Newspaper Page Text
Vol VII.
Darien <©a3et*e
EDITED and DU bushed
BY
fc\’S. F. GRANDISON.
(ON TtfE BAY)
B g 5 fier annum, fiayable in advance.
■liN. NEWNAN’S REPORT.
Milledgeville, 20th Oct. 182 4.
B George M. Troup, Governor of
the State of Georgia ,
B tR —In complian e with your re-
Abst, I have now the honor of subrait-
Mr for your consideration, a few re-
Krks upon the amelioration of out
Blitia code, under a firm persuasion
Bt their adoption would lead to a con-
Berable alteration in the order, subor-
Bation, organization, and martial ap-
B ranee of our military force through-
Bt the state.
■Aii efforts by our national legisla-
Be, for bettering the condition of the
Blitia, from various causes, have here-
Bore failed*, and ought to induce us
Blonger to wait for an example from
Bt quarter, but proceed to act for
|Bselves, and prescribe and enforce a
ypitern suitable to local circumstances,
Bn the feelings and condition of our
Bizens. It is unnecessary to appeal
■history to establish the position, that
B best and dearest interests of a free
Bople, require at all times, a certain
Bgree of military pride and experi-
Bce.tobe encouraged and digpemina-
B through every class of the comYnu-
By. It elevates the national charac-
B—begets high, independent and pat-
Btic feelings—maintains security at
■me, and honor and respect abroad.
Bis an erroneous opinion, (which ap-
Bars to be entertained in some of the
Btes,) that all militia musters and
Binings are idle and unnecessary,
Bhoolsfor vice and intemperance, and
B ways calculated to diffuse military
Bowledge among the militia. Under
Boose system badly executed, there
Bay be’some truth in these observa-
Bns; but we ought to be cautious in
Bving them currency and effect, for
Bar of woful results. The loss of our
Biional capiiol, may in part, be attri-
Bted to the inefficiency of the militia
Bits neighborhood, and contiguous to
Be route of the B> itish column, arising
B>n defective system, want of organi-
Bion, and military instruction. This
Bte of the militia must have been
Bell known to the British general, for
Bofficer of reputation and experience,
Buld U&ve marched an unprotected
Blumn eighty miles through a coun-
B inhabited by an expert and well
Bined militia. Since the war Mary-
Bkl and Pennsylvania have taken les-
Bns fiom experience, and have devot-
B considerable attention to the im-
Bovement of the militia, by better or-
Bnization and more efficient laws. —
Bo state in the union merits a better
■stem than Georgia; because no state
Bfords finer materials for making sol-
Bers. Here every man is a marks-
Ban,a pioneer, and a horseman; and if
Bu add to these qualities, the know-
Bdge that can be imparted by a good
B sre m of instruction, we at once be-
Bme a formidable body of men.—
■arch such troops as these to the field,
Bder well trained officers, and in six
Beks they will become good soldiers,
Bssessing both mechanical and moral
Bscipline. The bold tone of the late
Bessage of the President of the United
Bates, has caused the despots of the
Biropean continent to pause; but how
Bng this will be the case, time and
Bcir frequent sittings, will soon devel-
Be. If their bloody standard is again
Bbe raised, and their numerous and
Bell disciplined mercenaries let loose
■pon Somh-America, by the conni-
Bance, apathy, or irresolution of a great
Bval power, the affairs of our nation
Bill at once assume a very serious and
Bnposing aspect. If even war was not
Be destiny of the human race, the pre
sent situation of the world, ought to ar-
Best our most earnest attention, and se-
Bously impress us with the important
Belief, that the best method to avoid
■anger, is, to be always prepared to
Ineet it.
I As respects the militia of this state,
■ e have every encouragement to un-
Bjertake their improvement, from a
■tnowjedge of their well known-quali
*ics. During the war, their conduct
Bvas exemplary in the highest degree,
called to ihe sea coast, to Elo-
P u 'a, or the west. Mutiny, serious in
subordination, or desertion, never Uis
DARIEN IllSlf GAZETTE.
