THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ES'FAKTRY.
SPEECH
OF
HON. CHAS. F. MANDERSON
OF NEBRASKA ,
Delivered in the Senate of tlie United
State * .
EFFICIENCY OF THE AHJrY.
"War is an occurrence to which al
nations are subject , democratic nations
ns Avell as all others. Whatever taste they
inny have for peace , they must hold them
- selves in readiness to repel aggression. " '
DeTocqueville.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The
senator from Nebraska [ Mr. MANDER
SON } asks the unanimous consent of the
senate to proceed to the consideration
of the bill ( S. 137) to increase the
efficiency of the infantry branch of 'the
army. If lhre 1 e no objection that
will 6e considered as agreed to , and tho
'bill is before the senate.
Mr. MANDERSON" . I ask that the
bill be read at length. .
The chief clerk read the bill ( S. 137)
to increase the efficiency of the infan
try branch of the army , as follows :
Whereas experience has shown that the
three-battalion organization of the cavalry
and artillery branches of the army is the
most useful in time of peace and besl
adapted to expansion in time of Avar :
Therefore ,
Bo it enacted by the senate and house o !
representatives of the United States of
- America in congress assembled , That sec
tion HOG of the revised statutes of the
United States of America be amended so
, as to read as folloAvs :
"Each infantry regiment shall consist ol
twelve companies , one colonel , one lieuten
ant-colonel , three majors , one adjutant ,
one quartermaster , one sergeant-major ,
one quartermaster-sergeant , and one chiel
musician , Avho shall be instructor of music ,
and tAvo principal musicians. The adju
tant and the quartermaster shall be extra
lieutenants , selected from the first or
second lieutenants of the regiment : Pro
vided , That all appointments to the
original vacancies above grade of second
lieutenant created by this act shall be
filled by seniority in the infantry army ol
the serA-ice. "
Mr. MAlfDERSOXsaid :
Mr. PRESIDENT : The constitution of
the United States , framed by the peo
ple for the purposes expressed in its pre
amble , _ among which are to insure
domestic tranquility and provide for
the common defense , grants to the
congress the power to raise and sup
port armies , provide and maintain a
navy , provide" for organizing , arminjr ,
and disciplining the militia , and for
calling them forth to execute the laws
of the union , suppress insurrection , and
repel invasion. These grants were the
natural incidents flowing from the
great power vested in the congress , the
right that is the highest prerogative of
sovereignty , to declare war. The wise
men who drafted the sacred instrument ,
coming to their labor fresh from the
scenes of the war of the revolution ,
realized the necessity for the main
tenance in highest efficiency of a body
of men selected from the best citizens
of the country , trained and educated
to arms , who should form the rallying
point , when danger threatened , for
that well-regulated militia declared to
be so necessary to the security of a free
1 state that the right of the people to
bear arms should not be infringed.
- Realizing fully the onerous burden to
the people of the support of the non-
producing , much-consuming soldier ,
alive to the dangers of a large stand
ing army , they realized just as fully
that successful outcome to the govern
mental experiment just launched , and
the maintenance of the new union of
weak states as a nation upon the earth
meant a condition of preparation for
evils likely to threaten and the remain
ing in position to strike sturdy blows
in vigorous attacks upon the traitor
within or the foe without.
I submit , in view of these grants of
power thus hurriedly sketched , there
came to the congress of the United
States not only power but duty , and
duty most high and imperative. Un-
forseen and unexpected circumstances
within our own borders in the inter
course among states , or arising from
contact with foreign nations , might
render it necessary for the national
preservation at any time to declare
war. This fact made it the duty of
congress at all times to support an
army and maintain a navy , that we
might be prepared for either attack or
defense be ready to give or receive
blows. There is not in constitution or
statute a higher instance of where the
optional may means the imperative
shall.
And not only is it its duty to support
and maintain the army and navy , but
it should see to it that by means of the
finest armament , the best equipment ,
and the highest organization it is suffi
cient for the purposes for which it is to
be used , affording the assurance of
security in lime of peace ; and be the
efficient , instructive nucleus to which
our volunteer and militia organizations
shall adhere in time of war.
