The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-03

A Division Enca mpment This summer
Possible and Probable.
Judging from the number OF communications
rom members of the National Guard sent to the
HERALD in advocacy OF the proposition that the
First Division should go into camp for couple OF
weeks this summer, and the general talk among
the rank and nle favorable to the idea, 1t Is more
than probable that there will be an encampment
this Summer. or course nearly everything depends
upon the Major General commanding and the
brigade commanders. The Major General can at
his discretion order the division into camp, and
need not ask anybody's ADVICE one way or the
other. But every one understands who knows
anything at all about the rank and file or the
militia that any action the part Of the General
in this way would create q great deal Of bad
feeing-among those whose business would be
interfered with BY the order, and who, as general
thing make 1t point to attend parades as little
as possible. It would. In the opinion OF some OF
the men In the Third brigade, be better to
open lists in each regiment, and II en- ough sigma
lures be obtained to have each regiment repre-
sented in the encampment the idea could be car
ried out very we'll However, the oricers Of the
First DIVISION who have been spoken to on the
subject, believe that IL there is to be q division
encampment al all II should be started as purely
military affair and not as volunteer picnic. This
project, for men who have willingly become menu
bers OF the militia became members with the plain
understanding that they made themselves liable
to be called upon for duty in many
ways, and that an order Tor an encampment the
was among Sss the n sSs
and always has been heartily In favor OF brigade
or division encampment, and when the matter
years ago Is satd that he was one OF its strong
est advocates Governor Dix himself IN his mes
20 20 t uns eIcssnt Condition Se state
stated that drills by brtgades should be encouraged
that the troops could become accustomed 70 oct
in large bodies whenever an emergency would
render such a thing necessity. II is conceded
that there can be no better method to accus-
bodies bod than BY an encampment. Brigade
drill now ana then during the year Ii not
any n ssa and Sp yery
! solid good came from the few brigade drills that
| have been thus far held. One OF the officers in
| yesterday, remarked 81 am certain that two
! thirds OF every regiment In the division would
eo an inso camp. Heretofore We nave mad COM
| pany encampments, and, In two or three In
stances, reglmental encampments; but what u
] regiments VIII constantly come In contact with
/ one another For instance, in detailing the guard
OF course, be represented, and the result
! wound be Of inestimabe value to the gen.
sn avav Witn mncb Of tSas csnnisn feeling wHch
now exists as between regiments. To make the
instructions given IN camps bring forth good ruit
1.-THE practical well as the theoretically, IT Will
not su1ce to camp out and let the military part OF
the camp routine DE looked upon as q mere sec.
ondary Consideration. Once la camp the rules and
regulations as to troops in camp should be strictly
adhered to, and all infractions or them punished
severely; Beside the ordinary evolutlons by brig,
the encampment, the troops should be instructed
In the pracucal use OF the rife every day. and on
much more ike soldiers than ever before.
There is ! am sorry to say even among
good deal Of contempt for the militia man as a
/ soldier, and one Is often annoyed on parade days
by the remarks OF the lockers on who indulge In
/ sneers about "feather bed warriors" and all that.
Ill-natured remarks OF this kind spring from the
| notion. so prevalent among persons not members
OF the militia that the members know nothing
about the duties the soldier other than marching
4 well-that, in iact militia regiment Ii nothing
nor ss oS Of
with no other Object in VIE than 70 excite the sd
brass buttons and the gorgeousness OF tleir gold
| laced uniforms Now, this Is all wrong, for oil
hard at rfne practice, and with good results
! During the 12th OF July riots the regiments which
had been accustomed to frequent drills and rine
practice acted the best, and did nothing without
/ orders, and that OF itself should be an incentive
Tor a camp Of instruction. am In favor OF H. and
most oil the officers In the division are In favor Of
an encampment. II one should De held in July
there is but little doubt but that the members o
the various regiments could leave town for q
couple OF weeks, provided the order for the en-
campment were issued, say, two or three weeks
before the time fxed." colonel Clarke, Of the
Seventh, Is Also II IL understood, q strong advo-
cate OF DIVISION encampment; and Colonel Ward
| Of the Twelfth; Scott, OF the Eighth; spencer, OF
the Fifth-in iact. all the commandments OF regf
| ments-are favorable TO the idea, II 1t can be
/ properly carried out, and the rank and file
OF their commands can arrange their affairs so as
10 get out OF town Tor week or two One great OBJ.
| stacle In the way OF division encampment urged
by some IL the df1nculty OF obtaining a suitable
place for the camp. Ii Is true that for division
camp and room sufncient 70 admit OF division
man9uvres quite large area would be necessary
but then this difficulty ID only imaginary one.
! There are many places on Long Island and along
the Hudson, and not too far away from the rail-
roads fior the question OF transportation, &C. is an
an important one). which could be obtained free
OF COST Tor tDe mere asking. Whether there will
be an encampment or not depends upon General
Smaller and the brigade commanders in the first
! place, and upon the commandants OF regiments
1 and the good wur0f the men IN the second place.