added:-"And tho
court do therefore acquit INN, being OF the opinion,
from the evidence adduced that sufficient opportu.
mites were not given the accused to refund the
Sums referred to In the specifications" IL will thus
be seen that the court By abiding to time not being
charged with having appropriated to ais own use
admit that be received the moueY. What on earth,
then, 'time to refuDdr had to do with the case or
how a court could say Lhat man was not guilty OF
appr0pratng others money 10 his own use and In
the same breath acquit him because he hadn't
time to give up the money that he ought 10
have given mp is a stlcGler in which Dog.
berry viii md food for fun ana pbysic. But
the cream Of tho thing Is JUST here. Tue findings
and acqulttal, In the opinion OF the cOnnMnding
general, were unsustaincd by the evidence aud
were dsapproved; but the closing paragraph OF the
same order which gives forth tins opinion saIs:
'Ihe arrest Of the accused upon these charges Is
therefore terminated" hecourt's decision OF mot
guilty" being disappr0yed tho accused goes 'scot
Tree ~ Is this 10 be the rule In the army hereafter
The Forty-sevcnth regiment lBrooklyn yesterday
cft Tor their long talked Of shooting excursion. The
day was line one and the Iiiie practice az gen
eral thing very good.
To-day Company u. scventy-nlnth regiment win
go TO Funk's Union Park, the occasion being their
nrst animal target excursion.
The seventh company " she seventh regiment viii
nave good time somewhere out OF town on the 25tl
instant pelamater aud Mast and smith and all the
other privates will be on hand.