The fact that the army is , to be a
'
small one , compared w'ith the arms-
bearng population , is greater and
more abundant reason for the highest
order of organization and the best ap
proved metnods. The timid soul , afraid
of a standing army , who sees in it a
constant menace to the liberties of the
people , and who fears the coming of
the military dictator , held in usurping
place by the bayonets of his hero-wor
shipping followers , has almost ceased
to exist . But from the earliest days of
the republic his dismal forebodings
have been heard , and 1 presume always
will be until nations shall war no Tnore.
As long ago as" when Mr. Galhouu , of
South Carolina , was secretary of war
these words were spoken by that far-
seeing student of history.
To consider the present army as danger
ous to our.liberty partakes , it is conceived ,
more of timidity than Avisdom. Not to in
sist en the character of the officers , who as
a body are high-minded and honorable
men , attached to principles of freedom by
education and reflection , what Avell-
grounded apprehension can there be
Ifr- from an establishment distributed on
'
BO extended a frontier , Avith many thous
and miles intervening between the extreme
Ifrfe . points occupied ? But the danger , it may
, be said , is not so much from its numbers
as a spirit hostile to liberty by which it ia
fe- supposed all regular armies are actuated.
- This obserA'ation is probably true Avhen
applied to standing armies collected into
large and poAverful masses ; but disposed as
ours is over so vast a surface the danger , I
coHceiA'e. is of an opposite character that
both oflicers and soldiers Arill lose their
V military habits- andfeelings by sliding
gradually into those purely civil.
Mr. Calhoun had limited experience
bearing upon this subject , however ,
compared with those here to-day who
saw Ihc country pass safely through
the dark days of the war of re
bellion and witnessed the vast
contending hosts disappear so magic
ally. And yet the veterans of both
sides , union and confederate , what
thorough soldiers had they become !
Many of them so youtliful that they
knew no other calling but "the pride
and pomp and circumstances of glor
ious war ; " the rest with civil pursuits
completely abandoned and their places
in the busy marts of the world filled by
others ; all inured to the field , with the
habits of the military life fixed upon
them ; full of love for their old leaders ,
for they had followed Grant and Sher
man , Lee and Johnson these men dis
appeared among the ranks of civilians ,
losing their identity , except as they
were known as the most liberty-loving
of citizens. A most distinguished
soldier , equally prominent as civilian ,
'who passed to his reward but afew ,
months ago , and had exceptional
opportunity to know whereof he spake ,
General George B. McClellan , writes in
1877 :
All the incidents of the past prove that
the army Avill never havethe disposition to
jeopardize the free institutions of the coun
try. Our nation Avould be safe indeed for
all time did the mass ot the citizens place
upon its institutions the samo intelligent
appreciation as that in which they are
held by the army , and Avere honor ,
integrity , and respect for the laws as much
the rule among the people as they are in
the regular army , which has'given too
many proofs of heroism , of integrity , of
devotion to the country to be regarded as
a source of danger. On the contrary , he
who understands its history must regard
it Avith pride and satisfaction as one of the
chief ornaments of the nation , as a school
wherein are taught and practiced tho vir
tues of valor , self-denial , obedience , and
patriotism , and as an institution Avhich
has never called the blush of shame to the
face of an American.
The endorsement of this gallant
soldier and pure-minded gentleman
is not a whit too strong , and I submit
that the objection to a standing army
of proper numbers , and a high degree
of efficiency can be dismissed as one
unworthy of serious consideration.
Had the congress of the United States
always performed its duty as enjoined
by the constitution in this behalf , many
of tlie darkest pages of our history
would never have been written. When
war has come it is always the unex
pected that has happened. When it
does come , fortunate the nation that
finds itself prepared for the dreadful
trial and its adver ary lacking in
knowledge of the wisdom that in peace
prepares for war.
To the disgrace of the American re
public it is to be said that no declara
tion of war with a foreign power and
no rebellion to be grappled at home
lias ever found it prepared for the con
flict. The same lamentably defenseless
condition thar exists to-day has usually
existed , and nothing except dread dis
aster and criminal sacrifice of blood
and treasure has ever seemed to arouse
us from our lethargy. We have then
been saved , not through the wisdom of
the law-making power , but because of
abundant resources that the early loss ,
[ lorrible as it was , could only tempo
rarily embarras , and because of the
endurance , skill , and .self-sacrificing
patriotism of the citizen soldiers of the
Lountry. It is also an historic fact that
many of the civil leaders of the past
lave permitted this unfortunate con
dition of affairs under a pretense of
virtue , and have pleaded that their
action was a proper and commendable
economy. The false economists of this
country have been its greatest curse.
