Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-02
GEN. SHERMAN RETIRES.
PHIL. SHERIDAN ASSUMES COM
MAND OF THE ARMY.

The Change Very Quietly Efected-Ad-
jutant General Drums Annual Reporte
to the Secretary of War-Changes Re-
commended in the Laws-ShermaH's
Last Report.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-The formal
transfer of the command of the army
from Gen. w. T. Sherman to Lieut.. Gen.
Z. ii. Sheridan took place at noon to-day
at the headquarters of the army in the
War Department building. Gen. Sheri-
dan spent the forenoon in making himself
acquainted with the business of the
office. General Sherman and the men,
bers of his staff rendered hlm every as
sistance. Shortly before u o'clock the
two highest officers Of the army called on
the Secretary of War, Gen. Sherman to
take official leave and General Sheridan
to report for duty. The transfer was ac-
cOmplished quietly and without any cere-
mOny whatever beyond the issuance of
general orders from General Sherman re-
linquishing and Lieutenant General
Sheridan assuming command and an
nouncing his staff. Shortly after
the transfer, General Sherman
and General Sheridan held an informal
reception, which was attended by all the
officers of the army on duty in Washing
ton. and also by the officers of the Second
Artillery stationed at Fort McHenry and
the bureau officers of the War Depart
ment. They all took official leave of
General Sherman and were by him pre-
sented to General Sheridan. The officers
of the Second Artillery were the only ones
in full uniform. There was no speech
making. Subsequently General Sherman
and General Sheridan, accompanied by
the Secretary of War, made an official
call upon the President.
Adjutant General Drum, in his au-
nual report to the Secretary of War,
recommends that the revised stat
utes be amended so as to permit
the President to drop from the rolls
officers on the retired list upon tle same
grounds as those upon the active list.
He also recommends that Congress be
asked to enact a law authorizing the re-
tirement Of enlisted men who have faith
fully served for not less than 80 years;
that the term of enlistment be reduced to
three years instead of five, and that all
discharges by favor be made under con-
ditiOns that the discharged soldier reim-
burse the government for whatever eX-
pense has been incurred since enlistment.
Upon the subject of military colleges
General Drum speaks at length and eX-
presses opinion that officers should be
forbidden to instruct in any other branch
OF education, except so far as instruction
has direct reference to military knOwl-
edge.
In a separate report to the General of
the Army the General goes more into de-
tail on the subject of desertiOn, enlist
ment, education and recruits. He says
the number of discharges from the army
during the year ended June 4, 1888. was
$3.50; deaths 221; desertiOns 3,57S; total
casualties 9,749. Total number of enlist
ments during the year was sos. Out of
1881 accepted recruits 1888 were native
born, 4,O93 of foreign birth, 6,46l white
and 40 cOlOred. The number of appli-
cants for enlistment rejected is 19,73S.
Every effort was made during the entire
fiscal year to obtain sufficient men to fill
the army to its authorized strength, but
Notwithstanding these efforts the total en-
listed strength of the army on that date
was only 2,S51, or 2,149 less than the
authorized number.
General Sherman's last official report
was also made public to-day. The General
says: "The current of military events
has been of the most peaceful character.
Nothing has occurred to disturb the rapid
development of the great West, which is
now completely open to the immigrant in
regions where few years ago no single
man could 60 with safety. There have
been no wars or rumOrs of wars in any of
the Territories OF the United States,
with the single exception of Ari-
ZOna, and even there the hOstiles
belonged to our neighbOr Mexico. Gen
eral Crook, in order to reach the source
of trouble, had, with the consent of the
Mexican authorities to 90 200 miles into
Mexico to strike the Apaches in their
mountain fastnesS, which he did with
success.
II invite special attention to his report,
because / think he has touched with a
master hand the cause of the conflicts
with our Indian foes, and | believe that
if he be permitted to manage the Apaches
in his own way all wars will cease in Ar
izona, and with them Will disappear the
complicated Indian question, which has
tested the patience and courage of our
people ever since the first settlement by
the whites on this continent"
In discussing the question of education
of officers for the army, General Sherman
refers particularly to the reports of Gen
eral Merritt, Major Livingston and Col
Onel Otis, superintendent respectively of
the Military Academy at West Point, the
Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, and
the School of instruction for Cavalry and
Infantry at Fort LeavenwOrth. ''These,"
he says, ''cOver the whole ground of mil
itary education from the boy, appointed
as cadet to the thorough officer
of the several arms of the service, and
am convinced, after having seen many of
the most celebrated military schools of the
world, that ours are among the best, and
are we'll adapted to the character of our
people and Institutions
In view of his retirement from command
General Sherman makes no new recon-
mendatiOn, but renews those of his last
report that the forces at the stragetic
points named be enlarged and strength
ened and permanent barracks built, and
that all MINOR places be abandoned.
The General records an expression
of opinion that it will be found
wise to provide a common OrganiZa-
ton for all arms of the service,
viz, that each regiment of infantry be
composed of twelve companies, the same
as now, with artillery and cavalry, MAX
ing three battaliOns each of four cOmpa-
nies in time of peace and of eight in tim
of war; that each company shall have 100
men, and that in time of peace two of
these battalions of eight companies shall
be maintained on perfect war footing,
whilst the other battalion of four cOmpa-
MES may be a mere skeleton, with its
complement of officers, and used as
nucleus for recruits. In this battalion
can be placed the officers and soldiers
invalided by hard service or by sickness,
and such as are not yet weaned of home
influence or family Importantly. Were
L
but more elaLorately described in former
reports, to be sanctioned by Congress the
| military peace establishment could, | be-
! lieve, be maintained on the present esti-
mates, and would possess an inestimable
advantage of admitting of an increase,
without disorder or confusion, to 5000
artillery, 1900 cavalry and 10000 infan-
try by a mere scratch of the pen and the
magic wand of money, and afterwards
! by doubling the enlisted strength
of each company without the fur
ther addition of single officer
We should have respectable force of
$4,000 men, a force large enough for any
probable necessity during the remainder
of this century. The militia and vOlun-
teers of the States would soon follow suit
and we should have throughout the coun-
try these small handy battaliOns of four
companies instead of large cumbersome
regiments of ten companies, a bad tao
teal unit and in practice always scat
tered
FATAL ACCIDENT.