The New York herald., 1874-09-21
MILITARY NOTES.

The military forces of the State, as the general
orye time of Sandtord tactics would put It, are be-
ginning to wake from their lethargy, ana by the
end Of the month the usual drills Will be going on
with all the old-time iervor. 1t Is to be hoped
when they do begin that some OF the regiments
Will make them more matter OF serious business
than child's play. II is a nice thing TO wear a
pretty uniform and occasionally make idle people
feel happy by street parade, but there is nothing
like the regular drilling to make regiment what
it's name pnrports to describe it. There are but
very few Of our city regiments by the way. that
have an awkward squad 1t has been too long the
habit OF o majority Of them to be more anxious to
swell tine number OF the companies than to make
thorough soldiers OF the men. II this
reason that on parades so many peculiar striders
are seen in the ranks, fellows VINO scarcely know
how to carry their musketS, indeed, II tney know
ut all the difference between the muZZle OF the
musket or the but. A regiment that does not
want to continue forever to be nothing more nor
less than uniformed mob on parade ought to give
up The prauce OF putting new men, nneducated IN
military drifts OF any regular KIND, among the men
in q company who are well drilled. The Seventh
and the Twenty-second understand this matter
wen that it often happens tnat recruit Is Kept
long as SIX months III the squad before he Is al
lowed to join the company. Since the es-
ilbllshment Of Creedmoor in the the mat:
regiments that had not been much as
.'marchers succeeded in making themselves good
than bad shot ana good marcher, but it is not
cut OF place TOR 4 regiment TO be good IN every
tnlng tnat pertains 10 MILITARY knOWleuHc. Inc
mauGuvrlng Of troops, when well done, certainly
detracts nothing from their general standing as
marksmen.
The Seventh regiment, it is said. will this winter,
instead .. the usual saturday evening concerts,
have a regular grand bah at the Academy.
The Twepty-secoDd are also TO give bai, and
Will 40 everything possible 10 be done to make 1t
the grandest thing o. the kind ever given bv the
regiment. There are two parties TO the question
IN the command one desiring weekly concerts
and the other wanting pall only. Which, gen.
temen
The militia who are stationed or rather reside
in the districts where General Danei Wood, Of
syracuse, Is the Major General commanding, are
doing spiendldly from all accounts and General
Wood has already secured the services of a splen-
diu stan. The other evening Major Mccarthy, who
Is one of the staiI gave dinner to the General
and his fellow members OF the stan. They do say
1t was splendid entertainment. 1t was strictly
private and consequently all the more enjoyable.
What sna we do with our cavalry There was
some talk year ago OF improving the men as well
as the horscS-that Is, the knowledge OF the men
who are supposed to keep IN their saddles like
men.
The Second brigade officers have not been able
to secure their orlgader yet ana II they are wise
they will act less in their choice like political
cuses than they seem TO have done thus far. What
the brigade wants Is q thorough soldier, who Will
know his business, and not be like some OF our
company commandantS, utterly ignorant OF the
first clements OF ''Upton's Manual,o and who have
to depend upon their subordlnates TO drill their
| men.