Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28
CHARACTERIZATION PLAN.

The section OF the army Dill WHICH pio-
vides q three-battalion organization for
infantry regiments accomplishes an OBJ
joct which has long been sought by the
military men of this country. For fifteen
years or more they have endeavored to
secure congressional action along this
line. but always without success.
The United States and China are the
only nations of Importance that have
adhered to the antiquated ten-company
regiment.
Until now. Congress. fearing a perna-
nont increase OF the regular army, has
persistenLy refused 10 alter the existing
arrangement, and to adopt the one sug-
gested by those who felt themselves COM
petent to judge of the value of the pro-
posed change.
This three battalion organization makes
in the tcn-company reglmental organiza-
ton an addition Of two majors and two
companies. Under it peace-footinS
strength of 10000 men may be easily ex-
banded to q war-gooting strength of Co.
600 by the addition of enlisted men only,
whereas to increase TO any extent
regiment Of ten companies, used as one
battalion, would make the command too
large for n colonel unless it were di-
vided into three or more battalions, each
with it's major in immediate command.
In his excellent and authoritative work
on Organization and Tactics" Captain
Arthur L. Wagner dwells with especial
emphasis on the utility Of the battalion
as a military body. and those who have
carefully studied tactics heartily concur
in his views. In connection with this
subject Captain Wagner says:
1.-THE tactical unit on which the organi-
cation Of an army should be based is the
largest body of troops that can be di-
rectly commanded by a single leader. and
al the same time be able to appear IA
close order on the battlefield without
risk Of quickly mourning ruinous losses
from the cnemy's fire.
THE battalion was formerly universal
~ regarded as the tactical unit, but in
the German army (Which may be regard
ed as the European model it's place, in
this respect, has been taken by the com
pany, though as a matter of convenience,
the army is still reckoned by battalions
In the NapoleOnic wars the French bat
talon of about five hundred men seems
to have been a very satisfactory unit.
The German battalion now numbers 900
men, while the company numbers 30.
With the murdcrous fire and extended
order of lighting of the present day a
smaller unit is necessary than i'm the
early part of the century. and in ..e
German organization the company is mi-
doubtedly better than the battalion as
a tactical unit.
In our organization. however, the bat
talon would seem 10 be the correct tao
teal unit. 1t is much less unwioldy than
the German battalion. and is much larger
than the German company. Moreover,
our small battalion has, in an indirect
but positive way, been approved by our
own experience in war. General Scho-
field is of the opinion that our deplorable
methods of recruitment in the war of
secession (by which veteran regiments
were allowed to dwindle away were not
without a partly redeeming feature for
the unwieldy battaliOns, consisting each
Of full regiment, were reduced TO fleXi-
BILE. well-seasOned. small battalions,
easily handled. and furnishing, quite by
accident. the tactical unit which should
have been adopted at the beginning, and
constantly maintained.
1T may then be safely assumed that
the best organization for our infantry
requires companies Of 100 men each and
battalions of four cOmpanies-the organi-
cation being most in accord with the
teaching of our own experience and with
the conditions Of the modern battlefield.
Assuming this as our company and bat
talon organization, the battalion is the
natural tactical unit"