Ihey have saved in "filthy dross" at
the sacrifice of the best blood of the
nation. Mr. Calhoun well expresses it
when he says :
Economy is certainly a very high poli-
; ical A-irttie , intimately connected Avith the
lower and public virtue of the community ,
"n military operations , Avhioh under the
jest management are so expensive , it is of
; he ntmostimportance ; but by no propriety
af language can that arrangement be called
jconomical Avhich , in order that our mili
tary establishment in peace should be
rather less expensive , would , regardless of
: he purposes for Avhich it ought to be
naintained , render it unfit to meet the-
langers incident to a state of war.
Bear with me for a few moments ,
tvhile I recall some of the disgrace and
oss resulting from the false economy
hat did not permit us to keep apace
ivith the times in matters m litaiy. In
.812 we suffered insult after insult to
die flag , ship after ship was searched
iponthe high seas , and the declaration
jf war , that meant the maintenance of
aur national honor , was so long
lelayed , because of our being wholly
unprepared for war , that the blush of
shame mantled the cheek of many a
) atriot of that day. The war came at
ast ; but how bitter the recollection of
lull's surrender , the capture of the
force of but hun-
sapitol by a thirty-live -
ired men , and the burning of the pub
ic buildings. Disasters continued , save
jpon the high seas , thanks to our bold
arivateersmen , and at last a peace was
matched up that left the right of search
in open question. The only bright , spot
n the history was the victory at iew
Means , won after the terms of peace
lad been made. It would have gone
iard with us if the great Napoleon had
lot been giving Mother England so
much to do that she did not have the
ime to look after us very closely. Says
i secretary of war of the United States ,
jommenting some vears after the war
if 1812.
The disadvantage of inexperience in the
Dfiicers and men without the means of
minediate instruction AVJIS the fatal error
it the commencement of the late Avar that
: ost us so much treasure and blood. The
jeace establishment Avliich preceded it was
rcry imperfectly organised , and did not
idmit of the necessary augmentation.
Senators , I suggest to you that our
)0.'iition to-day is the same. And now
et General McClellan tell the story of
: he Mexican war and that of the rebel
lion. I quote from his article upon the
irmy of the United States , written in
1877 :
When the Mexican war broke out the
actual strength of the regular army Avas
ibout 5,300. The force Avith which Gen
eral Taylor reached the Rio Grande Avas
3,000 , and that with which he fought the
battles of Palo Alto and Resaca do la
Palma only 2,100. Thereanbe no doubt
that if the strength of the army had
sufficed to enable him to nve to the Rio
Grande Avith 10,000 men the Mexicans
would not have crossed theriA-er , and in all
human probability the Avar Avould have been
'
' ' I
avoided. The cost ol maintaining tho
7,000 additional men during tho Avhole
period from the close of the Avar of 1812
to the commencement of the Mexican'war
Avould not have amounted to tAvo-thirds
of the direct expenses of the lato war , not
taking into account tho large cost of tho
Seminolc and other Indian wars , or tho
heavy losses by disease and in battle , or
the indirect losses inseparable from all
'Avars.
But the most instruct'iA'e case of all is
that of the civil Avar. We do not doubt
that fifteen thousand regulars on the field
of the first Mannssas would have insured
tho complete rout of the raw confederates ,
and , in all probability , put an end to the
war. They Avould certainly have enabled
us to drive the confederate government
out of Virginia , and have cleared the east
ern portion of tho state as completely as
the Avork Avas accomplished a little earlier
in West Virginia. The cost of maintaining
these fifteen thousand additional troops
from tlie close of the Mexican Avar to the
commencement of the Avar of secession
Avould not have amounted to one-fiftieth
part of the Avar debts of thegeneral gOA-ern-
ment , the states , counties , and municipal
ities. Should Ave compare it Avith the total
amount of direct and indirect expenditures
by both parties to the Avar , the losses of
the two sections in lives , 'in property
destroyed , business mined , and capital
sunk , Ave should bo at a loss to express the
relations , so absurdly small would be the
relative cost of those additional troops.
In the face of these lessons of the past
shall we continue a false economy so
deatrtictive of the best material of the
country ? Pursuing the same subject
to its legitimate conclusion , General
McClellan says :
If it be true that it is the.duty of every
government to prepare in time of peace
the means adequate to defend its territory
and its people , , the statesman-like method
of procpeding is clear enough. Weighing
the probabilities of the future in the light
of the experience of the past , Avith due re
gard to the changes produced by them , the
proper strength of the army should be ,
determined and once fixed it should not bo i
changed Avithout good and sufficient cause.
