Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-08-27
Military Discipline.

Cleilen. Is tho most powerful vet the
most delicate aud complex Of machines
and every one knows that she work for
which it is intended 10 of the utmost
difficulty and Importance. Its import
ance is measured BY the fact that, un-
der Providence, war, . campain, or
a single battle may, and often does,
determine the fate Of nation for CEN
turies, and these affect the libeI ties and
happiness of families and individuals
yet unborn. The task is difficult. be-
cause it requires every member OF an
army TO submit cheerfully TO the ex-
tremes Of privation, fatigue, and dam
ger; TO devote all his faculties to his
duties; to give up his own will and
opinion for those Of his superiors, and
to be ready to expose his life at any
moment. 1t is clear that q mere form
of army organization, no matter how
perfect In theory, will not suffice to
produce good results, and that the
framework must be animated by q
moral force which shall impel and ena-
bic every man to do his best. This
moral force, which is often called "the
military spirit" includes the various
military qualities or virtues, and must
be accompanied. guided, and to some
extent, produced by instruction.
Among the highest military virtues
indispensable to all ranks and grades
are devotion to the country and the
flag, moral and physical courage, and
subordination besides these qualities,
honor, courtesy and truthfulness in all
the relations of life come within the
category Of military virtues. Bearing
in mind how widely individuals differ in
respect of moral qualities. it is plain
that the exercise OF the military quali-
ties referred to cannot safely be LEFT TO
individual impulse, but that some
standard rule must be established for
the guidance Of all, and which shall
teach all how to use the qualities they
possess or may acquire. This is dis
cipline. which, in its widest and most
| correct sense, involves the knowledge
Of tactics, regulations, ETC., 50 that 50
well-disciplined army" should mean
one that is not only obedient, but also
we'll instructed in all military duties.
The term discipline is sometimes used
in narrower sense, a. about equiva-
lent to osubOrdination, and then means
that habit Of mind which should lead
every member Of an army to yield
prompt, cheerful, and intelligent but
unquestionins obedience to all orders
coming from his superiors. This frame
of mind is not natural with all men,
nor is it equally easy Of attainment
with all nations. Some individuals
and some nations acquire it more read
lily or through different means from
others. Some natures require harsh
measures to produce the habit Of disci.
pine; but it may safely be said that,
as a general rule, the more intelligent
mer are, the more readily do they per.
ceive the necessity Of discipline, and
the more readily do they acquire it,
especially when they can trust and re-
spect their superiors. The habit OF
obedience is acquired in the squad, at
drill, and in the various duties of the
interior service-thus within the COM
pany, and under the eye Of the cap
tain. Rewards and punishments must
both be used according 70 circum-
stances but the better the class OF
men, the less of the latter. In sup
port Of this, the German soldiers are
no doubt the most intelligent in Eu-
rope, and the German army Is the best
disciplined Tin ell senses OF the word)
in the world, yet the proportion Of
punishments in that army il less than
in any other. With such mon - those
who compose our armies in the time Of
war, and with competent officers, dis
cipline is best establishsd through 4
kind and considsrate, bat perfectly
firm and just conduct; but 70 establish
and maintain an entirely satisfactory
discipline among .Americans'it is quite
fessential that they should rsspecs and
have entire confidence in the kn0vl.
edge and skill Of their .o(Rcsrs. With
good officers, there ars NO people more
amenable TO intelligent discipline than
tho Americans, nome who can 20 rap
idly be made good soldisss. and none
| who will form sfbstesr 1ghting army
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