Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-12-07

moit than ihls. ! cotcur with Con.
liallcck that Congroat should 40 enact
IN clear and distinct terms
DISCIPLINE of IHr 1nooro.
nulne ITO past ycnr the depart.
meut commanders have given great
attention to tho instruction and dis.
ciplnc Of their troops, end as our
loroo becomes less and loss, deem IL
important that they ehould receive
every encouragement, for We know
that the volunteers, when called into
active service expect 10 learn the
routine OF service from the regular
army. In this connection Colonel J.
j. Reynolds, in Texas, objects, and
with good reason, that he Is forced 10
use his men great portion Of their
time as laborers on public buildings,
roads, and other work which dsquali.
fes them as soldiers, besides prevent
ing them from scouting on the from.
tier as much as would otherwise be
the case. As q matter Of course,
soldiers must labor in taking care Of
themselves and of their necessary
supplies, but to build permanent works
or roads, in which they have but a
partial interest, is kind of labor that
ought not to be imposed on our re-
dnced establishment. | would advise
the Secretary of War TO prescribe
some plain rule, drawing a clear dis
tinction between these two kinds Of
labor, and TO publish it to the army
in orders or regulations, so that il
would enter into the contract of en-
listmont, and soldiers would not, as
they frequently do, plead this cause
as Justification Of desorlion Dur
ing the past year the troops have
been well supplied in all respects, and
have been paid regularly every two
months. General Augurs recommen-
dalion that the troops be paid at short
er intervals is worthy Of every con-
sideration, for IL is known that pay
day, coming so seldom, is apt to be
considered a sort Of holiday, and not
unfrcquently results in disorders, such
as recently occurred at Provo City,
which reflect upon the usual good
fame of the army.
SMALL ARMs-TuE NEW TACTICS.
The board Of officers assembled at
ST. Louis, Missouri, by virtue Of gem
oral orders No go aud y of 1869,
has reported that their labors have
been substantially concluded, and al
though not yet 10 possession of the
text, ! desire to express my opinion
of the Importance of their work This
board, composed of officers Of great
experieoe, was required to report on
the best small arms and equipments
for the army, and also to prepare
system Of tactics for all arms of SER
vice. Their conclusion on the first
branch Of the subject has heretofore
been laid before the Secretary Of War,
who has ordered a supply of the arms
recommended by the board TO be dis.
tibutcd TO the army for further pracl
tical tests; but observe that the
Chief Of Ordnance, in his annual re-
port, advises that another 10000 OF
the Springfield muskets should be al
tered according 10 the ordinance pat
tern, the one now in general use by
our infantry. This would imply
selection Of that form OF muskcl, be.
fore the practical tests already in pro-
gress arc completed. The recon-
mendation Of the Board was strongly
in favor Of the Remington system, and
! coHcur with IL entirely, and there.
fore suggest to the Secretary that ho
await the result of the tests he has al
ready ordered before incnrring the
expense Of the alteration of the second
$1,000. An officers agree that the
present muskets is an admirable wea-
pom, but the hrocch block is not suited
to carbine, and il is entirely out of
the question for the pistol, whereas
the Remington system is equally suit.
ed 10 all so that we could have iden-
ticall Y the same oalibor and cartridge
for all arms, q matter of infinite i'm
portance in action, and especially SO
for our troops, who are often detached
from their own baggage for months,
and come in for resuppy Of ammu-
milton at posts whore they often find
no cartridges suited to their special
weapons. The Remington is already
adopted by the navy, and this is au
reason for its adoption in
the army, for in combined operations
both arms and ammunition could be
mutually intcrchanged.
Prior to our civil war We naturally
look for a system to tactics to the ex-
pcrience Of European armies, and, as
actually occurred, we had the infantry
tactics Of one nation, cavalry Of anoth-
er, and artillery Of a mixed sort, so
that there was no Just harmony be-
tween them There is no good reason
why the same general rules of COM
mand and Signals should not be uni.
form for al arms Of the service, and
this board has proceeded on this the
ory Until the text is received, prop
erly corrected and ready for the prin
ter, | shall forbcar any commentsy
further than TO osay that the time is most
opporiune for the adoption Of an i'm
proved system of tactics for all arms
OF tho service, and, before any steps
are taken. for their adoption, recom-
mend that some compensation be Civ
en- to General Upton for the use that
has been made OF his system Of infan-
try tactics, that has been heretofore
adopted and used by the infantry.
In conclusion / would merely res
new former accommodation, that
reasonable annual appropriations be
asked for barracks, both to replace
the unhealthy easements Of our sea-
coast forts aud to shelter from the
weather the men whom tho national
necessities force us TO station in the
drcary and inhospilablo regions ofiho
interior Of The continent.
! am, with great respect, your obe-
dent servant, W 4. SHERMAN, Gen.
Gen W. W. Belkuap, Secretary of
War