graced their ranks; and at one time,
half of our force was in the field, or un
der a welcome call to meet the enemy,
in various directions.’ If a glowing
pen was not employed, to pourtray in
appropriate colours, their heroic a
chievements, posterity and military
men cannot hesitate, to award the high
est praise, to the bravery that was
shewn by our troops, and particularly
at Callebee. Our national history
affords but few instances oFtt oops levi
ed for six months, maintaining an un
flinching front, upon a sudden and spi
rited attach, amidst darkness, carnage,
and the noise of savage yells. The ca
reer of the militia of some other states,
from peculiar circumstances, may have
been more brilliant; but none evinced
greater military virtues, more’ devoted
ness to the common cause,or ready sub
mission to the requisitions oi'thegeneral
government. From such troops, when
occasion offers, every thing is to be ex
pectedjandto instruct, dignify and ele
vate them, nothing practicable, ought
to be left untried. Asa first and most
important step towards it, Georgia
ought to abandon her meagre appio
pi iations for military purposes, and as
sume a rank with other states, by libe
ral compensation to the officers of the
staff, who may be charged with the ex
ecution of duties which require labor
and talents. An able and intelligent
staff is indispensable for the advance
ment of organization, discipline and
subordination, for the ready transmis
sion of orders, making returns, and in
short, for the inculcation of every prin
ciple, leading to a knowledge of the
technical details efthe military service.
With these preliminary remarks, I
offer for consideration the following
amendments to our militia system,
leaving the minor details and provisions
to vyl.ich their adoption may give rise,
to the usual military committee, ap
pointed by the presiding officers of
each branch of the legislature.
I. There should be an Adjutant-Ge
neral with the rank of a Brigadier, and
two Assistant Adjutant-Generals with
the rank of Colonel, appointed by the
legislature, and receiving liberal com
pensation under annual appropriations.
The duties of these officers should re
quire them to attend by alternation, un
der the direction of the Commander in
Chief, all the conventions of officers,
and regimental reviews in every pa*t
of the state, that are now, or may here
after be ordered.
, 11. The officers of every Brigade in
the state, should be assembled and en
camped, at such places in their respec
tive brigades, (at or near the centre, as
may be pointed oat by their Brigadier-
Generals, once in every year, for a pe
riod not less than six nor more than
twelve days, as may be directed by the
Commander in Chief, for the purpose
of being instructed by the Adjutant or
an Assistant Adjutant-General in the
tactics prescribed by Congress. They
should be subject while encamped, to
the rules and legulations for the gov
ernment of the militia, when in the ser
vice of the United States, and be pro
vided with rations, music, arms and
equipments, at the expense of the state.
111. To prevent the evils and disor
ganization which arise from the fre
quent resignations among officers of
the militia, the following provisions
would be serviceable.
1. Every company and regimental
sj.aff officer, who performs his duty
faithfully for the period of five years,
and obtains a certificate to that effect,
from two of the field officers of his re
giment should thereafter be exempted
from militia duty, unless in case of ac
tual invasion from an enemy.
2. All promotions to a Captaincy,
should be made by elections from the
rank of subalterns; to a Majority from
the rank of Captains, and to a Colonel
cy from the two oldest Captains, the
Major and Lieutenant-Colonel.
IV. The general officers accompa
nied by their staff should attend the
annual reviews within their command,
and occasionally instruct the troops in
theii field movements and exeicise.
V. Every militia soldier should ap
pear at the annual reviews dressed in a
short, plain, blue homespun coat, blue
pantaloons, and a black hat, armed, and
provided with six rounds of blank cart
ridges, suitable to the bore of his fire
lock.
VI. The collection of fines for ne
glect of militia duty should be rigidly
enforced, and after furnishing three
drums and fifes, and a stand of colors,
for each regiment, be transmitted to
DARIEN, (GEORGIA,)— —<£qualanti <6;cact justice. TUESDAY, JANUARY u, 1825.
the treasury department, where they
would form a fund, sufficient to defray
all the disbursements for military pur
poses.
VII. Upon the adoption of the above
amendments, the Commander in Chief
should be empowered to take every
measure which he may deem proper
to carry them fully into effect. The
beneficial results of these regulations
would first appear among our fifteen
hundred officers, and in a short time
be communicated by the rank and file.
The expenses arising from their estab
lishment to the fullest extent, would be
less than ten thousand dollars—a sum
far short of the expenditures in other
states for carrying into effect much in
ferior systems.
If these views should be taken into
discussion by a military committee, any
aid that I can give shall be cheerfully
afforded.
I am very respectfully,
Your most obedient
And humble servant,
DANIEL NEW NAN,
Maj. Gen. 3d Division Ga. Militia.
GEN. HARDEN’S REPORT.
To His Excellency G. M. Troup,
Governor and Commander-in Chi<f
of the State of Georgia.
