1849.] The following companies have been disbanded during the year : Company D, 8th Reg't. Lt. Infantry, (Upton Light Infantry.) L, 3d Reg't. Lt. Infantry, (Hingham Light Infantry.) These are among those indicated, in the report of my able predecessor last year, as being then in a very unsatisfactory condition. Their places will probably be made good, as regards the grand total, by the creation of new corps; for the raising of which, applications have been made. One Company of Light Infantry has been raised and completely organized in Rochester, and incorporated, as Letter C. in the 3d Regiment. New Companies are contemplated in several towns, and some of them partially organized as follows, viz.: 2 in Lawrence, one each in East Granville, Lynn, Medford and Danvers. Several corps, reported last year as apparently decaying, have been recruited and reorganized, and assumed a character of decided improvement. The Gloucester Artillery, among others, (Company B, 2d Reg't.) one of the oldest Companies, and long known also, as one of the best in the State, has been revived by the exertions of its friends, and appeared at the Fall Review, with full ranks, under active and efficient officers, and will, no doubt, again support creditably its ancient reputation. Although the returns, as regards numbers only, are not so encouraging as might be wished; in other respects, the general condition of the Volunteer service is highly satisfactory. The Companies, that have sustained themselves in activity, are, almost without exception, admirably equipped and uniformed, and in very respectable discipline. Many of our Regiments present a brilliant and efficient appearance; their small numbers being the chief point wherein they fail of being all that can reasonably be expected of them. Not having as yet enjoyed an opportunity of seeing all the troops of the Commonwealth, I do not feel competent to making comparisons. But, without suggesting any invidious distinctions, I venture to say that the ninth Regiment of Light Infantry, with whom I spent three days of Field duty this fall, and the various corps that were assembled from various quarters in Boston, on the 25th of October last, must stand a favorable comparison with any volunteer troops in the world, in every respect, certainly, but that of numerical strength. In perfection and neatness of equipment, they are unexceptionable; and in discipline, far beyond what can reasonably be expected from the present system of drill. From the reports of officers in various quarters, I am led to believe these remarks to be applicable to all, or nearly all, of the State militia. I feel a very natural hesitation to advance opinions contrary to the expressed views of the highly intelligent and indefatigable officer, who immediately preceded me, and whose experience I must admit to be greater than my own-independently of his other well-known remarkable qualifications for the post he occupied so much to the satisfaction of all who were brought into contact with him. But I am compelled to come to conclusions, in some respects differing from those of his Report for 1847. I do not think that experience has yet shown that the present system of Militia organization is, as he has considered it, "a total failure." Its results are unquestionably deficient below what they should be or might be. This is to be accounted for, in my opinion, by two prominent causes, chiefly, if not altogether. First, an unfavorable and unjust impression prevailing in some portion of the public mind, in relation to the whole subject of military organization, which presents an impediment to a fair trial of this or any other system. This difficulty is one not easily reached, and which I shall not enlarge upon in this connection. Secondly. There are great defects in the internal arrangements of the system itself, independent altogether of its principle, which render its operation imperfect. Some of these I shall endeavor to point out. But first I would observe, that, in the face of these serious discouragements, an activity and spirit exists among the Militia, that would indicate a tenacious vitality, rather than a decided tendency to deterioration. The simple fact, that it maintains its existence, at an expense to its own members far beyond the State allowance, under all these causes of depression, proves abundantly, that there is no lack of material, either physical or moral, if it were properly encouraged, or even allowed a fair development. Wherever a Company or a Regiment is found officered by intelligent, thorough, active and popular men, it is invariably flourishing, efficient, and spirited. The great want, after all, is of an organization that shall be efficient and complete in its results; which will secure, to the service, officers capable of maintaining it, and Companies suitable to constitute and fill it. Most intelligent officers will probably agree, that our present arrangements for the drill of the Militia, are not efficient. The present Law requires three and a half days of drill. One halfday for the purpose of the May inspection, -two other days of Company training, under the orders of the respective Captains, and one day for the Fall Inspection and Review, by Regiments or Brigades. The half-day in May amounts to little. The Company trainings are too apt to be mostly occupied with idle parade. The Fall Review attempts an impossibility. The preliminaries