The New York herald., 1879-01-06
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
STAFF OFFICERS IN OPPOSITION TO THE BURN
SIDE BILL AND IN DEFENCE OF THE PRESENT
SYSTEM.

SlSIEM.
WASHINGTON, JAN S, 1879.
Anumbsr of prominent army officers in this city
have published i'll pamphlet form mass OF matter
in opposition the radical changes proposed by the
Burnside committee bill in regard to the stan depart
meRts. The history Of the present organization OF
the staff corps is briefly stated. showing that 1t is
the carefully considered work OF MIR. Calhoun
Secretary OF War in 1921, and Mr.. Poindexter
Secretary OF War in 1888. The pamphlet next
quotes, not only from Secretaries Crawford Calhoun
and McCrary, in favor OF the present system. but
also from General Sherman's annual report for 1869
and from Generals sheridan. Mcclellan. HancocA
Pope. Franklin, Meade, Thomas, Marcy, Ferry kautz
Crittenden and Getty, all OF whom have expressed
themselves ipartiay in favor of the present system
of subdivision Of stan duties into departments
under corps of trained specialists. 9ae
a ARCHIBALD ALIsoS's VIEWS. ll.
The pamphlet supports these opinions by quota
ton from Sir Archibald Alison. who. writing upon
army organization. says:
1t is not too much to say that an army sent into
the field without efficient and thoroughly well organ
lied and long previously trained staff and supply de-
partneAts Is army toredoomed to dogs and yul-
lures, and that expenditure Ut the moment how
ever lavish can supply these wants or avert this
DOOM Our army which embarked for the Crimea in
1855 the finest this country produced, but it
was bound together by rope of sand, and it
melted away like snow before the hrst touch
and this the. direct. necessary and inevitable
consequence OF the ignorant economy of the Parlia
peace proper staff ana supply departments. The
green mounds IN the quiet graveyards hard by Sebas
topo where this system lthe defective sra and
supply organizatons has laid in that still abode an
army, rank and le attest this. Our peace staff and
supply departments should, therefore, be organ
lied that they could instantly furnish the number
OF fully trained officers required i'll their respective
branches for our army upon a war footing.
OPINION OF An Ex-coSFEDxRArE. ta4
The pamphlet also contains letter from Colonel
Walter II. Taylor late Adjutant General of the Army
Of Northern Virginia. under Lee. dated Norfolk, Dc
cember %. 1878, who says:-- '~- SPEED ~
do not hesitate to say that in my opinion tho
disorganzation OF the several staff departments Of
the army would tend greatly to pair the efficiency
OF the service. The fact should never be over
looked that the theory upon which our ni,
involves the volunteer feature the great reliance
OF the country in the event OF war; 1t is. then most
important to have experienced and tried organized
sat departments iii time OF peace to render the army
of volunteers efficient in the OF An officer OF
the line assigned occasionally and for short period
acquire that degree oH efficiency in any to enable
him to act intellgently when the occasion should
arise for conducting matters on war basis.
Education and actual experience essen
tal factors in the making OF good
quarteraster or comnissary rs Is tue study OF law
or medicine, followed by long practice, to the max
ing of good lawyer or doctor.
Nor do think there would result any real economy
in the change proposed. Every inexperienced man
assigned to the performance of duties must
quire his experience certain cost loss, and
interchangeable system would be attended in my
judgment, with large items Of loss, without cor
responding degree OF experience or efficiency. iW
STOP PROMOTIONS.
A statement has also been prepared for circulation
in the army, showing that the Burnside BILL if
acted. will not only greatly reduce the number Of
stat aud line officers, but will practically put stop
to promotions of line officers during number of
years. 1t is shown that company officers of the line
will lose nearly. if not quite, much promotion by
the abolition of the field Offices in the staff corps
vacancies in the lower grades of which almost
invariably filled by appointments from the line) as
they would by the abolition OF the same number OF
line Offices; and is also predicted that the practical
operation of the provisions concerning the proposed
reserved list will be to transfer staff officers from
that list to vacancies occurring in the line