Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1882 — THE ARMY. [ARTICLE]

THE ARMY.

Synopsis of Gen. Sherman’s Annual Report. 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 offi cers and 6,383 men; 5 regiments or artillery 280 officers and 2,493 men; 25 regiments of infantry, 876 officers and 8,773 men; totab 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 Bays, overworked, and must continue so, unless the number is increased. He reviews the work’ of the year somewhat in detail, arriving 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 S resent system was established by custom i 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 now, ntropily, done away with. Tne number of desert ons during the.year was 3,721, and enlistments and re-enlist-ment >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 be l>ttle effort to bring them back or punish them. Tbe remedy, he thinks, is in better treatment of those who stay, andjjjore severe punishment of deserters. He recommends an increase of the pay of men to #l6 per month, instead of #l3, as now, and that punishment for desertion be made more severe, even inflicting capital puni-hment in aggravated cases, as is cone by other countries. general condition 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 be recommends an appropr ation for continuing the work. He reoommends the adoption of some plan by which regiments and officers can be given definite terms in remote 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.