The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-17
MILITIA Or The STATES.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY ADJU.
TAHP GENERAL DRUM
About Camps, Drills, Uniforms and
All That Is Necessary TO
Make the Soldier.

WASHINGTON, November l6.-In hi
annual report OF the operations of hi
office during the past year, Adjutan
General Dunn devoted some space {
commentator touching the i'm
provement of the militia. Referrin
to the reports of the inspecting off
GERS pads public yesterday, he said
while just but kind criticism point
out ma W defects none that cannot b
remedied by men exhibiting the mill
tary zeal and pride that animates tn
State militiss) the reports unmistsk
ably evidence slowly maturing tenn
per and character destined to stil
more closely unite the regular arml
and the militia, the twin parts of TIL
defensive power ofthe government
The Adjutsnt General then make
the following recommendation Slatt
encsmpments, to be of absolute benefit
should at least be of ten days. dura
ton, aud, while established at conve
nient pUints, looking to economy IL
the concentration Of the troops, SHOULD
be sufficient distance from the homet
Of tue members OF the command, il
order to oyelc0me business and socia
Influences, which seriously affect ei
fors at imparting instTuc ion and
holding the men in hand for drills.
Ia get practice, guard duty, etc.
Camps should be dives'ed OF every
appearance OF holiday character. The
programme OF, military exercises
should exclude elementary company
! drills, and the time of the encamp-
ment devoted to instruction and
practice in ssirmish and battalion
drills and guard duty. AS most OF the
fighting in the future must be done in
open order, 8 thorough acquaintance
with the skiTmish drill ia of tbs high
est i'm portance. Officers should be re.
q1irfd to recite upon the duties of
guards and sentinels, and instructions
in guard duty be given TO the men in
the armoriel. So far as fatigue, uni
form or dress for field service ia con-
csrned, 1t would b9 of advan age for
the authorities OF each State TO pre-.
scribe simple, plain, but serviceable
fatigue uuifOrm for all it's troops to
which compa oies might gradually con-
form within limited time, say one
year. This is not intended to interfere
with the right of each command
to wear such full dress
uniform as it may have
selected for wear on reviews, parades
and other occasions OF pure ceremony.
Obsolete arms and ammunition in the
banda OF State troops should be re-
placed by improved guns of the same
pattern as in the hands of the Regular
Army and suitable ammunition pro.
vided. Exhibition drills, while inter
esting, as show wing to what degree of
mechanical precision body OF men
can be trained to attain In movements
and motions, are an undesirable fea-
turs OF military camps. In many in.
stances the development of extreme
sma,tness in drill involves the neglect
OF some OF the most important and SOL
id parts of soldiers training"
The report ON the TARGET practice at
the Maine encampment is most credit
able to the troops participating and
demonstrates what results can be OBJ
tanned from careful instruction and
practical disCipin in this important
exercise. The great want is q thor.
ough systematic course OF instruction
prescribed from State Headquarters
and rigidly insisted upon, and the es-
Enlistment in each State OF an exam
lining board before whom ignorant
aud incompetent officers could be
brought with view to their elimina-
ton from the service OF the Sat-.
Every officer elected should, before
be subject to examination
by boa,d OF officers, Of which, il S.
Iible, the regimental and brigade COM
and the inspector generals
should be members. The material
the militia OF the several
States is generally excellent, and zeal
md intelligence the rule, but the
ormer must be wisely directed and
he latter systematically cultivated.
Ere Acjutant General says that the
'epoIts Of the army officers perform
ng the duties Of professors in
aCtics aud military science at military
colleges show steadily growing in.
crest in military instruction, as evil
lenred by the increased percentage OF
tudenis attending drills and the APP
,reciation OF the value of the system
m the part of the college authorities.
The aptitude OF American youths for
military exercises is undoubtedly good,
The Adjutant General says that in or
Ter to be thoroughly efficient officers
detailed as instructors in military
ciences should be made members OF
he faculties Of the institution with
which they serve. Attention is called
0 the loss to the government arising
rom the frequency of application for
ischarge from the army, and the re.
'ort suggests that 1t be in propriety to
nact legislation making discharges
on reimbursement to the
overnment OF the expense of recruit.
ng and transportation, except in cases
where long and faithful service of the
pplicant constitutes an element
I favorable consideration. Re-
ret is expressed at the re.
uctions in the appropriations as
ompared with the estimates for the
upport OF the military prison at Fort
.savenwortb, and it is said that as a
Fsut scarcely any progress has been
lsde in bringing its capacity to the
ONT required to afford accommoda-
ons and profitable employment for
u the military prisoners who should
roperiy be sent there. The money
alue OF work performed by prisoners
the manufaC lures was $S9, SS9, which
'as within $50 OF one ha ( of ell the ex-
enses OF the prison for the year.
n regard to the unsatisfactory
uality of the shoes manufac,
ired in the prison, 1t is stated that
re trouble arose from defective last
Iodels aud in detail OF construc ion
lat have, il is believed, been reme-
led. Touching the removal OF charges
desertion, the report states that at
10 close OF the war there were $50, COO
ZEN enlisted against whom the charge
desertion had been entered. Prior !
the passage of The law for their /.
lief 100000 applications for re. .
oval had been presented for action, .
I'd up to October lst, of this year,
1854 applications had been received
lder the law. Tkera atill r.,o,i, 90