The New York herald., 1878-08-15
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
AN APPEAL FOR REFORMS AND IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE STATE MILITIA

AN APPEAL FOE REFORMS AND IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE STATE MILITIA.
NLw YORK, August IA, 1873
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Since the close OF civil our regular army
has been reduced to $4,000 men, and being widely
scattered much of the duty which has heretofore do
voved tho regulars must now fall the militia.
word then in reference to our National Guard, TO
whom we have to look In our time OF trouble, would
not bo out OF place.
AS u general thing, outside OF New York State, the
militia system does not roach very high standard
some States, III fact, having militia, others very
small and inefficient force, while few OF the older
States large and well organized State militia. The
actual number Of men on roll in the National Guard
in this State ast inspeoton) 10 9o1 Of shat
number ID 627 present tho insI ection. This
force would TO be sufficient Tor all calls
Ia lime OF peace but we have TOO many organ Iza,ons
that need thorough recruiting, and sone indeed that
might better be disOanded. According TO General
Townsond's last report have regiment Is troops)
cavalry and IL separate troops, with total OF 10
troops, l43 meD; IL batteries OF artillery, with
total OF !, ,OOS men; "a regiments battaIIons and II
PSI companies.
some OF our country companies are mere farce.
inspecting is or 20 men only. Tho cavalry averages
60 men per troop, the artillery rs men per battery,
and the Infantry 63 mon per company. Some inetn-
cient organizations, with total Of l.2oo men, navo
been dsbanded since iast summers rivt experience,
put reorganization OF the entirc force and
tive recruiting Is what Is needeu II had IL 10 ID
troops oi cavalry, IL 10 10 batteries Of artillery and
115 to 200 companies Of infantry, ut maximum
strength, made 50 by consolidating weak
mands and recruiting all we would have Q
line, compact, reliable body oi mou at little
greater expense tnaa at present Tho esprit de corps
of u military organization Is always beat when the
ranks iul Another point thaS deserves attention
rs the poor armory and arsenal accommodations
Afforded to the National Guard or tho eleven
State arscnals only TOUR are Of practical value,
and OF the armories "the least said soonest
mended." Many OF them utterly unit Tor
use, aud none (with eight exceptions)
n iair order And further, In reference TO the
expense devolving on individual members OF the
iorce, to man who gives hrs limo and attention 10
drills parades, inspections and rife practice gratis
and all DO this, many devoting much extra time In
addtion-the State should furnish fatigue and dress
uniforms, all accoutremonts, knapsack aud ovorcoat
needed by militiainan IN the discharge Of his
duty. Even with this expense taken OF there
enough dues, hncs, nsses s.nents and
subscriptions 10 make tho total expense heavy enough
In these hard times All thinps considered citi-
OF this "Empiro Statc have every reason 10 be
proud OF thor militia, and In all fairness lot us have
the needed reforms aud improvements. There
should be enough young, active men IN pop ula-
ton of 000 900 10 swell every TO
imum strength, trust the ball wall bo roll.
Ing TN th Is end IS reached.
SIXTH COMPANY, SEVENTH REGIMENT.
N.G.S.N.Y.