Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-03

school Of the soldier and but five in the drill
OF the company. The formation was In
three ranks. and the dress parade was sim
liar to that Of today. But Smythes popu-
larity and likewise that Of his tactics were
soon shattered when he was ordered to the
Canadian frontier, for there he made such
a botch Of affairs that he was expelled from
the army.
In 1914 a board, presided over by Gen.
Winfield Scott, met by order Of Congress to
modify the French infantry tactics for our
army and translate them into English.
After but eight weeks work on the part of
Scott and the board the French tactics had
been translated and slightly modified. be-
ing approved by the Secretary OF War but
three days after they were submitted. Ac-
cording to this q company was made up In
two ranks, with provision for third The
Toad" was tremendously complex. being
executed in twelve commands and eighteen
motions. The manual was much tie same
In regard to commands as that OF Uptons.
This was changed in 1924 and again In 1881
by Scott who, upon the latter revision.
made a translation from new drill book
just issued by the French. 1t was said that
the only originality appearing In these
treatises Of Scotts board resulted through
the carelessness of the translator rather
than through American ingenuity. Scott
abridgement Of 1881 was used through the
Mexican war.
UptOn's Manual.
In 1896 Capt. Cooper, adjutant general U.
s. A., and afterward adjutant general con-
federate army, introduced an independent
treatise on infantry drill. providing for both
Single anu uouoiea,,n ioi g.
the time OF the civil war ths DOCK anu
SCOTS were hot rivals in the militia.
In 1855 JEFF Davis, then Secretary OF
War, accepted another translation of the
French drill book, somewhat modined TOT
our army by Maj. hardee. when Davis
and HaIdee went over to the confederacy
in 81 this was reaTranged by secretary
Cameron, and was used during the first
year OF the war, aiter "r s,,; a1o.ner pU Sn
aSnits IN the nref.ce Of his work that II
is little more than another translation Of
the FNrer CHI tactics. Casey's tactics, how
ever were parity "hat heio the oIioh 10
Zach or the seven drill books was foreign.
almost in the entirety. But the invention
of the breech-Ioadins gun about this time
coupled with the experience gained in the
battlefield, enabled Yarkee ingenuity to
crop out at last.
In 1896 Brew. Mai. Gen. and Col. Emory
Upton, then but twenty-seven years old.
received permission to place before Con-
gress a plan which he had conceived dur
ing his gallant days of fighting. After be-
ing heard by two boards, the latter OF
which was presided over by Gen. Grant,
his book was approved by Secretary stan,
ton in 1867. Upton originated the division
Of tours. by which means 1t was possible
for the first timc to bring troops into the
field in two ranks, and change them TO
single rank by a single command. In 1874
Upton was sent around the world, with
two other officers of the army, to report
upon the tactics Of all nations, preparatory
to a review of his book But this grand
work was destined never to take place,
since Gen. Upton con mttted suicide In 1881,
just as 1t was nearing completion. There
was much dispute at the time as to the
real cause OF his action, IT being said by
some that 1t was the result OF discourage
ment.
The Proposed Revision.