New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-14
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
THE. MILITIA AND TILE WAR DEPARTMENT.
A BUREAU PROPOSED FOR UNITING THE CITIZEN
SOLDIERS OF THE COUNTRY UNDER

ONE CODE OF REGULATION

Toth Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir The press the public. and particularly pi"a,'
men have discussed at length the recent cruel PUNISH
ment Of a private OF the National Guard OF PenSSi
yanla who was suspended by the thumbs uh'h "o
tainted by order OF his commanding officer L''e'""'
Colonel Streatcr. Nothing has occurred OF late ye'
which Will do much 10 inlure the militia VI W.
country as this act OF Colonel Strator, becau'e r'S
effect will be to deter from entering tn" scNlce'
and many WHO are elisted will endcavor 10 SNti
their connection with an organization which, "hle
they are connected with II. renders them labie ~
cases OF breaches Of military law. 10 be punlSh'a "
humanity, most dcgTadlngly and Illegally
II is true and generally admitted, that The az %
the private, Iams, II not mutiny, was nj least cou''
10 the prejudice of good order and military ds'pie
and should have been summanly punished he
ahould have beer promptly tried by court martial ou'
no court-nartia wOnd have sentenced him 10 me
punishment inflicted by orders OF Colonl streator'
The legal rights and powers OF every menoer u NV
militia shonld be clearly defined. These rights anu
powers ought be alike throughout the whole 'h'eu
states Under the present system each state mas n'
own military orGanlzatlon subject TO the laws o. te
State The officers OF many OF the States endeaVor
10 follow In a general way Army regulations III
the case OF ams the opinions OF militia officers dir
widely as regards wha, the rights OF the officer ana
soldier were under the laws OF Pennsylvania anu up
Army regulations combined. The case VIII probably
be settled by the state cOurts.
What is needed by the nllhtla OF inns Co"""F =
uniformity Of orcanIzatlon and law. For long Time
this has been clear to ne a. to Thousands OF others
Interested In the defence OF common country.
When thirty years ago, had The honor = Join 'ha'
great body OF patriotic sOdicry-the volnniers- wa
Impressed hon. now by the diversity OF equipment
drill and discipline OF organizations from the various
States. II seemed to ME that there should be unity
tc place Ct diversity IN these things. To aceraih
the opinions OF Others In this matter the following
letter was sent to the adutant generals of the various
States
sir: I have the honor TO ask yOnr opinion OF we
Instability OF the aduantg generals OF The militia VI
the several states mcmoralzng Congress on the SUD
ject Of there being established special branch OF the
War Department 10 be known rs he Milua Depart
mrnt This department 10 Inc under the control oi
the Secretary Wnr and TO have It's chief an ohcer
OF the rank Of brgadicr general. WHO snail nave
suitable staff the chief and staff 20 be officers o the
Regular Army the object OF this department being TO
promote tie efficiency OF the militia II Is leheVei
that n department Of this kind wOGld Dc OF gIra'
assistance in aiding the oIIanizaton equipment. dili
effectiveness ana value OF the militia Under the
general direction AZ sucl department the NaHoHni
Militia wOull become a homogeneous body oi soldiers
OF far grenter value than i, o>sib" under the diver'-
fed systems In Use throughout the Union
The state Organization and state command woHd
be the same ut present the Governor OF cnch STATE
being the commandcrnch chief OF IN" militia and hay
ing ue right 10 appoint his own slad ue CHANG
being principally 10 secuir TO the slalr srcafr AZ
vantagcs Of uniformity II organization, equipment
and drill and body OF hghly educated officer. VINO
entire bsne,, would be 10 adylS ana ih,src ,lo ~,
probably lead TO the augmentation II ia" present "P
p'VT Won Indiy cali he attention of Of the
more prominen, militia officer, 81 your state 10 ,he
subject .ogM be psaI to u gnr yOr vo NgT
opinions IT, received 10 justify II, memorial VII Or
plsIs,&, and circulated for iI nrEf r%fr
Boston. Mas, June ~. I-92.
The letter attracted favorable attention ns the fol
lowing replies show:
springfield. H.. Jrne -. 1709.
have The honor 10 acknowledge receipt ~ your
circular letter Of june II, ls2. In whrh yon AK my
opinion a, to the Dc-luibIiy of the adiutani gen
Congress on the subject Of their being establish
special branch OF the War Department to De under hc
chief an officer II the rank 81 bredicr general who
shall have suitable san tie chci ard si"f to be
in rcpb 10 your letter beg to a.Srr You nat thc
hearty concurrence. and evcTyihng within ny power
Will be contributed toward the rcalaat IN ~ III" plan
forests Of the militia OF the states 10 place Al ne head
Of this proposed new department oncrf> - the Regular
5 aTy Of the Sitoaa n' on NV who BY iy a'G Years
Of application had become fully and thoroughly In
formed a. to what laws cnag tn'ni, ana rrsnn,lon
fully. J. " EEEt'E. AdJuianiIicncral.
Dc, Mencs. Iowa. Jaly :. 1-03.
beg 10 acknowledge your communication Of June
ID. relative to the desirabilliy Of the ainani-scn-
erals Of the several statco mcmorai,ng Congress on
the subject ~ there being established special branch
Of the War Department 70 be- known as the Militia
Department" ! take pleasure IN assuring yon that
such a movement wonid receive NY hearty indorsc-
ment. shall take pleasure. however. In co
operating in any m2ySmTnt hat NAY vr b.
GEORGE GREENE. hdJuiant General.
Lansing. Mich, july II ls92.
have the honor a. acknowledge the rcccp, Of YOUR
communication OF June - relative 10 the plan Of
establishing bureau In the War Office to be known rs
have not had time or opportunity OF presenting
tho subject 10 but few Of The members Of our state
could be created under tn" direction and supervision
Of the Secretary Of War IL would result to the grra
J. :. FARRAR, Adjuiant General.
WATERFOWL 6 D.. July %. 1852.
YOur letter OF The 18th inst. e. the adjutantGen
cral Of the state Of Dakota has referred to
for answer have the honor to b. I'm com
ganzaion in this state and having considered care
fully the objects named In your letter To be- obtained
by the adoption Of the plan suggested can but give
this matter, tho ease presents lt.cIf Hike this
posed Of the militia Of thy sveral S"ic tbs army
should be brought up To stat" Of efficiency and uni
ana IN T h pp Sser a end s be nSw
is. each state has to greater or less extent Us own
regulations Of the United States Army far they
can SIN It Is not though the entire forcc looked to
one head and one mind for IL control;
would be manifested IL tho National Guards Of the
different States were In some degree connected with
the General Government and thereby made adm to the
Regular Army.
The plan being adopted, and II l. sure 10 be found
successful 1t would seem but natural that the Con
gross the United states would be disposed to by
a more liberal appropriation In this work.
That the time Will come, sooner later. when n
mobilization OF the National tdmri, Of the several
States will be needed, is true az the history of the
world can make II. Therefore. with every reason for
the adoption OF such a plan, and with no reasons
against 1t, | have The honor TO give my hearty APP
poval ~ the suggestions contained. trust that all
efforts will be made to bring the matter successful
conclusion. | am sir. very respectfully yours
MARK W. SHEAFE, Colonel command
I'd Reg, :. ID. y. q.
Charleston, W. Va. June 10 1892.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt OF
your communication OF the 18th inst. relating to the
establishment Of Militia Department. ut the War
Department Y. ;.
am heartily in favor OF the movement and am OF
the opinion that we can never have thoroughly