The Ottawa free trader., 1878-08-24
MILITARY EDUCATION.

We find in the papers the following letter Of
Gen. Sherman. addressed to the head of a
military school in Michigan, in regard to mill
tary education in connection with the civil in
struction of the country In addition to the
t. S. statute here referred to, our state militia
law holds out liberal encouragement to such
education:
DEAR SIR-I beg to acknowledge receipt of
your favor of July 25th, asking my general
opinion OF the value and importance of Mill
tary Schools, such as you represent and, in
answer, beg TO assure YOU that | deem them
not only most important but really essential
TO our national welfare A discussion of the
subject would consume volume; and have
not time to give it the full measure OF atten-
ton its importance demands.
Military organization of itself is a science,
and is admirably adapted to every branch Of
business-especially to that of education.
The grouping of men or boys into squads,
sections companies and battalons is of the
first Importance to enable the hedd TO insure
close attention and impart instruction. BY
this means each one becomes individually re-
sponslble for his own conduct gaining per
sOnal credit when due, and receiving censure
when necessary.
The ordinary drill "sets up the boy, and
makes u man bl btNlNi Sll''Ni
and consequently prolonging his life and add
ing to the measure of his influence as Il citizen,
If arms are added SO much the better for the
phvsiuue; and the skillful use of the rifle Is
not onlv an accomplishment, but may add TO
the security of his own life and those of his
ncignbOrs.
Again, the drill of simple company con
talns all the elements of organization ana IN
struction needed for battallon; and an army
of fine greatest magnitude is only udiCious
combination of battalions. Therefore mill
tarv school, such as you control, is the best
possible preparation for skilled militia or
army of voluntccrs-dbs0tuteiy essential to Il
government such as ours, which VIII not main
tain Il large standing army.
Section 1925, Revised Statues, amended by
1864, gives great encouragement to civil col
legcs to the number of thirty, to engrait on the
usual college curriculum the features OF mill
tary organization, equipment and instruction.
believe those laws have already accomplished
much good, and yet are susceptible OF improve
mcnt and enlargement | think each state
should have Il military academy; that some
assistance should bc extended to each by the
United States in the way OF arms, accoutre-
ments, tents and uniforms, and that each state
should supplement tins by small money al,
| lowance 10 meet the extra expense. Woulu
then advise that all be subject to inspection by
az officer of the army at least once year, and
that the dress, discipline and instruction should
be unifofm roughout-agreelng with that
provided by law for the United States Military
Academy. -.
You may always quote me hs avorlnS miIl'
tary education in connection with the civil IN
slructions of our country, and will gladly an.
swcr any fair question on any single point; but
to give a treaties on so important a subject IN
common letter Is impossible,
| The nearer you can model your Academy
after that of West Point the nearer you
will be to the ,rse standard; but of course,
know that an approximation is all that yoI
shNnln ntirmnt