The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-06
THE RECRUITING SERVICE.

LETTER FROM GENERAL GIBBoN, THE HERO
or THE BIG HOLE FIGHT.
TO rHs RrIroR or HERALD:--
A remark IN your article tho recruiting service
In the HERALD OF the a5h February prompts me 10
few words upon . subject Of interest TO those who
are entering or propose enter, the military
vice.
Scarcity Of employment driving 10 the recruiting
ofces hundreds OF respectable mechanics clerks and
iaborcrs who under other circumstances would never
have thought OF serving the United States Tor $l3
month.
Permit me TO say that this Is not the only induce
ment offered 10 young, active. unmarried men
the military service. II Is true that SIS month
is the only cash allowance to private soldiers when
they nrst the In addition this inc
government not only supplies them with an amount
OF clothing sufficient Tor all reasonable wants, out
with good and substantial food besdes, us well MS
quarters fuel medical attendance and care In OF
sickness Hence tho $l3 paio tho soldier and
above sn tho reasonable wants OF the kind Of
men get in tho military
service But this Is all, for after tho soldier
been years tho service, his pay, under tho nd
mrabie system to which We arc Indebted 10 the atc
Vice President Wison, is increased 81 per month In
each OF tho succeeding years, SO that when he has
completed his OF i've draws at the rate oil
S15 MONTH the Increase. however, Is paid him only
discharge from the service, and is forfeited unless
Should he then elect 10 re-enlist Tor another 1--WE
years service no Is paid at tho rate oil SIS month,
and in addition 81 per moth Tor recruiting,
ST. per month being retained until his hon.
orsble discharge, aud for every subsequent
rc-eniis,ucnt 81 per month IN addition. This
tho rule which regulates tho pay 80 lar As tho
private soldier Is concerned But there are other
positions in the army besides all Of which are open
10 attainment Nv any active, energetic and faithful
young man who Will show even the ordinary quail.
ICES which lead to success In civil life These posi-
,,vas ranging corporal 70 hrst ssrgcants
oI companies, scrReant-nujors OF regiments aud Or
d,nance sergeant OF post commands, originally from
xI5 10 <34 Der month"; ana are subject the
crease as prov the vi privates lhefe Is
reason why young msr o. even oo ordIay
determined y win his way iorwrra as No
would DC Obliged 70 DO, DO III ., o,yi me o may
and trust, while those VINO come INTO the Amy rs
refuge IRON starvation and with the expectation
OF eauing lazy WORTHLESS lie cannot expect 10 roach
any oi the III, We have very summary method OF
getting oil such characters. Is true tnat ~ many
that now ana quarters not always oil rst
Glass; aud horse flesh " thout sa takes tue place Of
more sumptuous raivns, but these drawbacks wil
not aeter men OF right strpe from entering The
service, many cases they prove the incentive
where Tired Of the sainencSs Of Eastern lille
and ycarn for the wilder freedom OF inc West
Many, l regret 10 say, enter the service dr.
ornmsut has undergone the cost OF senS.ng
suDsisting them to the West do not hesitate ~
their contracts uud commit
Such characters, Of course better out OF The
vice than IT, Tor lew OF them are men OF sufficient
prncpic 10 be successful ia miiitary career some
these cases. however, are ,he result SIMPLY Of
ignorance ana failure on tue part VI The recruiting
officers iuy explain 70 tho recruit The character OF
oath takes when he enters the service. When,
however, the soldier the service IN good fath,
hts time and IL discharged ON the distant
frontier Is IL more favorable conation 10 become
a worthy anu respectable citizen OF the great West
than Dine-tcnths oil the emigranis who como
out here, Tor no enters upon tho with
al
entities him 10 the respect aud confidence Of
MS fellow ci,iz~ns, with money enough his
pocket accumulated from mis- retained pay ana what
hc been able TO savo from MS clothing allowance.
10 ryc him 4 small capital 70 start upon. Some Of
the most respectable and ws 70 DO cttizchs OF our
Western country are discharged soldiers
II Is, o course matter Of regret that times should
be 80 naru IN tnickly settled portions Of inc
East 10 drive any mcrtortous portion Of inc male
population out Of H. but thcy might DO driven into
RAPID yelopment vi that portion vi the great West
known lew years ago 10 gcographers as the 'Grea.
American Descrp' will receive Increased impetus
Wy influx oil strong hearts and wiling hands wnlcn
| tue army will be GLAD ~ ncp forward.
The main troub.e ID that the army a. such times 10
| apt 10 get many meh for the same
upon ai classes OF men. the bad AZ well a. the good
many bad ones II is, insreorc matter OF consul
cradle Importance that NIL tho greater scrutiny should
bc exercsed accepting the men VINO present them
selves at tho stations. not oni! IN regard
physical qualities but. SO Tar as Is possible. mental
ones. and mo character Of The applicants ~ the COM
munities from which they come. VI course, this 10
very uiiilut matter in Inc crowded populations oi
the great cities OF the East, rom which, uni0rtu.
nateiy, most Of recruits come unfortunately,
because tho hrsI place, close scrutiny ~ there AL
most impossible, anu ~ the next, the men Obtained
ma 10 very much poorer soluers Than tnose enlisted
in Tho rural uistrIcts, wherc from the OF arms
The character Vf employ ments, men arc already
halt soldiers when they enter the servicc-sncs they
cady shoot, ruc and are uscu 10 tue exposures
OF outdoor life. marked Is luis contrast that a
captain oil company IN the West always prefers 10
from Western depot At Columbus,
Onio 10 getting tIem from the Eas,crn Que at Fort
Columbus, New York harDor. Country boys gener-
ullv MIKE vHr nOD0.f dIt a. n
aescri, while the onscourings from great cities
make very indifferent svuicfs, anu from them she
vast majority OIL dcsertioas take place. For
these reasons would be great gam
army economical change TO break up all
the Recruiting stations large cities and establish
them mail rural districts The Number O recruits
oUiaieed would be very much less, out tho qualify
would DO much better and tnosc oviained would
cnIist 40 stay" The character OF the nov In
our army is higher than been Tor years. but IL
ought 10 be Improved, aud when u dccs i'm
provo the promotion iro the ranks 10 tho position Of
CON nissionea officer wi be frequent tnAn u Is
al present. Now some VI our very best, most ener-
geiic brave soldiers decline any suggestions
Ing coward promotion TO commissions simply Tor the
lack oil the requisite education 10 pass the examna.
ton support the posit,on.
JOHN GiBBON, Colonel Seventh infantry.
FoRT SHAW, NJ. T., March Is, 1878