and ceremonies of the occasion consume necessarily so much time, as to leave but an hour or two for a lame attempt to exhibit manœuvres which the year's routine has afforded no opportunity whatever to learn. All this, too, with Companies that have in their ranks men who never before carried a musket out of the armory, Battalions brought together on no other single day of the year, and all commanded by officers, whose whole experience of Field duty is confined to that one occasion. This inefficient system reduces all actual practice to the Tactics of the Company; and renders even that very insufficient and precarious. In lieu of these arrangements, I would propose that every Regiment or Brigade, at the option of the commanders of the latter, should do annually three consecutive days of regular duty, in Camp, during which, they should conform, in all respects, to the routine of regular service, under a strict and systematic discipline. Besides this, let each Company be paraded for one, or, better still, for two days, under the command of their Captains. Let there be established an honorable competition and rivalry among them, by a system of rewards, for distinction in discipline and good order, either by a prize, or a post of honor, to be awarded to the victors. Let them receive pay at a suitable rate, for such duty as may be imposed upon them by law. By a sytem of drill like this, properly arranged in all its details, it is thought a permanent and considerable improvement may be effected. To meet the requisitions of three days of unintermitting and regular Camp duty, it would be necessary that officers should qualify themselves for their posts. They could not hold them without being adequate to the demands of the position. So conspicuous and searching a test would effectually demonstrate to their subordinates, and to the community, all deficiencies, and compel the application of the remedy. The securing of good and thorough officers would greatly promote the prosperity of the Companies ; and the good condition and discipline of the Companies and Regiments would, in their turn, render the duties of the officer interesting and agreeable, and the offices themselves respectable and desirable, to intelligent, active, and influential men. There is an earnest desire, among both officers and privates of the Volunteer Service, to do every thing in their power to raise its tone and discipline; and a purpose, zealously to coöpеrate in any reasonable provisions of the Legislature, directed to that end. Without any very cumbrous legislation, or material increase of expense, much good might be done. The simple remodelling of the details of the system, so as to meet some of its prominent defects, according to the opinion of intelligent officers, might be made productive of great advantage. If followed out by personal supervision and interest, on the part of the Inspectors and General and Field Officers, it is not easy, perhaps, to estimate the result of such an appeal to the ambition, pride, and spirit of our Militia. It is perfectly true, that the State does not, by any means, remunerate those who perform the active military duty. The necessary expenditures attending a parade, for music, transportation of Camp Equipage, &c., are considerable; and the whole expense of Uniforms, or care of Arms and Equipments, is not in the smallest degree provided for, although required by law. It is the fact, that members of Companies generally, pay assessments of ten dollars or more, per annum in the metropolis much more-besides surrendering for the use of their respective corps, the pay allowed them by the Commonwealth. They may therefore say, with perfect propriety, that their fixed compensation is no sufficient return, in a pecuniary point of view, for the service rendered. It may be doubted, however, whether this question is so important to the welfare of the militia, as it has been sometimes considered. In the present tone of the public mind, the Volunteers cannot expect, and do not expect, to receive the fair and full pay for what is required of them, to which, in justice, they are entitled, and which, on all principles of right and honor, the community ought cheerfully to grant. But it is the genius of our institutions, to devolve upon private patriotism and liberality, what, elsewhere, is systematically provided for, at the common expense. This tendency of things, although unequal and unfair, is not entirely without its advantages. At any rate, no class of men have evinced their willingness to sustain, voluntarily, a large share of the public charges, more clearly and generously than the Militia. It is unquestionably true, that, for every dollar expended by the State, two are expended, at the very lowest estimate, from the pockets of the Militia themselves. The organization is sustained, not in any considerable measure, by the public, but by the interest taken in military exercises by the members of the Companies, and the liberality of officers. Without these last supports, the system would drop instantaneously. If, then, the Commonwealth can secure the safeguard of a sufficient armed force, at a public charge, so far below the actual cost, it certainly is but the most niggardly justice, that public respect and carefully favorable legislation, within the narrow limits assigned to that legislation, should do their utmost, to cherish this voluntary and generous service. |