New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-27

pendent means and Others belonging to the classes who
supposed to have something TO lose, and who
Extraordinarily enrolled among the friends OF ORDER"
literally interpreted friends Of any and whatsoever re-
gime long las IT did mot require them to make any
sacrifice beyond "a hours guard every three months
| in comfortable quarters where champagne, oysters
| and coffee were not wanting and the necess
| ties OF duty covered delinquences In the matter
OF the Observance Of OF the Ten Command
ments The effective strengthen weakness, II you VIII
of this guard 624Oo Immediately after the
revolution OF the Attn Of September when the Republic
declared and the Government fell into the hands OF
who doubtful Republicans, the National Guard
strengthened by everybody declaring himself
guard" and was weakened by declaration from the
authorities that certain individuals only would be en
tied to the honors OF the redstriped trousers and the
military cap. The country not considered sufficiently
danger yet to warrant the levy ndsse The various
DEGREES however issued between the 4th Of September
and the sth current month created bataons
Of the Guard each consisting Of six companies in lieu OF
eight and each company numbering $50 men instead OF
There were therefore, the old battaOns-52 In num-
ber624oO the new 214 in number each 1900 strong,
total of 3 OoO gross total OF 3oo or the 266 bat
talions only armed at this present moment and
these not uniformly When the Government at length
resolved to constitute companies selected from the
National Guard il made first general appeal for v0lun
teers 1t lees successful than was expected, but
more than-under the circumstances ight have been
foreseen Persisting in its somnolent policy of half
threequarer instead of proceeding at to
compel the recacirants among the citizens to present
themselves for enrolment Il issued decree of the sth
reforming the Guard follows: First, each battalion
is to consist Of eight ten companies according TO its
effective strength. In other words, the old battaons
retain their orinal formation Of eight companies each
OF 80 men, and he reconstructed so TO bring
their companies to the figure ten 1T $50 being
equivalent TO six ut $50 The first four OF these compa
MES are formed into "war companies,r each 100
strong from the old bataons Of 200 men each, and
of $50 strong from the new OF 1900 each.
This gives per old battalion, 400 and per new 800 men,
which, multiplied by 52the number of the old battaons
and by 21ithst OF the newy-forned ones-furnishes
effective strength OF 2o4Oo from the first category,
and Of 900 from the second total of 7 800 men who
have been drafted into the army by this decree leaving
$4,000 in reserve for rampant duy. Another class has
yet TO be added TO this total namely, the citizens who
had not declared themselves at the several mares but
who were called out by decree Of the 10th instant.
This peremptory requisitiOn brought out upward Of
$4,000 men, who will be drafted into the frs marching
regiments and who added to the above nun ber const
tute an effective grand total of National Guards OF
ass 400.
The men receive the ordinary pay OF one frame and
half day, and equipped in every respect like the
line regiments and except the trowsers, which are
black with red stripe down the side. They are
also provided with CATERS OF hide strong shoes, and
blue overcOat All armed with the chassepdt the
Remington rife. have many OF the companies in
squads, sections and massed, executing the usual
maneuyers and judging them by the precision OF their
movements compared with the ordinary troops they
quite the equals OF the latter and in respects
superior. They march with the regularity of we'll
drilled soldiers, which is paying them only compliment
they deserve
The levy en- Ddsse which the last decree prescribed
could have been ordered quite five weeks earlier and the
levies now raw would have been 1T for active service
49,
that the Government did not possess and could not com
mand the means Of manufacturing sufficient quantity
Of 20 equip half million OF citizen soldiers and in
this there Is certain show Of reason. But II
be objected, with equal force, that nearly six weeks
lost before routine called In private enterprise to
help the immense task OF providing weapons for
20 vast an army The necessity of this step was the
greater In view Of the fact that all the machinery for
the manufacture OF the guns and the conversion
Of the old into breeeh-loaders, having an effect
i've range Of from GO TO $50 yards, had TO
be made However, better late than never"
says the proverb Thus, thanks 20 the administrative
abilities OF Col NOW GeneraD Ferr Pisan nearly 1900
peaceful citizens have, in wonderfully brief space Of
time. been converted from what Gen. Trochu called
mere multitude into real army upward OF twothirds
Of which is exceenty armed and equipped and ready
for active service. am, confess Of the few Of my
press colleagues here who has fth in the proves OF
these citizen soldiers. Now they have to realize
the gravity of the situation feel convinced they Will do
their duty, without Duster or swagger, when the SUI
preme necessity arises Gen. Ferri Psan ia own cousin
to Louis Blanc is Of energy and intelligence,
and will assuredly make his mark in the time coming
The artillery Of the Guard ia now also completed, and
is under the command Of Victor Sch9lcher formerly
representative Of the people for Guadeoupe, well
known Republican, OF the victims OF the coup d6dt
but best known the chief promoter of the noble de-
cree for the immediate abolition Of Slavery, issued by
the Provisional Government in lSis II was reviewed
day two ago, and record the fact because NJ Henri
de Rochefort figured in the ranks simple soldier.
The artillery corps Of the National Guard IL composed
entirely Of volunteers. The presented excellent
appearance and although the guns only FOUNDERS
and OF the old model, they will render good service
should necessity arise for their being brought into
the ramparts