Then itshould be so organized , posted , and
ndministcred as to insure the greatest pos- [
sible efficiency in tho performance of its
duties and in its instruction , while
economy is insisted upon to the
greatest extent consistent Avith that
efficiency. If an army is necessary at
all it should , like any other necessary
thing , be made in every respect efficient ; |
and there is no true economy , but , on the
contrary , real extravagance , in the policy
of practicing ill-judged parsimony either by
reducing the army beloAv the requisite force
or crippling its instruction and usefulness
to save a few dollars.
But , we are told , international dis
putes are to be settled hereafter not by
the arbitrament of arms , but by peace
congresses. God speed the time when
this shall be so , but it will not be in our
day or generation. I do not believe ,
with Hobbes , that war is the natural
state of man or , with You Moltke , that
the world would stagnate without it ;
but 1 do believe that while so many
domestic ills are breeding discontent
with the existing , while American citi
zens rights abroad are trampled upon ,
while our interests political and com
mercial continue to clash with those of
other nations of the earth that support
large armies , grim visaged war is a
necessity that must and will come. To
quote from a sagacious observer , whose
able artidle upon the military necessities
f the United States is one of the best
contributions to our stock of practical
knowledge : J
The epoch of peace and prosperity with
which our land is now blessed can .not
last foreA-er. Until human nature shall
rise above its present Aveakness the
selfish aggressions of one people will
occasionally clash against the inter
ests of another ; the policies of dif
ferent nations Avill come into collision and
the sword Avill be used to cut the knot
diplomacy can not untie. However peace
able an/1 non-agressive a nation may be
circumstances may present it Avith the
choice of several evils of Avhich Avar Avill be
the least. ( Lieut. Arthur L. Wagner ,
United States army , in prize essay of
1884. )
The apathy of confess upon the
grave questions of increasing the effi
ciency of the army and navy and the
bettering , or rather creating , of sea- J
eoasfc defenses , is to me inexplicable.
Repeated and oft-repeated recom
mendations from the presidents of
the United States , from experienced
secretaries of war and navyand warning
words from the veterans who led our
hosts to victory during the late war , all
fall unheeded upon ears usually quick
to hear that which may prove advanta
geous to the country we love. Tlie
parting words of the last general of the
army before he passed into retirement ]
were : I I
1 can not help plead to my countrymen j
at every opportunity to cherish all that is i
manly and noble in the military profession , ' j
because peace is enervating and no man is .
Aviso enough to fortell when soldiers may be '
in demand again. I
The signs of the times are that they I j
will very soon be in demand. They are ' t
now called for on our southwestern ,
boundary where the murderous Apache
lies in ambush among the rocks , or
sweeps from his mountain hidinir-place
to murder the settler. The telegrams
from Nevr Mexico speak of the restless
ness of many other bands of Indians ,
notably the Navajos.thousands or Avhoni
have grown to manhood since the last
outbreak and keenly desire to rival the
deeds of bravery recited by the older
warriors about the nightly dance-fires.
"
Prosperous Southwestern "Kansas lives t
in hourly deread of an outbreak among t
the wild tribes just over the border , f
Upon the northern boundary of the fair f
state that I have the honor in part to f
represent upon this floor , are nearly
25,000 of the savage hioux nation , the i
stalwart and sinewy braves armed to a t
man with the deadly Winchester. Withe
in a short time 1 visited them at a few i
places on the 34,000 square miles de- " \
voted to their abuse rather than use * . j t
I rejoiced to see some evidences of t
advancing civilization , and have hope s
for their future ; but as 1 heard them , in c
the council-room by day and in the wild c
dance at night , recounting their deeds
of war , boast of the murderous part' ' t
taken at the Custer and other masf '
sacres , saw the envious admiration *
gleaming from the faces of the listen
ing young bucks , and the evidences of
jealousy and , desire for leadership on '
the part of contending chiefs , I feared
for the safety of the white men and
women who are so rapidly building
charming villages and making thrifty
farm-houses throughout all that wonder
fully beautiful new west. I am not one
of those who feel hatred for tho Indian.
