New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-25
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
GUARDSMEN AND RECRUITS.
THE SUPERIORITY OF THE FORMER NOT
ALWAYS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AND MARKSMANSHIP.

THE SUPERIORITY OF THE FORMER NOT
ALWAYS MISUNDERSTANDING
AND MARKsMANsHIP.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: NETWORKS quota under the first call for
volunteers was supplied wholly from the National
Guard OF the State: under the second call 1t Is
being filled partly from the National Guard and
partly outside OF IT, and 1t Is altogether likely that
the quota under the third call. now imminent must
be supplied wholly by recruits. The differ
once. therefore between the National Guardsman
and the volunteer civilian becomes pertinent one
at this time and 1t is meet that 1t should be justly
and fairly set FORTH with the end that the Guards
be not too greatly lifted up in his own esteem
the and inexperienced recruit. and that
the latter be not too deeply Inundated and de-
pressed by the seeming superiority Of the former
Under certain circumstances. 1t must be admitted
that the Nationa l-Guardsman has a great advan-
tage. II he has entered his organization In the
proper spirit. with the understanding that the
Guard not a social club, but body Of
purely military character and purpose; IL he has
had constantly In mind the absolute necessity Of
discipline; II he has constantly pracsed himself.
body and mind. in even the small school for the
soldier which the armory affords then his
perority becomes Immediately and strikingly APP
parent. IT, however, is often the case. he Joined
his regiment company on account of the social
advantages which 1t afforded; II he has been
dettante in tactics; II the drill at times has
seemed rather bore, II. in his opinion. on GER
tain occasions II would have done harm to
lax discipline just little. then that Guardsman.
by the habit of mind and body which he has
Quired. has made himself inferior to and OF less
value than the rawest greenhorn.
have noted many of the latter class OF Guards
men. I have known, too. some OF the former-mcn
who entered the Guard with the true aim and ideas
of the soldier and who now. the result OF years
OF patient work and study. well capable OF or
no Of
the State.
Many a civilian would doubtless volunteer were
he not held back by the belief In hts immense In
feriority the National Guardsman Let such q
one remember. therefore, for his encouragement
that the whole experience OF the average Guards
man. acquired In the armory drill in the street
parade and In his short and nfrequent gongs into
camp is not above onetenth part of the experience
OF a soldier who has passed through real an"
diversified campaign. The National Guardsman Is
apt to think that his marchings and settings-up
and manual Of arms are the only practical things
and that all else apart from actual service. Is but
theory. Colonel Maurice. OF the British Army, an
authority unexceed says. on the contrary. that
the drills and the tactics of the armory are. and
must of necessity always be- but an nconclusive
theory.
The average Guardsman may know how to exc
cute the rests facngs steps. marchngs turnings
and manual of arms he may be able TO advance
from line into line OF platoons In column OF TOURS
but when II comes TO the general principles OF ex-
tended order. the real tactics of the battle
ground his ideas necessarily somewhat incom-
plete and hazy. II he were asked what company
should do which. acting alone, had charged the
enemy and had been repused, he would probably
that IL should retire and take TINS. that or
the other formation whereas the true soldier wouli
say that it should Immediately prepare to rene"
In order to believe the assertion of Colonel Maui
the fact that the whole previous system Of military
tactics was revoutonized or rather ahhln,'a ,;
we have not since had experience enough upon
which 20 build with certainty a new one. our
Of a corporal and seven men as the base unit Is
merely tentative system or tactics; ana y
fectiveness of arms may force go down at last
to the individual soldier as the base unitL III, other
man that he shall be complete army in himself
word S and ea ene fDGas int s been
supposed by many that. with the present great de-
strIctveness of the discipline esPs
as formerly No error could be more gross or dan,
clpne Discipline. more to-day than ever before.
bo the % 80 S ne in Hyf TER
on the march in cam @ and n d to
obey that it becomes the very nature OF the man.
m no fh Of ba wS SnH" ap f
mixed. when he has even lost MS mead ana mas
such times he yet instinctivey obeys the WORD or
command his muscles act Of themselves and he
as II he still had his wits about him;
IL were asked TO say what was the most essen
,iaI thing in a soldier I should answer, 'Disci-
pllne" II I were asked to say what part OF disci-
pline was most important. should answer, MARKS
manship" Every strategcal step which Is taken
in war every point Of tactics in battle Is with the
purpose OF placing the infaniryman In the position
finally he is a poor marksman. everything when
has been done Is lost. .
the Intelligent raw recruit insomuch az he has
learned the value Of discipline and has accus-
TONED himself unreasoningy to submit TO H. That
ali parts Of the New-York State Guard are n0t
perfect in this respect was shown during the MI
ing of the first quota. when some OF It's organize
fions questioned and others even rebeled against.
against orders which have since been proved 10 DC
wise and for the best good OF the service: oSrrp
49, DAVID 5. FOSTER
Utica n. y. July Is. 1898.