New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-20
THE STATE MILITIA.
Tie ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REPogr.

! THE ADJUTANT-GENERALS REPoIf
CONDITION oF TIM siTIosu OUAkD-rLAss FoE NcRZAs-
ING ITS EFFICIENCY cp rHE CAVALRY
! oaa.s,z,rIoss-lNsuALE ScsNrNIsTs AND rrREAsgD
NIytg PRACTICE RECOMMENDED.
THE report of AdjutantGeneral Rathbone, OF
this STATE, for tho year 1874 has just been Made public lie
state. that the Nationa Guard present conated con
rss of eight divson nineteen brigaic one regiment nine
s-qate troops cavaly battalion ard ten batteries OF
artillery; thirty regiments md thirteen batSons OF m'nly
Including i74s commissioned officers and 1919
ron-conlmIssloped officers musicians and pryatcS
making total force Of -I,3sS The numbr OF
r,ncormiioned officers musicians and priyaea being much
reduced below that prescribed by law he recommended that
authority be- given the organization u companies Of 10 men,
ttons OF four companies Of Infantry DuDs tho year
two regiments Of nfItr battalion and ono Troop OF cav
airy had been dsanded two bataions Of lftry had been
asd and organized and battalion Of infantry recruited en-
ry in the city scheq cady was nearly -eafy for npec
ton battery OF eating guns had been placed IN charge
ofs compary artillery IN the Second Division Experience
had own that the smaller regiments and haGlcns ver N
efficient aud expensive than those whose ranks were
always well filled II the First Division was composed or
only gades Of full regiments each. with two batteries
Of artillery and three troops Of cavalry tho expense OF main
tanning the division would be largely reduced thorough in
spocon had been made Of the several divisions; tho
inspections iaCluding only the cV0luions Of She
troops, but their uifDus arms, equipments, sfh0fies
and hooks. Among the results OF this Inspection had
the di'bandng Of several weak and inefficient o!anza
tons aud the establishment OF y-m OF returns % b. made
Quarterly Adutant Office, showing the strength
O: tho respective commando ard III changes that may tako
place each quarter recommendation was Iado that the
c;pncuts OF the ol IN be nshcd IN the
tie uniforms are provided for by provislon for an
elpm mt fund toward which The state shal annually pay
a sum equal to $40 for each member that attends the
rnued number of paradee that the uniform fund be abo
ishcd and uniform aud equipment fund estab'sbod by
which thu State shall annually conrtlo sum equal to So on
similar conditions toward assisting the members to procure
their rr folrs nd equipments rocommeuIaon vas made
m the cavalry organizations be dsbanded eXcrp the separate
trio, attached 10 division and brigade "qusrcrs believing
that tev wore Of little practical value Tue scrjOc
rersyc Ia equipment the horses WIRE usually drangt
bor in constant employment, and ru' Il 20 The saddle, and
the majority the members poor lort:nen. lie tcYef that
tn tue standard proficiency FOR the Guard should be not
on, power to suppress internal disorders bnt ia ability b
,ak tho field "a thoroughly equipped and disciplined oranizo
hon Toward accomplishment % this end he doomed 1A
campnens 81 vita. importance lie therefore recommended
TINT prdyIion he made for H." pnrchase Of additional
,a.p equpae' ana tha the military appropriations be rade
LARGE enough 10 enable the mandorrCh'f to order
mo camp each year lcs-t one D.sion OF hc N1onI
Guard Inc report then goes ~ follows:
The subject u rhe acicc has received at attention nGd
mont 81 the rifle rsncc ~ O. 'dnpr' nerSrd me pe-s
oouuc ideas aud h. ~ ally pr9motei n.' appreciation mo
plhcd dHline the r'ir ioN" p,rnlntty h-illthS NOR
n li tciac o. instruction nd practice IN the nee
vi
now hs,7y be- ming less common, was both Ineffective -nt
roIa1 Instead O. advancing tue 70 li"rshp oat"red
no, military prohoicncy bu -oc fetsy. and while vhstevcc
fLr con!a the felo"-hi2of tle organizations deserves
recon lion 30 -.nud be- u.,sl'G u ,ho expense Of right
