New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-26
MORALE OF THE ARMY.
,NspEcroE-GENERAL MARcY'S HEcoMNrNDAno

JNSPECTOI-GENERAL MARCY'S RECOMMENDATI0NS-
SOLDIERS AS SERVANTS FOR oFFICERs-PRoPoSED
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DEsERTION.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-R. ID. Marcy, In
General of the Army in his annual report,
snce the prohbrory enactment frequent emergencies
have occurred where ii has been absolutely Impossible
for officers to hire civilian servants at any price, aud
they lave been driven the alternative Q; performing
servants work themselves aud peglectng their appro
,rate duties, or violating the law by
using the voluntary labor Of soldiers. 1t would be
the Law If commissioned officer employed
and paid an enlisted man, Who with his own consent
in the interests Of military Gu!y performed servants
work for him. The officer must therefore, when he
cannot procure the services of a civilian, either
feed groom. and attend TO his own horse, cook
lis own meals wash his own linen, black
his own boots, and perform all the ncces-
sary servants work, Which would leave Lin but
little time attend to the wants of his men and his
other military duties, lie must take upon hiins the
consequence q violating thc law. peal OF the law
before cited would doubtless meet the exgences OF the
seruce at this time By placing this subject where it
formerly was. when no evil was known TO
suit from the working of the system. All
extract is made from Col SacketPs report in
which he says Oar army contains many desertcrs. 1t
uncommon thing to find men in the ranks who
have deserted from the service four five tines
some few cases as many as six o. seven tiTes a
remedy Is much needed and should De devised 10 pre-
vent this wholesale desertion, or at least
10 prevent soldiers who have de-
serted the service ever regnierng it again.
The InspectorGeneral Gays: Although tue ratio OF
deserliOn has materially diminished during the past
year. yet number continues great TO make this
OF the most serious and perpexng evils we have 10
encounter service Many OF oVr superior officers
which have been In operation TO deprive the army OF so
b. deScrtiOn within The last ten years, but
YET satisfactory solution of the question seems to
nave been reached. Maj9r-Gen. SchOhGid commanding
tue Military Division OF the Pacific, after having
caused a searching nYtsiigatiOn be made upon
the subject amO1g large number OF desertefs, says
% establish three for the JTity Of GeserOns
First inatentiOn The part OF TIE officers TO secure
them ana sufficient food Second acts OF officers
ana u0nCOmmlssOhCd officers eNinclug IfJu1ce or cru
city them. 1nrd, the 100 hard LABOR required OF
them The evidence adduced from inspection
reports sus1es the conclusion that one of the chief
OF tue numerous desertlOns from troops serving
IN the Mcs', and especially within the mining districts,
may be found the fact that labor there Is in demand
from the Government and the protection given 10
deserters by Their employers generally plecludes
the possibility OF their apprehension by the military
authorities. That our soldiers are better fed clothed
aud p.id thar those OF any other army In the world
aud general rule kindly treated and cared for
does not admit q question, but they DO not any more
than the frontier settlers who harbor and project thc
seem 10 look upon dcscrtOl as Violation OF their oath
OF enlistment, or rs crims OF mach magnitude. am
therefore, July Impressed with the conviction that the
remedy suggested III my last annual report would
tLan any other tuG; has been suggested. II Is that
uesertion he constituted by legislative enactment
ieiony eognzable by CIVIL courts OF criminal juris
oicuO Ihe Ottuders 10 be arrested by narshals and
deputies like other criminals, bat the jurisdiction TO be
concurrent with tnat OF military courts. Tnis. | am
Confident, wOad have effect Of educating ana i'm
2i""F"@ the public mind with proper scn6o OF The
TO- or ess OF the of.Dse, and prevent eyIl-dspOsed
per- - from giving AID aud protection 10 desertcrs