New-York tribune., 1872-12-07
THE PERSONNEL or THE ARMY.

GEN. sHERMAN's OPINION OF ARMY OFFICERS.
A communication having appeared i'll 1he
Army and Nary Journal concerning the alleged intel
ectus inactivity Of the officers Of tho army. Gen Sher'
writes letter to that journal In refntaon of the
writer's statements The General says:
To question the honor, integrity and intelligence OF
our higher officers is 10 cast stain upon national
history, which they have had full share Ia making and
writing 1t Ia Of the Junior officers that wish to feat
because they scattered the four winds, n little
detachments far from civilization and cannot ap,
peal to the bar Of public opinion save by their Official
conduct and through their friends. OF these am the
chief; and from daily. weekly, and monthly reports
rom themselves and from their lawful superiors nave
Of testimony far better than your CORES pondent
can possiby have I am perfectly satisfied win them,
and hereby them In the faithful discharge OF
the duties which they appointed, with the ili
belief that they possess many advantages for mental
and physical education as had Meade ana ihonas.
Mcpherson and Mower Grant and Sheridan, IN their dny
probation and that with patience and time they may
attain the reward and fame At all OF our military
posts tho officers and men have schools and libraries as
good as their limited pay and Afford and though
the necessities OF our country demand that tue geeI
bulk OF the army shall kept in the wild and nnin-
habed parts OF vast country, as IL were outlying
picets in the progress OF settlement still 10 each 0eer
In turn will be afforded ~ occasionally his
own home and family and 20 mngle with the most re-
Ded classes or course there are those who are e1-
cep,ons To the general rule as character but Courts
martial and the stern rules OF war VIII surely eliminate
them as it has III the past for more than CO YOUNG OF
good that OF the co ssaH referred 10 by your cor
respondent, and for Ike causes. -,-...
whether from West Point from civil life. We take
them as they and find fault, but let tDen Ihlf
quickly into the ranks and work ont their own qesy,
West Point Is independent OF tho army as fale or
Princeton. Each Congressman appoints his cadet iOr
reasons best known 10 himself. For the four or hVe
years he the Academy no is under Congressional
government and inspection. The Secretary or war mas
immediate control undor the laws of Congress- so tnht
army responsible for the kind and quaty
Of education impaired than West Point was college
OF surgeons To be sure the officers and professors at
West Point are military men, though sOo or them nave
never served directly with soldiers or taken part III D
tie. stu, they military men, ana lmpart the knO"i-
edge presumed by past experience TO make goOd sol
diers aud it may be they iDpart what arc Known as
receives graduate Of West Point as finished soldier
f. mistake at which every veteran smiles. The vanity
OF youth Is limited to that spot, but rs found
everyW here-at Heidelberg at saint Cyr aud oanu-
hurst, and Yale aud Princeton. NO sooner mas inc
graduate reached his company than he mas ne mas
and that mang have learned them, and learned tnrll
we'll familiar 10 the readers Of American history lhe
criticism made by the last Board OF Visitors Is severe
and IL may iust t Is criticism on themselves not
on the army. Congress makes all laws Tor the Military
Academy It's members appoint tue cadets by name from
their own constituents supervise their education Dy an
nual visits and reports and II they send into the army
officers improperly educated 1t IS their business not
ours Some OF the graduates may make MISTAKES III
grammar and be little backward IN tue cisscs
Dut on the whole they usually nue SET OF many
fellows and the only fault lind ia that there are TOO
few of them tor the usual vacancies II le VAN VI
their newly edged office and their own superior huom
edge It soon yanishes, and usually they settle down 10
their work like wel-tralned racers. IL Is an aWl is-
rake n they think their education IA complete when
day they are told quite the contrary ana all tue scnOo
ing In the world would not be more ehcaclous thau
t ihar own eyes aud ears teacn them Oh uf5t Ieaou
ing their post OF duty.