mtgy Development In place NJ hee pr1cccs. cntnly
nnsf-e 10 mieT n'g gin[i ANA - GiEaf 20 ,t ua
established y,cm Of rifle practice has already proved Of
pra practical benefit N,ionai Guard and II proper
r. deyal bed viii -ti further ioa,o rs ca.cncy Snce lis
Introduction great impetus . beer given 10 cni-;mcnts and
the onc of Tho guard oS' been .oy ee, lied 70 be
riilsf with h h. beis erd Ia know h"w most fioct,
hclyto IT, n,"cssay Tor The soldier ~ b. be vel
his arcor rshlcts THIS practice Ia the riac rn9c has
proved attractive AND has served IS grateful rcif nom ne
affords manly, he'lfi ,reri-e rqarnf nerve and 'bil
atm ~ .Aclc-i IN -ttuct ta admits oi almost unlimited
Developments Az act chap - Laws nj 5'l 10 Wpho'c INC
TIRE IL P53s 'S Srd I' and i,p erei INSPECTOR
~ ride pracc who is an odcer IN the ALPHABETICALLY
tiers approaching 70 rife practise in their respective;
Supervision Te pbc in tie National Guard the ranges
be made 10 General quarters tie establishment Of ride
ranges he various military districts and for the furnishing at
the expense OF hr state Of sr targets d necessary appr
tenances The section that prevents the alienation OF The
property at CeGno3T 9r pvos etI a9n iaose lGs %j
its management is in accordance with the recommendation
hsdonaes the ifry and cayary ofations Of the first
AMI Second divisions each devoted day 10 target practice
To that proyison Of the Military which entities
herr Of the National Guard TO deduction from the assessed
5000 during the they perform military duty much oppo
ion has Developed within few yea and many pc
the Legislature during its la. -cson There he little doubt
that this statute operaes uniusuy e taxpayer and
Guard While OF bcncf; it, immediate locality a security
liable be called upon the requires and where
ever may he needed In some p' OF me STATE the e1
numerous materially 10 Increase the burden for those not
ariy added to tue proportion = the rst of the community
There IRE loca'ho9 in which persons nave joined The
S Gsm.eHe Of S l%' and A' in the 'r f6{
of such facts it. inequality become. apparent But it is
Tsrd ihemseye The younS soldier who enlist rom gen
nine interest IN the service aid VINO eheerf9y ard faithfully
perolmr all duty y rare TIE Possesor OF taxable property
pro,ion while on The OTTER hand hose who Join solely TO
pbab tho adyantsge Of he exemption are generally poor
soldiers, reluctantly performing only imperative dnty and
estabhm; Of tho shond be by tie whole people
National Guard should in for their sacridce Of time and
from ih State But HE exemption in question fails to accom-
plsh tal- object while producing The evil suggested so
has the opposition become, that az the last annual
meeting Of tue State Military Association. committee,
Inc Guard was appointed 10 consider report its
sion upon expeency OF aboishng this provision and sub
same time proper for the faithful performance
military duty The subject is worthy Of the careful consd
The elective system has been incorporated into und preserved
10 our Asry CODE because If thought to conform TO the
notr OF ho whole But civic principles and military law are
entirely distinct This difficulty Is the evil Of our existing
military systcra The officer should Inspire the respect OF h
command He should be their model OF SOLITARY bearing
| The preemnence thus accorded TO the faculty and the
ntness Of command does not exclude full care for every
,-resi OF the regiment the company; the contrary u
a. and places each element Its proper rank for the
truly accomplished officer viii cultivate not merely the etrc
discipline Of organization bu s well directed social enjoy
ment public pride and its personal fellowship But these
given the precedence IT, instead Of receiving his commits
sion because Of his recognized military qualifications he Is
Of popular personal qualities Of leadership in
stivty II especially he seeks the position himself with aview
TO its sumptuary possibilities and profits this Is destructive TO
real miax efencY Thee evils which naturally