Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-05-22
UNITED STATES ARMY.
ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITARY ARM
OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Captain w. G. Champlip. who is tin,
instructor of the Young Mems Chris
ban Association Military Company OF
Poughkeepsie, N. Y, few days age
delivered an address to the company
in which he discussed the organiza,
ton of the United States Army. He
said:
The army of the United States is
directed during peace by the President
as Commander-in- Chief. He appoints
officers, subject to the approval of the
Senate, and issues all commissions of
rank. The Secretary of War has the
direct administration of the army
under his care. The subjects of supply,
legislation, administration, instruc-
tion, ETC., are carried out through him
by corps of officers specially educated
and peculiarly fitted for this work.
Every measure decided upon must
come before the Secretary of War for
final approval, together, in certain
cases of sentences of courts-martial,
/ with the President.
1 The actual commander of the army
is the Senior Major-General of three,
the other two of whom, with the six
Brigadier-G Generals, having charge of
the geographical departments into
which the country is divided.
Army headquarters are in Washing
ton, d. c., where Major General Miles
directs the whole under the Secretary
of War. The other headquarters are
so situated that they may be in touch
by rail or telegraph with the troops in
The department, making easy the CEN
tralizing of troops in case of need. The
headquarters of the different depart
ments are situated as follows, viz:
Department of the East, Governors
Island, New York.
Department of the Colorado, Den
YER, Col.
Department of the Missouri, Chi
cago, III.
Department of Dakota, st. Paul,
MINI.
Department of the Platte, Omaha,
Neb.
Department of Texas, San Antonio,
Texas.
Department of the Columbia, Van
,ouver Barracks, Washington.
Department of California, San Fran
cisco, Cal.
1t can readily be seen how easily
md speedily troops can be moved from
;he posts all over the country to CEN
;ral point, either of the department or
country. In Chicago during 1894 n
good example was shown OF how
quietly and effectively it all worked.
Besides the 1873 garrisons there are
seventeen arsenals and depots and four
.arge recruiting rendezvous, besides
many recruiting stations. There are.
.urther than these, schools of applica-
ion each for engineers, artillery. cav
.lry and infantry, and the United
Military Academy for the education Of
officers at West Point.
All troops in the field are in touch
constantly when practicable by tele-
graph or courier with department
Headquarters, whence they are direct
ed in their work.
The staff departments, or those de-
partments which assist the fighting
branch, with headquarters at Washing
ION, and representatives with the de-
oartment commanders for their assis
lance, are: The Adjutant- Generals
department, which issues orders for
administration, transfer of troops and
officers, etc, is composed of the Adj
utant- General, with the rank of
Brigadier- General, together with six
teen assistants, either with him or
scattered throughout the country with
The department commanders.
The Department of Justice, which
has in charge trials for offenses, de-
,isions in law, is composed of the
Judge Acknowledgement and seven as
sistants and deputies.
The Inspector Generals Depart
ment, which has IL care for the eff
,iency of the fighting men and cor
.ectness of accounts of disbursing
officers, etc, is made up of the Inspec-
tor General with six assistants.
The Supply Department, which fur
aishes all stores for the army except
arms and equipments, builds barracks
and quarters, transports troops, etc,
Is composed of the Quartermaster-
General, with forty-tive assistants and
Quartermasters.
The Subsistence Department, which
supplies the army with food, or sees
to this supply, is composed of the
Commissary- General of Subsistence,
with twenty-four assistants and depu-
ties.
The Medical Department, which
cares for the sick and wounded, also
for the heathiness of posts, the ac-
ceptance of recruits, &c, is composed
of the Surgeon General, with 1S1 as
sistants and surgeons.
The Pay Department, which attends
to the proper distribution of pay, is
composed of the Paymaster-General,
with twenty-seven assistants and Pay
masters.
The Ordnance Department, which
supplies arms and ammunition, cannon
and gun carriages, experiments with
and adopts arms aud powder, is COM
posed Of the Chief of Ordnance, rank
| lHS alSO us DrlSh'tieI-Neheidi, anu
tifty-three assistant ordnance officers.
The Weather Bureau is i'll charge OF
the Chief Signal Officer, Brigadier,
with nine Assistant Signal Officers.
The spiritual needs of the army are
in charge of thirty post chaplains.
The line of the army, or the direct
fighting part, is composed of about
25, 600 enlisted men and 1900 officers.
The army is what may be called g
skeletonized one, as there are enough
officers for $4,000 men.
In case of war all that would he
necessary would be to enlist $4,000
men, distribute them, and having one
drilled and experienced soldier to tive
recruits, the task of preparing then
would be very easy.
The line is composed of five regi
ments of artillery, each with fifty-sl,
officers and 795 men, divided into