The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-04

VI
vides Ill enlistment for the term Of two years
rHkEE YEARS ESiIsrxxSTs
General SHEkAAS-rhe War Department will under
take 10 discharge the very hostlities
cease The Appropriation bill Is sufficient limitation
on the department General ST. CLAIR de,eated on
that very proposition He had months and
was forced into action aud was defeated. So IN the
civil war, we were defeated because the
volunteers had expired aud some OF them left tho baltic
field
Mr. rEKsy-wouid you not be likely to get better
class OF men n they had the assurance that th;y would
be discharged as soon the emergency which they
entered the service ternnatedy
General SHERAAN-l think not think We will get
good men, VINO whip Sitting Bull and that Is goo
enough.
dr. RElLLr-You would enlist them for three yearsg
General SHERxAN-Yes, and would refuge the
army to 20, 900 the moment that hostiltics cease.
MT TEhky-Would you not get a better class OF men
in tho Territories II they had assurance that, after the
emergency passed they would be discbargedf
Geuera! SHEKNAN-l have no objection TO the enlist
ment OF men for three years or during the pending
war; that could be placed in the bill MS u clause.
Mr. rgRRY-I can very we'll understand that young
man would be willing To JOIN Tor the emergency
General SHsRhAN-Our experience Is that these men
are not so good as they profess tn oe they good
deal better at Dragging than lighting
RECRUITS AND VOLUNTEERS.
Mr. TERRY-Would you not AS soon have volunteer
force out there in TINS emergency the kind CT
whom you can enlist In the regular service9
General SHERMAN-No sir, would not l would
prefer 10 have the regular troops. because with old
scrgeants and about thirty standard IN each
pany you can engraft upon that company any kind Of
men and In six months the new men very good
soldiers But, IN the case OF volunteers. officers and
noncommissoned officers are popular men, not men
who have They who do not
know how to cook their provisions or
provide Tor themselves or their men. It
infantry soldier and 'e abou, three Years to make
a good cavalry soldier, II you take an organization
entire; but II you take company OF my men. where
there are Jour sergeants four corpoals and Two good
officers, aud add nity men to II IN u short time new
men would DO almost good as old ones and they
each other a great deal better than they can
be taught would take company Of hny
Ea nnsn sv Whom aV'
for those with Custer were just good soldiers
men who hal fought after tour years OF instruction In
civil war;, and engraft upon that company another
fifty men. and in weeks skilled officer would take
them into battle with confidence whic no would be
little doubtful with volunteers unless could get
some OF the old troops and that don't think eau
do. they scattered.
Mr. TxRxy-Have there not been quite number OF
volunteer organiz who have rendered their
wees to the government?
General SHERMAX-Yes, SIR.
Mr. rERRY-woud you not feel entire confidence In
those meny
General SHRRMAN-No, sir. Most OF them from
cities like New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg Men,
phls ana New Orleans and though they brave
and Of individual capacity, they would DO like chill
dren in that Yellowstone country.
M TERRy-In Indian warfare is it not more indi.
vidual courage that Is efectual than military
General SnRRxAN-No, SIR Tho great trouble is
land you will find recorded back tar
goes) that Indian failures have resulted from
excessive confidence and from the inability OF
rally at once to their company's standard but new
men scatter. each man seeking his own individual
safety, and you soon lose your command Men may
be brave but they have not force OF habit to rally them
to their coDpany's standard, and they will scatter
about in ravines hollows and woods and be killed IN
detail Wo had regiment OF Kansas troops IN 1867,
who were commanded by Governor Crawford, good
ironticrsmen. but somehow other they never came
up Custer led that column through the Kiowas and
Cheyennes, but the volunteers did not up. They
were good men, but somehow or other they were be-
hind Regular troops can handled by their officers
I'M is.
positions and wishes OF their men.
Mr. CooX-Reguar troops are far lees expensive to
the government
General SnERMAN-Yes in the aggregate regular
soldiers do not cost half US much volunteers be-
unecrs. Montana troops were got up by Governor
there utterly unauthorized and yet believe that Con-
gress is today paying these Montana claims WIN the
The men discharged, the thing is done. Il
seems to me that when such officers as
Terry, Crook and Sheridan (who charged with the
responsibility for the resuIp are willing TO take this
cheap class Of Inferior men of whom you speak
Congress should be satisfied.
MIR. FERRY-But Congress has to exercise Its own
General suxRMAxYes; but is 1t not better to defer
10 the ~ igmcnt Of men on the spoty
The CuAIRNAN-ls there Nh absolute nedessity for
thiss
General SHRRxAN-I think there is
Mr.. MAcDouGALL-You think that anybody
make a solder who knows enough to obey Orderss
General SHERMAN-lf he has good legs and arms and
good digestion, and will obey orders, he will gen
orally accomplish what tho government wants have
many private soldiers within the last
years, In travelling Texas aud the Indian country
anu assure you that they better OF men than
oven myself hoped we could get at the present pay
THE PAY OF TBk SOLDIER
Mr.. REILLY-Compared with tue pay Of laboring men
the private soldier Is very well paid
General suEHAAN-Congress is perfectly competent
Judge of that Congress says that sl3 "A month Is
sufficient We say too. We do not complain OF the
pay The soldiers OF our army are better taken care
Of than the soldiers OF any other urny the globe
The CHAIRNAN--Well, they ought to be-
General SuERMAS-rhcy are. Some OF our regiments
from them 100 men to make up these cavalry com.
panics you would reduce their companies TO twenty
four or twenty five men.
Tho CHAIRMAS-Are there not many companies
and regiments Tor the number of men?
General SUMMARIZES, We have too many regiments
Tor 25, 600 men.
THE TROOPS IN THE SOUTH.
The CHArRhAS-rhere were ON the 9Th Of July 8. $3.50
troops in the Southern States Could not forco-
ments be made up from themY
General SYgRNAN-Some have been drawn from vir-
gina and some from North Carolina und South Caro-.
outside OF Texas. Texas has moro troops than any
other part OF the United states They along tho
Mexican border and the Indian border, but there
none within the settled parts OF Texas.
The CuAIRMAN-Does not the reelection OF President
Lerdo dc Tejada and the departure OF Cortna diminish
the danger IN that quartery
General SmERMAN-Cortina has got back and is worse
than He 10 at Matamorss, getting up new revo-
luton The Mexican border is IN ss tad state US It
can be.
The CHAiRMAx-could the army in the Indian coun
try be properly reinforced by the 5000 men 10.
Gated IN the Southern States outside oil Texass
General SHERMAN understand from the highest
authority that these troops hecaed there by
shas and revenue officers for maintaining the public
peace &c. That is as far as have right to 60
Mr.. HuaLnrr-somc are in garrison in fort along the
seaboard.
General SngRMAN-Ycs there arc some 400 Ia forts
az Fortress Monroe, which is school OF artillery
and has really nothing more 10 do with the South than
with Name. There iivc companies there and $50
recruits and officers for instruction IN the
OF artillery They are not subjec, TO the commanding
general OF the department. but TO my orders.
Mr. MAcDouGALL-ls there u surplus officers in tho
armys
General SuyRMAy-Therc is not, but scarcity, cspe.
ciay OF junior officers. There are plenty oil high
ncers, but scarcity Of young captains and cutcn-
Mr.. RiELLy-There are AL mon In MSslssippiY
General SnKKNAS-Thcre are only six companies
there Some sent up from Holly Springs to
escape The yellow fever III louisiana they are merely
cautioned there Every time that We propose to with
tho troops there is effort msdc by Governors
and members OF Congress to Keep them there do