Under the orders of the 22d of
March last, by winch “the Generals of
Divisions and Brigades are directed to
report to the Commander-in-Chief the
defects which they have discovered in
the militia system, and the remedies
which they would suggest for their
correction,” the undersigned in the
performance of that duty, has the hon
or to submit the following observations
upon the subject. 0’
The militia of any country cannot be
expected to contend with success, a
gainst the regular forces of anv other
country. They are composed it is true
ofithe same materials, but they want
that unity of action, and union of effort,
that confidence in their officers, and in
each other, which can only result from
systematic and scientific discipline.—
The dispersed situation of the inhabi
tants of all countries, and especially of
this country, together with the atten
tion required of every good citizen to
his domestic concerns, prevents the
continued and frequent practice in mil
itary exercises, which would enable
the militia, to act with that decisive
force and effect necessary to insure
victory to valor or numbers, when
brought to bear upon the proper points
in the operations of war. But in this
republic, where every citizen is or
ought to be a soldier, the state depends
upon the militia for its defence and pro
tection both against internal commo
tion and external agression. It is
the cheapest and most effective force,
winch the nature ofits institutions will
admit of —a large standing army be
ing very properly considered, danger
ous and destructive to the liberties of
a free people. Great attention then
ought necessarily to be devoted to that
species of force, by the constitu-ed
authorities of the country. Upon
it mainly depends the very exis
tence of the Government under the
benign influence of which we enjoy so
much civil liberty. But the militia
must be as well organized, armed and
disciplined as is practicable, under the
existing state of things, or else no de
pendence in the hour of danger can be
placed upon it, nor could the physical
energies of the state be brought into
action under anv circumstances of the
most pressing emergency.
It is then, a matter of primary im
portance to examine the question with
care and discretion, and to seek for the
best plan by which the militia of the
state may be put into a state of prepar
ation sufficient upon the first alarm, to
quell internal disturbance and to repel
Foreign violence, until a regular force
could be raised, organized and disci
plined competent to meet any crisis
which might be presented, to endan
ger the safety and well being of the re
public. Militia when called into actu
al service soon become equal to regu
lars. The soldiers are every day ex
ercised in the use of their arms, and
being constantly under the command
of their officers, are habituated to the
same prompt and ready obedience which
takes place in standing armies, and al
though they may never have seen an
enemy, possesses all the courage of
veteran troops. The history of our
own wars have proved inconlestibly
that however unsuccessful they may be
in their first efforts, victory soon fol
lows after a short experience in the du
ties of a camp, and in the conflicts ofj
the field.
The great object is then, not to at
temptto make militia by previous in
struction and discipline in the art of
war, eqXial to exend with regular
tioops; but by adopting, the organiza
tion, uniform, equipments, and every
other requisite ol regulars , to assimi
late them as far as may be practicable
to that kind of force, so that it may re
quire the shortest time to habituate
them to all the duties which may ena
ble them to contend with the lull pros
pect of success when opposed to the
shock of a well disciplined army.—
How is this to he done, with the assur
ance that the means will be commen
surate to the end proposed to be effec
ted? To the solution of this enquity
the following remarks will be princi
pally confined. The investigation is
attended with some difficulty, but good
may come from it, and in that expec
tation it is most willingly attempted.
That our militia system is radically
defective, must be acknowledged on
all hands. In order then to make it
efficient and calculated for the objects
contemplated by it some new plan must
be devised, because the present has
| been sufficiently tested to render its
imperfections indisputable. Experi
ence has proved, that unless govern
ment takes proper pains to support the
practice of military exercises, it goes
gradually to decay, and together with
it, the martial spirit of the gi eat body
of the people; and as the safely and se
curity of every society must always de
pend upon the existence of that spirit,
it is necessary in order to have a good
militia, in the first place to infuse into
the people, by all possible means, the
proper degree of miiitai y order, to ex
cite a feeling which shall teach every
citizen from his cradle to consider him
self as belonging to his as be
ing a conscrifit for the defence of the
republic, liable to be called upon at
any time, and ready to march at a nio
fnent’s warning. Ily should be proud
of his station when admitted into the
of his countrymen, with his mus
ket upon his shoulder, and knapsack at
his back, prepared to defend his coun
try from all wrongs which may be of
fered to her by internal o> external en
emies. Young men ought to be emu
lous of commanding in the lowest
grades of commisssion the ranks of free
men thus constituted; and to be assham
ed of not being qualified to command
them upon all occasions.
The volunteer corps every where
practically illustrate the good which is
produced by the prevalence of such
sentiments and curtsiderations. Com
panies of that description of every arm
of defence might be selected in Geor
gia, which the best officers would not
refuse to lead against the veterans of
Europe with a full assurance of com
plete success. Those placed high in
command and standing high in the con
fidence of the people, have the means
of doing much good by precept and
example, in keeping alive such feel
ings and opinions in the community,
which certainly would be attended with
the most beneficial consequences, in
rendering the militia of ,he country
competent to answer all the ends inten
ded by its institution. This object be
ing encouraged as a point of the ut
most importance by the Legislature,
and strengthened by the force ot pub
lic opinion, will go well nigh to the
perfection of any plan which maybe
eventually adopted for the impiove
ment of the system. It remains to
notice the principal defects of the mi
litia law now of force, and to suggest
the proper amendments, which will
be done with much deference to the
judgment of those who are to decide
upon them. There are two radical
improprieties in the present system
which will be requited to be adverted i
to with moYe prolixity than they may
at first sight seem to require or admit
of, or than may be consistent with the
nature of this communication, but the
importance of the subject will excuse
the undertaking. They are—
First. In the election of all the mili
tia officers, (except Lieutenant Colo-j
nels, who now rise by seniority) below I
the rank of Btigadiei-General, by those
who will be subject to their command
when elected.