With the vast majority of my fellow-
citizens of Nebraska I would accord to
him more than his rights ; would protect
him from all evils ; including himself as
the greatest of all ; would educate civil
ize , Christianize him into capable citi
zenship ; but it will take years , if not
generations , to change tho Indian
nature , and while it exists these periodic
outbreaks , with their attendant in
describable horrors of homes desolated ,
children captured or brained , men tor
tured and killed , and mothers and
wives worse than murdered will occur.
It is the clear duty of the government
to meet them by reaching the highest
point of efficiency for the small army
that must stand between the frontier
citizen and tho disaster to be feared
above all others.
But there be other threatening dan
gers worthy consideration. Far re
moved from the thickly-settled east ,
almost isolated in their fertile moun
tain valleys , live a wealthy people
claiming to owe a higher allegiance
than to the government of the United
States living in open defiance of tho
laws of the country , hating our institu
tions , defying the officials appointed by
the president and confirmed by the
senate , and visiting vile vengeance
upon the heads of those officers who
try to obey their oaths and sustain the
laws. The attitude of the Mormon
church , with its leaders preaching
defiance > and its 25,000 of arms-bearing
adult males ready to follow where these
apostles of crime may lead , is a con
stant threat and standing menace to
the peace of the nation. Ifothing but
fear , on their part , ofthe final outcome
prevents the outbreak , and what man
can predict the moment when religious
fanaticism will cause them to forget the
fear ?
This great nation of Christian people
would soon crash the rebellion , but i
would save much blood and great treas
ure if its small army was made more
efficient. There are other elements
threatening internal disturbance , but
we can only glance at them in passing
to the consideration of the bill befoe
us. The riots in New York , Pittsburg ,
Cincinnati , and other places within the
last few years are the simple mutter-
ings of a discontented condition liable
to break out in widespread destruction
and anarch } ' . The socialists and nihil
ists have planted their seed in what
they consider rich soil in this land of
free speech. I believe the laborers of
the republic , uniting as they are for the
consideration of evils under which they
suffer , will not be deceived by these
foul conspirators.
Ultimately existing wrongs will be
righted , and the millions of toilers , who
are of the country's best citizenship ,
industrious , intelligent , the fathers of
its families and the owners of its homes ,
who have the greatest stake in the
welfare of the republic , will see to it
that the needed reforms are peacefully
wrought out within the law and not in
defiance of it. But before the desired
end is reached there will be much of
conflict with the devils incarnate , whose
synonym for reformation is destruction.
Time will not permit me to speak of
complications that may arise with for
eign nations. Sufficient is it simply to
refer to our position with reference to
the Isthmian canal ; the importance of
our maintaining a complete neutrality
in inter-oceanic communication across
the narrow neck of land connecting the
great American continent : the necessity
that Cuba , by passing from the hand of
Spain , should not be added to the Ber
mudas and Jamaica , as another threat
at our Atlantic seaboard by the great
power that constitutes our chief rival :
the. investment of fifty millions of
money by our citizens in nearly 2,000
miles of railway in the Republic of Mex
ico , inviting lawless confiscation and
interference with our commercial rights
by cur next neighbor ; complications
likely to arise from interference by
European powers with the rights of
Diir adopted citizens visiting their old
liomes. and the disputes attendant upon
the sharp struggle withall competing
aations , as we seek markets abroad for
: he surplus products of our vast terri-
: ory these and others that will suggest
: humselves to you are the fertile causes
: hat may at any time "cry havoc , and
et slip the dogs of war. "
It was undoubtedly such consider-
itions as these that prompted the chief
jxecutive m his annual message to con
gress , and the leaders of both political
larties , to urge in forcible language the
jetteriug of tlie army , the building of
ieacoast defenses , the securing of the
accessary plant to forge and weld the
nighty guns needed to pierce the
irmored sides of the modern steel-
jlads. and the construction of ships re-
juired to protect our seaboard cities ,
save our commerce , and carry the Amer-
can flag victoriously over all oceans.
Many bills to bring about about these
lesirable results have been introduced
nto both houses during this sess on.
! will not take the time to refer to them
> r to speak of the many meritorious
themes presented to aid in bringing
he cavalry and artillery arms of the
icrvice to a point approaching lhat of
> erfection.
