New-York tribune., 1878-07-27
New-York; Mrs. ]. wyetb. Phllaaelphia; j. P. Bacon
and wife, Boston.
ARMY CONGRATULATIONS.
VIEWS OF PROMINENT OFFICERS.

REYs TO GENERAL BURNsIDE-PLAYs PoR REM
DBRING THE ARMY EFFECTIVE on A BASIS OF
$4,000 ENLISTED MEN,
IBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBuNE.l
ATLANTIC CITY, July 26.-Seyeral prominent
officers Of the army have already responded to
General Burnades letter requesting that they sub
nit drafts of bills for the reorganization of the
army the basis of 20, 900 enlisted men. General
Schofed says that on the basis suggested and con-
sderng the nature of the service required of it, the
force should be apportloned among the three arms
about as follows cavalry, 1000; infantry, 5000;
artillery, $500; men not attached to regiments,
$500. For effective service ho says, these num-
bers of enlisted men should be organized into COM
panies as fOllOws The cavalry into about 120 COM
panies, as now; the infantry into not more
than 100 companies. instead Of $50 as now
say fifteen regiments of eight companies each
and the artillery into not more than 40 companies
instead of go as now-say regiments of compa-
MES each The best regimental organization is that
of battaliOns of companies each, ~ companies
in all, to which fourth battalion might be added
when a great increase of the army is necessary
Regiments in active service as our cavalry reg-
ments continually are. should be kept with fully
organized battalions; but those peace footing
which must be the status of the artillery and in
fantry, on basis of 20, 900 men, should he kept
with only 2 battalOns organized, the officers of
the other battalion to supply details for
staff aud other detached service, and the
supernumerares if any. TO await orders on reduced
pay. On this basis the active force would consist
of say (: Artillery, regiments, 10 battaliOns, 40
companies; cavalry, 10 regiments, 80 battaliOns
100 companies; infantry, 10 regiments, 30 batta-
ions, 100 companies The full organization should
be: Artillery, regiments, 10 battalions, 60 COM
panies; cavalry, 10 regiments, 80 battalions, 12O
90 AZ laffa III
240 companies.
"The President" General Schofeld adds. "shoud
be authorized by law to determine from time TO
time according ito the number Of enlisted men
authorized by Congress from year to year, the num-
Der of regiments aud the number of battalions OF
such regiments to be kept organized for active
service, provided no regiments so organized should
consist Of less thar battalions, or companies
these companies to have average strength of not
less than 80 enlisted men for the cavalry, 76 for
the infantry and 60 for the artillery. Officers
should be assigned to the regiments so that every
regiment, battalion and company would have its
full complement of officers on duty with it."
General Schofeld continues hls letter as follows:
Tire field officers OF each regiment should be: One
each battalion. The regimenta and battalion staff OH
cers sboud ne one captain Two firstcutsnans in the
artillery and cavalry and one IN the mfanfy ana one
comuanes of infantry should be much increased In
strength aud rst-eutenant should be added to each
The cavalry, beng constantly war footing, should
always have three euenants TO each company To pro
vide for the necessary absences ana "a iair share
of detached service. The permanent organization
OF the adiuant-generaPs, insprcior-geneTaPs, ord
nance, quarieI-nasters subsistence ann pay ue,
tho necessary field officers, all other officers captains
and iieutenants required for service these depart
ments 10 be detailed the limo Tor limited periods
saw Details for the ordnance should DO made
major In any OF hose stan departments should be made
from captains OF the line who nave served certain
period soy not less than Six years with troors aud ike
period iu the stan department 10 which they are to DO
appointed and should be based upon competitive eN.
animation as 10 quaHhcatiOhs Tor set'l.e ~ ruch stan
department addition To the general examination re-
Every oficer sould be entitled upon passing salts
factory examination 20 his uOrdl physical and pro-
fessoual qualifications, TO promotion % tno next higher
grade up 70 thal OF coIopei upon the completion Oh
definite period OF service In each grade, and no officer
pTods of service 10 the several grades should be fixed
so that grade OF colonel woad be eachcd In ABOUT
for second lieutenant. years first lieutenant, 10
years for a captain, years for "a major aud years
should be retired after loriy-iour years of ser
wee or at years service each griGe
should be fixed by law according 10 the authorized
oTganization and strength Of the army. The supeInu-
merry officers any, should constitute the reserve aud
should receive only the pay oi officers on the retired list
except may he assigned TO duty IN the several
stan departments, Indian Bureau, etc All the officers
OF each department, and arm Of the service shOud
be borne general list according TO grade and date Uf
commIsson Officers OF the line should be assigned by
the War Department 20 regiments aud companies or
other duties authorized by law according 90 the nCces
ties of the service from time TO tme snch manner that
the uuiJI officers Of the line generally shall have some
experience In the administrative duties OF the stan and
that all officers appointed the staff shall have served
not less sx years with troops before such appoint
meut Promotions should DC made lineHlly ard not by
regiments throughout tue several arms Of infantry
cavalry ana artillery ana all officers now on the active
list should be given the promotions with the dates OF
commissions which they have heretofore Dcen entitled
by their ne rank, provided TINS shall not DO held 10
affect any commission neieIoiore gwen. Nn,ie ~ my
ouiuion force OF 10000 men Il not suhceni Tor the
much nearer ihe required elective strength II organized
have suggested than 1t now does III us skeleton or
ganlzatIon.
The Chief of Engineers, in the bill which he has
submitted. proposes that the number Of infantry
regiments shall be reduced to % and the number
OF cavalry regiments to 8, leaving the number of
artillery regiments as now. lie would have 10
companies to each regiment of infantry II COM
pa,ies TO each regiment Of cavalry aud ~ compa-
MES or batteries 10 each regiment of artillery. The
Chief of Engineers would not change the officers
for regiments for infantry. artillery and cavalry
except that the adjutants and Tegimental quarter
masters should be detailed from the loutenants Of
the regiments. After suggesting the number of
men that should be assigned to each regiment and
company. General Humphreys says that the officers
made s,pernumerary by this act should be retained
in service for such special duty as they may be re-
ouired for, and as vacancies occur should bo as
signed BIZ the President to regiments without preju-
dice to their rank. He also proposes that in this
discretion of the President the enlisted men Of not
excoadinp two companies of each of the regiments
of infantry, artillery and cavalry might be trans
ferrcd TO the other companies Of the regiments, and
the officers Of such companies be assigned to de-
tached service. Tho following is General Hum
pbreys', section in regard 10 promotions:
That rom and after tho passage OF this act any va
coucy iheu ex sng. that may bci CATER occur III the
,ra6 of commissioned officers Of the army, excepting
ths grades OF general and neutenantgenera shall be
allied Inv promotion according to the rifles Of seniority In
he manner heretofore prescribed by law ana the Gus
toms OF the service provided tnat such grades and
eaor s have cen authorized by law TO be filed by
i,to, sbai so continue and be filled vacancies In