New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
ROTATION IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.

ROTATION IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.
A REVOLUTIONARY SUGGESTION ABOUT THE MILITIA
To the EDITOR Of The Tribune.
SIR: On a slight inspection of the two regiments
marching up Broadway the other day, 1t was PLAIN
to the spectator that both the 5th Maryland and the
7th New-York were largely composed of very young
men. Some were mere boys, that is, they had Just
reached the age when sodierly ambition is strongest
and when impressions most easily received
Looking then at their manifest excellence in the
way of marching, minor eyoutions, handling OF the
musket Ia thoughtful observer could not but see
that here were certain energies certain force OF
enthusiasm going to waste What are the results OF
all this drilling he asks.
Certainly not merely the qualification OF the pop
uar eye nor the delight of the family OF each indi-
vidual militia man, when they see him footing 1t
severely IN a clean and modest uniform behind
gorgeous band The delight of his family Is very
apt to be measured by his rank. Ii private they
will step to the window a sergeant they will post
themselves advantageously upon the corner; but let
him be commissioned officer and they will pursue
the column Tor miles with ringing applause Few.
however, can have the pleasure Could fond
mother know that her handsome n.would certainly
arrive at such q point of vantage as the head OF
company would she not urge HIM to join the Seventh
will suppose him something more than handsome I;
not one of those fain6ant militiamen who will not
turn out with their company when it looks like rain
but an ambitious ready fellow, who wants to have
results for work. When friend asks him to join
regiment, his answers are forcible enough. g will
learn" he says, the manual of arms and the duties
Of private; that is all. Unless am popular, and
lucky as well, l stand no chance of learning any
thing else" And he is perfectly right. Why should
his fond mother want him to join the rank OF pri-
vatesi Why should he want to spend valuable time
and energies without reward
In time of war, the pressing need of the country
is of officers. This our late civil war demonstrated
beyond question. The Seventh points with ustiiiable
pride to the number of officers it furnished the
Volunteers but how much larger would It's list have
run had a system of rotation of officers taken tho
place of the elective system. Surprising that before
the war every private who had served faithfully
allotted number of years had surely reached, for
however brief period, the responsibilities of higher
rank in the regiment would not the knowledge, the
confidence so gained, have proved of inestimable
advantage to our undisciplined armies 7 Almost
every private soldier would have had little of the
training absolutely necessary to the men whose lot
it was to lick into shape the unwieldy masses of the
Army of the Potomac. 4 vastly greater number
would have been graduates who had enjoyed the full
benefit of the system.
In other words, a beginning should be made land
NewYork is the place to try it, by the organization
of regiment of militia in which the commands
are thrown open successfully to each member.
Limitations would of course arise. Those who
neglected attendance at certain number OF drills
without sufficient excuse might have their chances
lessened Those who were relieved Of commands
might be required to reenter the ranks for year
The steps might be from private to Corporal to Ser
geant to the ranks next, to Lieutenant, to Cap
tain, and again to the ranks, or by some such ar
rangement, resulting in thorough test OF each
man in every capacity. Alternately he would be
trained to obey and to command The effect OF
such regulations in regiment would be to exclude
the inattentive and the inert. Those who entered
would be the ambitious and vigilant. They would
find an immediate return for energy faithfully ap-
Piled and when the country demanded their
services they would be ready to use such qualities
as they might be possessed of without undergoing
the long anguish of green soldiers before the drill
master. They themselves would be the drill-mas-
ters and would put their raw recruits into shape
with all the dispatch of trained men. C.A.D.K.
Ne1r- York July 81 1874.