The New York herald., 1870-08-28

Now that the elan OF the embatted hosts or Erie
has exhausted Itself ON The slippery floors OF the
Continental and the ball-stricken braves themselves
are resting on their carpeted and embeshed tents,
wondering, as the outside world wonders, what all
this crash Of obsolete arms, rumble of drums and
din OF music means, II is proper to crticlse the
Ninth regiment and It's fat but enthusiastic com.
mander Neither In the HERALD nor in any other
journal has there appeared as yet an account of
the dongs OF this regiment or militia IN camp.
You have had fashionable gossip od nouseona, but
absolutely nothing concerning the appearance
training and efficiency OF the battalion as service
able soldiers OF the State. This omission your cor
respondent VIII endeavor to remedy. People may
laugh as they will at the pride and pomposity of
MILITIA OFFICERS,
and the vainglorlous parading OF independent COM
panes-ndependent only In the that every sol
dier is his own oficer-but should war suddenly
break out ana our stability as self covering people,
be again in danger these same scoffers would be the
first TO ask why our citizen soldiers were not pro-
perly drilled, armed, equipped and instantly avail
able. Few people carry umbrellas on clear days,
but not few get drenched for their Overweening
confidence in the constancy OF the elements. Our
political sky Is serene and clear now as II was In
1860, but who ran say what year may bring forth
This Is day Of sudden surprises and pd political
transformations. The Omnous word ''crisIs, Is
stamped in red letters on the face of the
hour. What ruay appear utterly impossible
now may appear more than probable In twelve
hours hence. The world moves certainly, but it is
bound to crush something on Its march; Old and de-
crept must give way 10 and vigorous systems.
We OF all Others cannot stand idle ny while less
favored nations. that In hours of boastrulness
we dub efete step in the OF progress. The les.
sons OF the waT have been lost upon US If fafl to
create a force OF citizen soldiers in time OF peace
that could in time OF be readily available II Is
quite time that the tactics OF
i'FEEl.ING THE ENEMY"
and "teSting the men" at the cost OF thousands of
lives should be abolished. One Bull run is enough
III The history OF the United States. Few VINO watch
the movements OF our most extraordinary militia
rehect what those gorgeous uniforms lii capa-
city anu Gseiessness. A single battery OF French
mitraileuses would be sufficient to-day, If planted
III any convenient place on the occasion of grand
parade 10 send our bOasted First division hOwling
QUIT Harlem while one regiment of Prusslan Land
delgeWehr on Cnassepot, could keep them there inde-
tntely. Indeed, II a lew thousand desperadoe. in
openly and by force what the Board of Aldermen do
by n snS with
right to life, other peoples property and the pur-
suit OF public plunder-all the National Guard and
lne political incapabes who control and direct 1t
might "turn out" and turn IN again for all they
could do. 1t would seem that the powers that be
are more intent on making our militia
A HUGE POLITICAL MACHINE
than Il body OF citizen soldiery which the
people could rely IN times OF emergency.
our militia Is an imposition on taxpaJ-
ers. Although containing splendid material
and capable OF the very highest development, the
National Gnard OF New YORK Is the laughing stock
OF ali military men, and very properly so. In the
first place our militia man Is armed with a musket
(Which he does not understand) perfectly useless in
| pom; ne knows nothing Of camp lire he couldn't Int
| iaystach win his piece al five hundred yards
he @ o m as e1cps the
own mlsket pilcn tent. or property fold blanket
on on, snapsack Splendid at picnic, gorgeous at a
nection OF the spirit which called million OF citi-
| zens into the ranks and made them soldiers. Con.
Sci0us oil tie Tact that he has vote, however ht
does not think Of those things. but, the contrary
boasts OF his abiiy 10 shirk than OF duty which
| soldiers perform BEST
avoid But the discracefu condition of the National
Guard or this great State ana indeed OF country
Is not due 10 any lack of earnestnesS part or
! the rank ana llie The men are most anxious to
| learn as much US they can while In service and no
one doubts thar, IL the occasion should ever arise
| when the knowledge thus gained would be required
Tor the STATE or nalion they would be both ready
| and willing to serve Tue iIlustriOus quartet who
| rule the city and State are to blame They can
aford 10 joke when batch OF infamous conspirators
rob the public treasury Of half million of dollars
but they can't give breechloading arms to our
! gallant militiamen. purchase proper parade ground
| iOr practice IN military tactics aid In any way
| the development or our National Guard. Armories
our regiments are well supplied with, for comfort
able arniory Is cosey place for political caucusng
but in all other respect, the troops lily provided
| FOR. and as a Whole are as have described them
This Is subject OF so much interest that would
| like to pursue 1t further ana the foregoing must be
regarded merely as an introduction Ana do not
| suppose that any man in the National Guard OF
| NeNrlOrk Will dispute my proposition or deny my
facts But this letter intended for the Ninth regi-
ment exclusively. The preceding remarks however
win not be considered irrelevant in a criticism OF
OUR FOREMOST REGIMENT,
they IN TACT the text, rather long 1t is true, OF
my remarks on :. FisK's tHvEcibesu
| We're IL not for the fact that the management of
the Ninth regiment Of late has shown extraordinary
Improvement, the camp here would not deserve an
extended notice. but the appearance of tae regi-
men, its conduct ana discipline deserve unquali-
lied praise, the credit should be given to the
author Of tins most pleasing change. People
| thought that when the irreplesslbie Jim jubilee
! took command OF the NInth he diu
1t for Joke and intended to play with 1T for his
| amusement and that OF his friends. Throughout
the National Guard the advent OF The Erie direc or
as colonel uI swallOW-talled miiitiamen was con-
sldered as the FUNNIEST thing OF the season But il
| seems that prince Ere was IN earnest. He threw
The same energy into his military business that has
! hitherto characterized hm. Though decaylng
corps of 80 lie mas made splendid regiment 500
men; taught the officers to behave as soldiers, and
the rank .nd file 10 obey orders, however disagree.
| able, without murmi ring; made very many practi-
| cal and necessary reIo ms ana placed The Nintn far
| ahead OF any other organization in the National
Guard. IL is quite possible mat when he knows
more he viii do better, but SO far he has done well.
| THE DRILL PARADE AND GUARD MouNrIGGs
| In the camp here have been conducted cXcellently
| we, and tue men obey with alacrly: CAary Of
praise OF officers and rather apt TO find fault. must
| CONFESS that as a colonel OF militia "Jim Jubilee is
DECIDED success lie possesses those qualifications
! which are ever Indispensable In dealing with citizen
soldiery. Several o,cers OF the National Guard now
mere say thar he should command the First division,
as his executive ability would have lu play. There
| can bs douDt that The change would be very
| benehcol to the city regiments FISK VIII IN time
| make an excellent colonel of the Ninth regiment
| land he l. surpassed by very few now but he would
| SHINE as general oi division, ana make the several
| regiments Cf which II Is composed wake UP 10 a
sense duty. His camp mere Is model o. nealness,
| ana the troops aie under perfect discipline.
| Rut this l. not proper place Tor camp,
| nor are The atrangenents-altnoash showing pro-
| oress-entirely as they should be. Militia should