Second. In the manner of mustering
the militia, in order to instiuct them in
The discipline prescribed by Congress. ‘■
In regard to the first point it is ask
ed—-Shall officers rise from the iowest j
to the highest grades in the militia, by
seniority .? or shall they be elected by
the suffrages of those who will be com
manded by them when elected? or may
not both principles lie combined with
the happiest results? There are strong
objections to the piactical operation of
either of the two first plans, if permit
ted exclusively to govern in aii cases;
but it is believed that a system may be
devised which will produce all the
good, and avoid ail the evil concomi
tant with either of them, by letting both
have place to a certain extent, and li
mbing the action of either beyond a
certain point.
Who would go through the drudge
ry of the subaltern grades of office in
the militia, that could by electioneer
ing, and resorting to those arts which
would never be practised hy one wor
thy of the trust, at once mount to the
command of a regiment? The best
officers in time of peace are usually
unpopular, and the very conduct whit h
ought to ensure their promotion by
election ft equently prevents it. Mili
tary proceedines ate in theii very na
ture arbitrary, and ‘lie free people of
this country submit with reluctance to
the tigitl Dpifonmmce of duty by their
officers. Essential evils are too apt to
spring from such a state of things. In
competent officers ate frequently cho
sen, and competent officets are disap
puidted in the it just hopes of promotion,
and mortified at having one who has
perhaps never before held a commis
sion placed over their heads.
He who has itev er been in command,
can rarely if ever, be as competent to
command as he who has commanded,
and who has ahead) passed through
several gtades below the one to which
he aspires; as well might it be expect
ed that one who had ne'ei studied law
or physic, should be as able to practice
successfully in either profession,-as one
who had devoted twenty years to the
laborious investigation of those sub
jects. Fhe military art is of the most
difficult nature to accomplish, and re
quites the full exeition of all the ener
gies of the human mind to compass its
principles and excel in its practices —.
To become a good officer, cap bit- of
commanding others, whose lives ate
staked upon his ability, is not the busi
ness of a clay, or an horn—years of in
tense study and application to the
science of war are necessaty to fit any
man of ordinal y capacity to the highly
responsible command of a battalion.
When elections in all cases, take
place, many good officet s are, as it wet e
superceded in command; they natural
ly become disgusted, which occasions
resignations of all those who are valua
ble to the service while such only re
main in it, uuder such circumstances,
as are entirely destitute of spirit or me
rit. What is most wanted then, is to
bring into action the best talents of the
devise a plan, which will in
duce the most promising young men
to take commissions in the militia, and
to he anxious tu obtain them. How- is
this to be done? The high commands
in tlie militia, like *he highptizis in
a lottery, at e sought after in piopor
! tion to the probability of obtaining
them. As the field of competition is
limited, so the disposition is incteas, and
to enter into it. Let then the com
mand of a regiment be limited to the
officet sos it, then m commission, so
that he who is most competent will
most probably attain to it. and all the
inducements to qualify themselves fop
the situation, are brought in'o lull and
complete operation, among all those
who may aspire to that rank. This de
sirable object may be accomplished
by a piopti combination of the princi
ples of promotion, by election and se
niority. Let no one be a colonel who
has not already passed through all the
lowei gtades of command, from an en
sign upwards; but let the principle of
election be interposed to prevent an
incompetent officer ftom becoming a
colonel, because he was once ejected
an ensign
When one who is c hosen an ensign,
knows tlreit he may artive at the com
mand of the regimental! his merit en
title him to it. wiiliout tfic danger of be
ing over reached by the aits of popu
larity of one in me ranks, be w ill make
the greatest exertion to cjualily him
self foi the situation. When it is knot” n
it ha. no one who hastin’ passed through
‘all the lo"et gtacles can expect to be a
‘ colonel, ad “id be anxious to be elevt
led ensign, wt bo may fcvei expect to lie #
‘military niet;, and ; ei. t c- subaltern*
i ranks will be well niied, \vhiclt ti. is be-
•/Vo. 2.