Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1882 — THE REGULAR ARMY. [ARTICLE]

THE REGULAR ARMY.

Points from the Yearly Report of Gen. TV. T. Sherman. The annual report of Gen. Sherman shows the general staff to consist of 573 officers and 1,212 enlisted men. The army proper consists of 10 regiments of cavalry, 431 officers and 6,383 men; 5 regiments of artillery 280 officers and 2,493 men; 25 regiments of infantry, 876 officers and 8,773 men; total, including unavailable men detailed at various points, 2,165 officers and 23,024 men. He says the experience of the world shows that but 66 per cent, of an army is available for active service, and, as 25,000 men are really needed for a standing army, he recommends that the limit of the army be increased to 30,000. The officers and men in the army are now, he says, overworked, and must continue so, unless the number is increased. He reviews the work’ of the year somewhat in detail, f rriviug at the conclusion that there has been a less number of Indian outbreaks in the year than at any time for twenty years. Part of this is due to the efficiency of the army, and part to the advancement of civilization in the West. The report devotes considerable space to the growth of the great West, and says that, now that the transition period is pa*t, it is due to the Government to select certain strategic points for permanent army posts, and construct comfortable buildings on them, so as not longer to compel the officers and men to live in" holes in the ground, shanties, or green cottonwood log huts, as heretofore. There have been 1,741 trials by court-martial daring the year. He recommends a change in the system of courts-martial, saying the present system was established by custom in the English army a hundred years ago, when the habit was to dine at 3 o’clock and get drunk after dinner, which habit is notv, happily, done away with. The number of desert ons during the year was 3,721, and enlistments and re-en!ist-ments 7,341. Commenting on the number of desertions, he says many are those of men who enl st in Eastern cities, and after getting free transportation West desert, knowing there will belttie effort to bring them back or punish them. The remedy, he thinks, is m Letter treatment of those who stay, and more severe punishment of deserters. He recommends an increase of the pay of men to sl6 per month, instead of sl3, as now, and that punishment for desertion be made more severe, even inflicting capital punishment in aggravated cases, as is < one by other countries. The general condi don of the army personnel has been improved, as has the general condition of the people of the country at large. The recent rifle contests have made great improvem nts in the marksmanship of the men, and he recommends an appropr ation for continuing the work. He recommends the adoption of some plan by which regiments and officers can be given definite terms in i emote posts and then be al owed to return to the comforts of civilized life, and their places be taken by others. He recommends the employment of teachers for schools at posts, saying men from the army can not be spared for this purpose, and remarking that as officers, in spite of sa e ad vice, will marry and have families, they ought to be provided for in the best manner possible. .