The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-03

10 NOT complain OF this nt all because
fully aware ., the fact that my own profession has
'ruts.n or IS moro popularity called, red tape
Ism, have no right TO complain tnat lawyer,
pcrienca difficulty In getting out OF his swn partcu
lar ru ana should adhere strictly 10 the principle
that every statement which strengthens the opposite
In your general Abatement that our army
ofhcered. you state the ratio about ofccr to
ierrng TO tho muster rolls OF tho army you select
special cases, ana by means OF them make
INC iacts 70 appear sven worse than. they
are, ana then say that sthis simple state
ment OF the condition Of our army under ITS present
organization presents AN unanswerubie argument In
favor oi rcorgauiz ttion To mako tho disproporton
between officers and mon the greater, you vnumerate
tho non-commssloned oflcer with the officers, tor
getting ignoring tho tact that every OF the for
mer most oi tho latter are soldiers With rifles IN
their hands, who perform exactly the same duty IN an
lddmn fight as the private soldier.
la making your selection OF special cases you urfor-
tunatcly pitch upon my regiment, and cite company
a as having nvo commissioned aud non-commiss,oncd
officers TO command four privatcs and one musician,
forgetting Ignoring tho TACT that this company bad.
just previous 10 the muster which you quote, passed
captain Killed. its rrsl lieutenant wounded three
times, and i've out OF its nnc prvatos killed and
wounded, and that tho musician which you cite With
30 much pcrtiuacty carried IN that hgh lot drum,
but rifle.
Your quotation from tho muster roll Is equally
unfortunate, you represent Company X AS having
eight commiss oned aud non-comm ssioned oicerA 70
cUmnand tour privates and Duger adding most
unfair comment that nus stwo officers TOR pr
vate forgetting or Ignoring tho fact again that THIS
company 100 had just passed through tue same nght
with tho loss OF one officer (wouGded tnreo timcs)
and seven men killed aud wounded.
Your third selection was no bettor than the other
Two, Tor Company was, asyou say, 'less fortunate
In the matter VI officers, Tor wniie IL had ser.
geant, two corporals, one bugler. ono musician and
SIX privates, total VI eleven present Tor duty, y
was without any comm ssioned officer whatever. !"
The reason why u had no commissioned officer pres.
ent with II twenty-five days alter the battle was
purely accidental, Tor there were Two present win II
IN Tho battle, aud It's scarcity OF non-commissone Cd
officers was quo 10 the fact that II lost IN the night IN
Killed and wounded four sergea0ts and two corporais
and, after further loss al Six privaics, had not the
necessary material Ia It's six remaining prvatcs 10
supply tho places OF It's IN issioncd officers
log the high and responspo position OF chairman OF
tho Military Commitee 0fthe UniCd States House ot
atvcs, spreads broadcast over she country
such partial statements these, giving only one side
on Of the Seventh inian mo result Of our dcicc
tive organization, instead OF being, was, the imme
diae effect severe Indian battle, how rs IL possible
for tho people OF tho United States 10 gain correct
knowledge OF the actual condition OF the army?
know OF no better way than tor those who are cognt
zant OF the real facts to adopt The plan you
hayo lnadc oil aud mako IN appeal through the
public press OF the country, and every fair-nindcd
man, am sure, will SEQ the absolute necessity Tor
what Is termed "open letter. since, II were ia
simply because It contains matter which awyeI
you must condemn not your side OF the qucs'
ton.
write this simply for the purpose OF placing before
the public moro correct view OF tho condition Of me
army than you have given IN the Congressional
Record, ana am yours vciy truly, JOHN GibBON.
To General IL. b BANNING, U. s. House OF Repre-
scntativcs, Washington, y. g.