The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-12
RECRUITING FOR UNITED STATES ARMY

RECRUITING FOR UNITED STATES ARMY
FIVE THOUSAND MEN WANTED TO FILL UP THE
CAVALRY REGIMRNTs-A CHANCE ron AMBI-
TIoUs UNEMPLOYED MEN-wARLIKE YEEIINa
EXCITED By THE CUSTER DISASTER.
Recruiting for the United States army was anguid
in this vicinity up the LIST OF July and no special Of
forts made by the officers detailed on duty
obtain In iact the moral and physical standard
established qualifications for admission into tho
military service quito exacting rigid and there
has not been up this time any indication Of reducing
II 10 lower plane. The dcstr ucIion Of Cuslers column
In tho Yellowstone country, and the unsettled condi.
ton Of affairs the Rio Grande frontier have as is
generally known, caused Congress authorize the
augmentation OF tho strength OF cavalry regiments
this fac. has had positive tendency TO awaken
something OF military spirit In our midst which
feeling has been made evident by the increased num-
Der OF men who, during the post lvo weeks have
become ambitious TO meet In Daitlo array the savage
and overbearng hordcs led by sitting Bull There are
three recruiting stations for the army in the ci,y-two
for infantry and one for cavalry The lowest standard
height for tho former five feet four inches and
limit beyond; Tor the mounted service the maximum is
I'VE feet five inches, but men beyond five feet ten
inches are not taken The weight must be between
l20 and $50 pounds avoirdupols. Negroes are
acceptable, provided they come up to the proper
quiremen,s, white mon but the coored folk this
locality have never shown any disposition enter the
service. Indeed, il has to be said that citizens OF
African descent who enlisted in the Northern
States turn out TO be Almost worthless soldiers;
those recruited in the South OF better material
military purposes 1t Is not the matter OF courage
galantry At all that makes The diIcicncc; is that
tho Virginia Texas negro is amerable to dis
cipline and Is correct in his habits.
INFANTRY SERVICE.
Captain Greeneaf A. GoOdae, Twenty.t third Infantry,
Is charge Of the rendezvous on Walker Three
stories OF tho large building occupied for recruiting
purposes. sergeant and three men quartcrcd in
the premises Captain Goodalc, IN conversation with
reporter OF the HERALD stated mat the LIST OF
July about $40 men had presented themselves
listment, and out of this number than eighty
five Lad passed the and become soldiers. The
army uthorites he said did require men of dissi-
pated or other bad habits and he, the exercise Of
bis judgment-torming an estimate from appearances
had very often TO reject applicants VINO 10 be
unsuitable without consentng 10 any medical examna-
ton AT all Tho rendezvous on West street had also
many applicants, but large share rejected Cap
tain Goodae observed that fresh ins,ruc-
lions had been received from Tho War Depart
ment the subject OF cnlistinents, but
no confined obtaining infantry recruits
TO did know but directions had been
issued officers other parts OF the country obtain
good horsemcn and experienced Indian lighters TO
the present requirements OF the service. In New
York the who wish to join the service prefer tho
cavalry, supposng to be easier ana because pay
is little better. There Is no lack Of applicants and il
the conditions the same during tunes 100
daily could easily be obtained At present about
100 men obtained monthly. The infantry recruits
are sent the general depot on GUvcrnor's Island,
they quartercd in airy Castle
William until time they are sent TO their regi-
ments.
TIE CAVALRY ARM
Recruiting for the cavalry arm OF the service has
boon Tor years carried New York entirely Inde-
pendent OF that Tor the Infantry No portion OF the
tarnn IA Inn ntnp ~
light artillery has been stationed in this department.
The headquarters for cavalry Is at 81. LOUIS Mo-, 10
which point men enlisted tor II are sent from all parts
OF the country, including New York, ana almost
every Instance forwarded there without delay when \
numbers justify that In tins city the cavalry
recruiting depot is large building Hudson street.
Canal which has all tic characteristics OF mill
tsry depot. II is In charge OF Lieutenant j. Babcock,
Fifth cavalry, and party Of commissioned officers
and sodicrs. Al this place all applications Tor entry
into the mounted service nave to TIC made and ii the
aspirants Tor military distinction pass the prescribed
ordeal they Immediately uniformed aud enter
under instruction in ,nc school OF the soldier Though
rigid as a, any pos. IN the tinted states %
Tnerc guard mount every morning and scptr;cs are
on duty during night and day Drills frequent aud
regular roll calls observed--rhe omo.-- tnc quar-
tors the nrc kept with the utmost ncatness;
everything Is apple pro order or course II IS under
Tor the mounted service not sent
to Governors Island, but remain ~ hudson street,
sometimes rs many hy waiting Tor transportation
the general depot or to particular regiments whose
ranks require to DC promptly filled Young, wiry and
we'll built men sour bit after Tor the cavalry and the
number desiring to enter the service OF uuclc
coming up the requirements Is quite large. Physi.
cul defects Of various kinds however prevent the
ccptancc OF u considerable proportion. ana Is not
common to lind parties OF two or three chimes
who wish ~ enlist together and who travelled Tor
that purpose considerable distance to tins Guys but
when their number iais 10 Ass the surgeon tho
rest back out, wishing 10 be separated As gene
raj thing recruits ne ANXIOUS TO enter at once upon ac
tive service this respect recently their wishes
have been gratited.
AuGMExrING THE ARMY
The nominal strength of the army, as established by
law Is rs 900 rank file II Is well known tho
rosters than 20 900 at any particular
date. 1t Is also known that IN ordinary times recruit
ing hardly keeps up with tho losses occasoncd by dis
charges Deaths dcscrtions and casualties In the field.
The demand now about 5000 men. contemplated
BY legislation must necessarily call tor spccia
cxertons part OF recruiting officers The troopt
to be raised II Is intended shall be all mounted as the
most available the Texan frontier and In sub
ng the Sioux Infantry may be required to act, at
occasion may require, cavalry, ana therefore
cruitiug for we'll us Tor tue other may answe
ganization regiments and companies at present
follows
Commissioned Enlisted Aggre
Officers Men. gate
Ten regiments cavalry, EACH. ~ $40 $50
Troops cavalry, each 20 -
Five regiments artillery, each. 90 $40 5N
Battery OF Artillery. ......... 80
Company of artillery. 40
Thirteen regiments infantry,
each. 20 64o oo
Company infantry ............ %
Two regiments infantry, each. SO 300 53
Company oO
Ten regiments infantry, each. 80 400 A
Company 5 ~ y
The preceding is independent OF tho Engineer bat