This bill is designed to make more
ifficient the infantry of the army of the
Jnited States , Mr. President. By the
rafning and experience that comes
rom commanding a regiment of in-
antry during the last war I feel better
[ ualified to speak of that branch than
> f the others. The days of m } ' early
uanhood were given to the study of its
actics , and I hope the day may never
: ome when I shall cease to be interested
n and to love it. In numbers , in the
aried duties required at its hands , in
he important part to be played by it in
ime of war the infantry is the'mr-in
irm of the service. Says Colonel Home
> f the British army , in his much
isteemed work on modern tactics :
In armies , infantry undoubtedly takes
ho lead , and to its action that of the
) ther arms must be subordinated. It is
he main stay and backbone of all , whether
t be rcvicAvecl in the light of numbers or its
iction upon the field of battle. Its fire is
nore deadly than that of artillery ; its
iction is sure , while that of cavalry is
itful ; upon it the brunt of battle falls ; it
uffers more in action and more on the line
if march , and on its tactics the wholo
uperstructure of military operations must
> e built.
The following is an interesting table
n this connection , showing the loss in
he various arms of .the service , during
he Franco-Prussian war , of the Ger-
nan army , the percentage given being
he loss o"f the whole force :
Similar statistics of the armies en
gaged during our lato war would un
doubtedly show a much stronger com
parative loss in the infantry arm.
And yet while the other arms of the
service has been materially aidec
toward perfection of organization dur
ing the last twenty years , the infantry
branch has been permitted to stanc
still , and to-day is as far behind in
tactical organization as though it was
armed with the Hint-lock musket , car
the buck-and-ball in
rying - - cartridge
stead of the Springfield breech-loader
with its deadly missile. It retains the
ten-company , single-battalion organ
ization that seems to have been
adopted in 1821 , and which would
bring death , defeat , and disaster to
our arms in any field engagement upon
which we would enter , meeting , as
we would , the changed conditions ol
tactics and armament of armies framed
upon modern and approved methods.
The bill under consideration proposes
to change from the single battalion ,
now composing a regiment , to a regi
mental line composed of three bat
talions. Before passing to the tactical
effect of this change , the causes that
produced it , and the authority for it ,
let us investigate as to the present
make-up of armies proper for us to look
upon as models. In the very nature of
things , a nation like ours , maintaining
a small and comparatively inexpensive
army during times of peace , must be
an imilator and copy from powers ex
pending largely in costly experiments.
It has ever been so. In 1775 Col.
Timothy Pickering , of Massachusetts ,
afterward distinguished in the military
and civil history of the United States ,
compiled a "plan and discipline for the
militia , " which gave such of the British
battalion movements as were adapted
to American service.
When Baron Stcuben came to this
country and began to drill the Con
tinental troops he published , in 1782 ,
his "Rules of Discipline , " which were
almost literally translated from the
drill and discipline which had been in
troduced by Frederick , the great. In
March , 1789 , congress approved and
established this system of tactics , which
remained in use until the resolution
was repealed in 1820. The tactics in
use since then , whether of Scott ,
Hardee , or Upton , have all been
adapted from tho German and French
systems. The existing and convincing
fact is that not a single European power
retains the single battalion organization
of infantry regiments , all having aban
doned it years ago as not adapted to a
state of war , and therefore not lit" to be
maintained in time of peace.
Nearly ten years ago the United States
sent efficient officers , representing the
three great branches of its armGen
eral Emery Upton , Maj. George A.
Forayth , and Capt. J. P. Sanger to
visit Europe and Asia and report , after
full investigation , what changes should
be made in our army to modernize and
perfect it. The very valuable report of
these gentlemen was made to congress
and published to the world in 1877 , and
the lirst and seemingly the most im
portant recommendation made by them
was that we should change to the three-
battalion organization for infantry as
we had already done for the cavalry
and artillery. They did this because
they found the following to be the con
dition of the advanced nations abroad ,
and I quote from the report known as
"Upton's armies of Asia and Europe : "
The infantry of the German empire con
sists in time of peace of one hundred and
forty-eight regiments of three battalions
each. ( Pace 192. )
The influence of the Franco-Prussian
Avar in producing modification in mili
tary organization is nowhere more per
ceptible than in the French infantry. Four
companies were Biibstitnted for six in the
composition of a battalion , and a regiment
vena ordered to be made of four battal
ions. Since that time the three-battalion
organization has been adopted by France.
