The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-31
Volunteer Forces and National Guard.

Volunteer Forces and National Guard.
The report of Adjutant and Inspector
General Noise recently presented to the
General Assembly, while it prc'"nts a
most melancholy picture of the " he'd
state of ineficiency to which the oJate
military organization was reduced under
the Republican Administrations, shows
wonderful amount of work done by the
new Administration, and a most encour-
aging reconstruction and reorganization
Of the entire system. Gen. Noise, Judged
by what has actually been DONE. is. the
right man in the right place, and 1t is
sincerely to be hoped that his recommen-
dations will meet with such attention in
the Legislature as will enable him to
complete the work so auspiciously be-
gun.9r fA -. -
The report shows that, when General
Noise took possession of his Office, all
the buildings belonging to the State and
in use for military purposes, were in q
most dilapidated and filthy condition,
having been constantly diverted from
their legitimate use for service as dance
halls and places of public entertainment
for the lower classes. Two hundred State
arms were all that could be found, and
the records of the office failed TO- show
who had possession of the vast military
property of the State. That the term
vast is not incorrectly used is proved by
table, which shows that the cost of.an
utterly worthless militia to the State was
$4S7, ,098.26. ~ it,stff :. ~
Since the new State Government went
into operation the military. buildings
have been thoroughly cleansed and re-.
paired, and turned over to the care of
the proper officers. The State has been
divided into three military districts, COM
manded by Major Generals B. b. BUT
ledge, John D. Kennedy and Thos. j.
Lipscomb. The old Fourth Brigade has
been thoroughly reorganized, and is now
in splendid condition. and the same may
be said of .Rutledge's cavalry brigade,
now commanded by Brig. Gen. William
Stokes, which comprises some forty COM
panies, aggregating 1000 men, There
have been partly organized; though not
yet completed, twelve other brigades,
eight of which are commanded respec-
lively by Gems. Bamberg of Barnwoll,
Izlar of Orangeburg, Stackhouse of Ma
rion, Richardson Of Sumter, Pope of
Newberry, Nicholson Of Edgefeld, Hemp.
hill of Abbeville, and Humphreys of
Anderson. The remaining four were
being formed, two in the middle and two
in the upper counties. 90
In order to obtain arms for the cavalry
a quantity of old and useless, cartridges
have been exchanged for $50 new Pea.
body carbines, and 300 new sabres and
belts. There have been collected, re-!
paired and reissued 1000 stand of arms
and equipping some fifty companies Of
infantry. Many of the companies own
their arms. 1t is recommended that
these be purchased by the State at a low
price, Efforts have; been made to obtain
arms due to the State from the United;
States, but owing to an over-issue of
arms to Governor Scott, for political pur-
poses, the General Government has de-
clined to give the usual quota: AS Coy
ernor Scott had no right to draw those
arms for the State for such uses, and as
they were mostly very inferior, the Ad>
jutant General thinks that, by proper
action on the part of the Legislature, aid
can be had from the General Govern,
ment sufficient with an appropriation Of
$9,5S7.04, which the report asks for, to
paw all deficiencies and sustain the
militia in q proper degree of efficiency
for the year. 5.e. nj,
of the National Guard (the colored
militia, the Adjutant General says that
he found it to be an organization exist
ing only on paper. Out of four diyis-
ions he could find only enough troops to
make one good brigade. He recon-
mends thorough reorganization of the
colored troops, and the revocation of all
commissions over a year old. He thinks
that, with careful and judicious manage
ment, a respectable colored militia. or
National Guard, can be established, and
that such body will be. an element OF
strength to the government. and OF value
to the colored population, a, =; ;.g
I The appendix to the report contains q
complete roster of the officers Of the mi.
litia and much other valuable informa,
tion. The whole report should be in the
hands of every citizen. who takes an in:
terest in the military system of the State.
Gen. Noise has done his work both cour-
teously and .well.-Neaus and Courier.