The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-09
UNITED STATES ARMY NOTES.

Line radical Qelect8 OF Tue pEcoohit ~ 4
eanization of our infantry are very
strongly set forth in the last report OF the
secretary of war. Colonel Lamont says:
"The question of the liberalization or
ganization has been before congress, and
on account of the great defect of the pres
emit system must necessarily be the sub
ject of discussion until remedied by legis-
lation. - The single battalion OF
infantry il radically defective and unit
for actual service under present condi-
tions. During the period since our civil
war our infantry organization has re-
manned unchanged. and IL now, in respect
to the single battalion feature, obsolete.
1t is 20 vicious that the first step in case
of war must be to abolish It and start i
anew. 1t cannot be amended or modi-
fed; 1t is unwialdly, incapable OF sub
division to either make or meet attack
under methods now prevailing. and the
situation grows worse with every inn
provemcnt Of arms. The development OF
range, rapidity and accuracy OF IRE OF
modern arms has been so great that .
smaller and more flexible battalion IL
essential, for this development makes
celebrity in handling troops on the field =
prime necessity. - But important
as it was at that time (date Of the last re-
port of General Sherman), 1t Is q neces-
sity now, for under the new tactics re-
CURED by the increase of range and rapid
ity of fire, accompany battalion cannot
be Unanswered"
In commenting upon section OF Gen.
eral Sherman's last annual report. made
prior to his retirement from the command
of the army, in which he exhibited at
some length the very defects the present
secretary of war finds in the infantry or
ganization, the Military Netos OF recent
date says:
He spoke of the four-company battai-
ions as "handy" and efficient" and as
| best suited for our service. Unfortunately
we have already too long delayed acting
upon the advice of this eminent soldier,
and are trusting to luck rather than good
judgment in failing to prepare for trouble
| in time of tranquility. Next to courage
and discipline a good organization is OF
| first importance. An army of courageous,
patriotic and disciplined men, handi-
capped by q bad organization, will find
itself shorn of half its power. No worse
| system than the old, obsolete, accompany,
single battalion regimental organization
| in the presence of modern magazine re-
| fies and machine guns, could possibly be
| devised. Write to your congressman and
| ask for his influence in accomplishing the
| three-battalion organization for the regu-
| lar infantry. Do it on patriotic grounds.
Ask him to work on the same plain, and
| to favor whatever is approved by the war
department in the matter.
And further il is claimed that the United
States should at least be consistent in the
matter OF the organization of infantry
and artillery. If IL persists in its refusal
to give these branches of the service
modern organizations 1t should mot arm
them with modern weapons. 1t should
give back the old Harpers Ferry muzze-
loading musket to the infantry, and the
old Misunderstanding, smooth bore, brass
guns to the artillery. There is no con-
sistency whatever in maintaining an OBJ
solete fiint-lock organization with troops
armed with magazine rifles and breech-
loading guns. Don't you know somebody
whose influence in favor of the reorgani-
zation of the infantry and artillery of the
regular establishment upon the basis of
modern requirements, worth while asking
for? There never was so much interest
felt on this subject as at present, and IL a
united effort can be made success may be
confidently hoped for.
Following is a sketch of the life of the
newly appointed paymaster general,
which will in part be of interest to pio-
neers of Montana: Col. Thaddeus III.
Stanton, appointed by the president to BIO
paymaster general with the rank of brig
adler general, is native OF Indiana,
where he was born in 1885. Before gradu-
ating from How academy he ran away to
join John Browns party in Kansas, re-
manning with him and General Lane until
1857. He was engaged during this time in
nearly all the conflicts between the free
state ana the pro-siavery parties. He en-
listed as private in the First battalion of
the Columbia volunteers and was honor
ably discharged July 10, 1861. He returned
to Iowa and was elected. to the general
assembly of the states, raised company {,
10Th infantry, and was mustered in as
captain of it Aug. IS, 1862. Upon the fall OF
Richmond he was selected by the secre-
tary of war to take post in that city and
remained until 1870. most of the time as
chief paymaster of the department, being
assigned to duty with brevet rank of lieu.
tenant colonel. In addition to other du-
ties, he was put in charge of diseurse'
Aent of reconstruction funds for the
First military district; was also appointed
by the department commander to be audi
tor of public accounts for the state of Vir
ginia and had charge of collecting all the
! taxes and payment of the expenses of the
state under reconstruction acts. -'-"
In 1871 he was a member of the board t.
adjust the war claims of the state Of Kan
sas against the United States; in Novem
.. Der of the same year he was ordered t.
San Francisco and thence to Arizona
going to all military posts in the terri
| tory.
In February, 1876, he was chief Of scout,
, for General Crook in his movement,
, against the northern hostiles, aud to oil
,, part IN the engagement with Crazy Hors,
on Powder river, Montana, March II; il
May was sent by General Sheridan to re
port to General Carr, and subsequently, {,
! General Merritt for field duty. and tool
r part i'm the movements Ito prevent tn,
, Chcyennes from joining Sitting Bull
. joined General Crook on Goose creek
| Montana in Auoust and took ron, n, n m,