( Page 22G. )
In liusbia the regiments of the three
divisions of the guard and the six divisions
of the army of the Caucasus have four bat
talions of four companies each. All other
regiments have three battalions of five
companies each. ( Page 149. )
The Austrian infantry is organized into
regiments composed of iiv.e field battalion *
of four companies each and one depot bat
talion of five companies. In case of Avar
the six battalions are organized into two
regiments of three battalions each , the fifth
company of the depot battalion remaining
as a common depot for both regiments.
( Page H52. )
In Italy a battalion consists of four com
panies and a regiment of three battalions
and a depot. The riflemen regiments are
composed of four battalions each. ( Page
102. )
How completely the army of Japan has
been Europeanized may be inferred from
the organization of the infantry. A regi
ment consists of three battalions of four i
companies each. ( Page 9. )
The infantry regiments of England
are composed ot eight companies , form
ing two battalions of four com- ; '
panics each. Even this organiza- i
tion , so much better than ours , is
severely condemned by her own miltt '
tary critics , notably by the eminent '
General Sir Lumley Graham , who in- ! '
sists that the Prussian three-battalion J
formation is much better. General ,
Upton condemns it in the following ]
terms : i i
The adherence of England to a military ' '
system inherted from the last century can , J
only be explained by her insular position , t
and the security from invasion afforded by 1
a powerful Jiavv.e a * Should Knghind 1
assail any of her lormidablc neighbors , we '
may safely anticipate that the war will be '
followed either by a speedy reorganization
of her army or by the total abandonment *
of the policy of armed intervention in for- '
eign affairs. ( Page 2GS. 2G9. ) '
I might continue to quote and show j
conclusively that every war-like po\ver (
has advanced beyond us and is ready ]
"
to meet improved"arms with improved
organization. s
Hut how stands the other side ? "What l
nation clings to the dangerous , obsolete , ' B
single battalion formation ? When our j
commission returned from abroad it g ;
declared that it knew no worse army c :
than that of Persia , and as to another r
eastern nation , it said : \
The decline in military organization from t
[ ndia to Persia is scarcely less marked i ;
than from Japan to Giina. s & 9 } , „ t
Chinese army is as backward in its tactics t
is in armament. * * Its officers have c
not tho slightest appreciation of the. s
11
I
amount of instruction required for troops
in modern , war , nor do they possess any
knowledge of the methods of arranging and
conducting troops in battle. * . -lue
instruction witnessed at Pokm was a man
burlesque o ! infantry drill. * * . Jtli |
of
the only country where tho profession
arms is not honored. For ages a proverb
to the effect tliAt "as" you would notuso
good iron to make a nail , so you would
not uso a good man to mnko a good
soldier , " has hung like a mill-stone about
tho necks of the officers and soldiers of tno
Chinese army.
Tho infantry organizations of these
two uncivilized pagan nations , whose
armies are laughed at by tho world , is ,
that regiments shall be composed of a
sin fie battalion of ten companies , with
eacTi company of one hundred men com
manded by one captain and two sub
alterns. This is the present formation
of the United States infantry , and to
the shame of the congress be it said
that because it will not do its duty , as
clearly enjoined by tho constitution ,
this great republic stands , so far as the
formation of its chief military arm is
concerned , with the countries I have
last described , Persia , China , and the
United States. Wo are in proud com
pany , truly. Senators , it is for us as
one branch of congress to say whether
we will remain there.
This bill brings nothing new for your
consideration. Its provisions , have
been desired by General Grant. Gen
erals Sherman and Sheridan have often
urged it. Let me show you how much
it has been sought for by the generals
of our armies , and how often recom
mended by seer taries of war. In Gen
eral Sherman's memoirs , published
in 1875 , referring to the organization of 1
the array during the war , he says :
To the new regiments of infantry was 1J
given an organization differing from any
that had heretofore prevailed in this coun /J /
try of three battalions of eight companies
each ; but at no time did more than ono of
these regiments attain ita full standard ;
nor in the vast army of volunteers that
was raised during the war were any of tho
regiments of infantry formed on the three-
battalion system , but these were univer-
satljtsingle battalions of ten companies ; so
that on the reorganization of the regular
army at the close of tho war congress
adopted the form of twelve companies for
the regiments of cavalry and artillery , and
that of ten companies for tho infantry , I
which is the pretended standard.
Inasmuch as the regular army will
naturally form the standard of organ
ization for any increase or for new regi
ments of volunteers , it becomes important
to study this subject in the light of pastex-
perience and to select that form ,
which is best for peace as well
as war. A cavalry regiment is now
composed of twelve companies , usually
divided into six squadrons of two com
panies each , or better , subdivided into
three battalions of four companies each.
This is an excellent form , easily admitting
of subdivisions as well as union into larger
masses. ,
A single battalion of four companies ,
with a field ollicer , will comprise a good
body for a garrison , for a separate ex
pedition , or for a detachment ; and in Avar
three regiments would compose a good
brigade , three brigades a division , and
three divisions a strong cavalry corps ,
such as was formed and fought by Gen
erals Sheridan and Wilson during the Avar.
In the artillery arm the oflicers differ
widely in their opinion of the true organ-
zntion. A single company forms a bat
tery , and habitually each Lattery nets
separately , though sometimes several arc
united or "massed , " but these always act
n concert with cavalry or infantry.
Nevertheless , the regimental organization
or artillery has always been maintained
11 this country for classification and
iromotion. Twelve companies compose
i regiment , and though probably no
colonel ever commanded his full regi-
ncnt in the twelve batteries , * yet in
> eaco they occupy our hca\-y scacoast
orts or act as infantry ; then the regi-
ncntal organization is both necessary and
convenient. But the infantry composes the
; reat mass of all armies , and the true
orm of the regiment or unit has been the
subject of infinite discussion , and. as I
lave stated , iTiiring the civil Avar the regi-
nent was a single battalion of ten com-
lanies. In olden times the regiment Avas
omposed of eight battalion companies
tnd two flank companies. The fifth and
enth companies were armed Avith rifles
ind were styled and used as "skirmishers , "
jut during the Avar they were never used
xclusively for that purpose , and in fact
10 'distinction existed between them and
.he other eight companies.
The ten-company organization is awk-
vard in practice , and 1 am satisfied that
he infantry regiment should have the
ame identical organization as exists for
; he cavalry and artillery , namely , twelve
ompanics , so as to be susceptible of
ivision into three battalions of four
companies each. These companies
should habitually be about one hundred
men strong , giving twelve hundred to a.
regiment , which in practice would settle
down to about one thousand men. Three
such regiments Avould compose a brigade ,
three brigades a division , and three
divisions a , corps. Then by allowing to
an infantry corps a brigade of cavalry and
six batteries of field artillery , AVC Avould
have an efficient corps d'nrmee of thirty
thousand men , whose organization would
be simple and most efficient , and Avhose
strength should never be allowed to fall
below twenty-five thousand men.
In 1869 , when General Sherman was
in command of the arm } , he made
similar recommendations to the secre
tary of war , who approved the same.
En 1880 , and again in 1882 , attention
ivas called to the matter. In 1883 the
general says :
On the Sth of February , 1884 , I will
ittain the limit of age fixed by congress for
nilitary service in the army , and I pur-
losely asked of the president the privilege
A anticipating this date to enable my suc-
: essor to makesuclirecommendationsashe
nay deem necessary ; but before leaving I
3Cg to record an expression of opinion that
t Avill be found
AVISO to provide a common
jrganization for all arms of the service ,
lamely :
That each regiment of infantry be com
posed of twelve companies , the'same as
iow with the artillery and cavalry , making
: hreo battalions , each of four companies in *
: ime of peace , and of eight in time of Avar ;
: hat each company shall have a hundred
nen ; and that in time of peace two of
: hese battalions ( eight companies ) shall be
naintained on a perfect war footing , Avhile
; he other battalion ( four companies ) may
je a mere skeleton , with its complement o !
) fficers , and used as a nucleus for recruils.
'
: ii this b'attalion can be placed the officers
ind soldiers invalided by hard service or
iickness , and such as are not weaned of
ionic influence or family importunitv.
Were such an organization ( thus "briefly
iketched. but more elaborately described
n former reports ) to besanctioned by con-
ress , the military peace establishment
ould , I believe , be maintained on the
resent estimates , and Avould possess the
nestnnable advantage of
admitting of an
ncrease without "disorder or confusion"
o G.OOO artillery , 12 , 00 cavalry , 30 000
nfanry by the merescratch of a pen and
he magic Avand of nonev ; and afterward
> y doubling the enlUtcd strength of oach
pmpany without the further addition of a
ingle officer weshouldhave the respectable
V