of the enemy's cavalry-all becomes important, and can be only a ttained by reserves.

"I conceive that the one rank system would require a change, not only in the discipline, but in the organization of the cavalry. If I am not mistaken, it would render the use of cavalry in an army much more general than it is at present."

(Signed)

WELLINGTON.

OUR MILITIA AND VOLUNTEERS.

As the season is approaching when our Militia and Volunteers may expect, especially the former, to be called upon for training during the summer months, it is hoped that the following few remarks may draw some attention.

In the first place let us look to the Artillery branch of the Militia. Since they were disembodied, the new species of guns have been brought more extensively into use, as there are but few places now where some of them are not mounted, and the men on the staff have been drilled to them; but nothing has been done with the officers, so that at the commencement of the training they must go to drill with the men.

When this force was first organised, the officers were sent to Woolwich, Portsmouth, and other places to be taught the great gun exercise, and received an allowance to defray their expenses for six weeks. Now as it must give the officers rather a low position in the eyes of the men, especially the recruits, it would be advisable to allow them an opportunity of being drilled to the new ordnance, for two or three weeks before they may be called out, and not only the new species ought to be attended to; but they must rub up their recollections of the old, which may be found as useful and available in some situations as ever, and will not be altogether laid aside for some time to come, and it is to be hoped that the officers will pay a little more attention to their artillery duty than they did formerly, for with very few exceptions, were they so perfect as they ought to be. It was thought in many regiments that they were fortunate in getting officers who had served in the Line, they had their use in some respects, as far as the infantry duty went they were well enough; but further than that very few learnt anything, and as they were for the most part without any knowledge of mechanics or mathematics, they would not be at the trouble to study, so as to be able to make the necessary calculation for increase of range, charge, &c., nor take the least trouble in the matter, saying, that the sergeants, who were mostly old artillerymen, knew all this, and what was the use of their learning it, when in a few months they

might be disembodied, or leave the service; of course the subalterns seeing this feeling of their seniors became careless also. Officers who had not been in the service previously, and had everything to learn, in a short time became more intelligent, at all events upon artillery duties, than those who had been brought up in the Line, and were more assiduous to learn their duties. Of course we only speak of the generality, there is no rule without exceptions, and this, of course, is one, for many of them took delight in it, and became very efficient artillery officers.

There is little use in finding fault unless some remedy can be suggested, in this case it is simple. As the inspection of Artillery Corps is carried on under a field-officer of the Royal Corps, he might be instructed to examine the officers as to their knowledge of the scientific part of their duties, so as to cause them to look a little into these things, and mention in his confidential report, how each officer stood. The questions ought to be of the most simple nature, as they can hardly be expected to answer like a regular Woolwich man, but they ought to know the length of fuse for certain ranges and the proportional for longer, the quantity of powder for different guns and ranges, the weight of each gun, the diameter of the shot, weight of shell, the effects and use of the diaphragm and common shells, and numerous simple things which any intelligent officer would be likely to ask off-hand. All officers should have a knowledge of decimal fractions, as so much is done by that rule, that an officer must feel very foolish in not being able to read off a decimal. It would be a good thing if all artillery calculations, even to the weighing of powder, were conducted by this simple rule. Take, let us say, ONE POUND, for the standard, and then, instead of dividing that into 16 parts, or ounces avoirdupois, and those again into drams, &c., let them go into tenths for the ounces, and hundredths for the smaller divisions; in great weights, such as the guns themselves, let them remain as at present, as there might be some inconvenience in changing them, as it might puzzle seamen and others in the weights when embarking or conveying them by land. How much it would facilitate all calculations both in mercantile and pecuniary matters, were they all conducted on the decimal system.

But to return, when the Inspecting field-officer had made his examination on some of the subjects alluded to above, he ought to be most particular in his reports, and those that did not shew due competency should receive a hint to retire into private life; for he must well know how dangerous it is to have an inefficient officer of Artillery and the mischief he may do; how many regiments of Militia Artillery are to be found who have not an old Line officer even, and certainly not an Artillery one, and in some cases not an Adjutant who has served in that corps; many

Colonels are only civilians, how is it possible therefore that they can know these duties?

As at the next period of training there must be many recruits, from the circumstance of most of the men who have been up before having served their times, and many will not join. The duty will come very severe upon the officers, and to make them or their men, anything like efficient in that particular branch of the service, twenty-eight days is not enough, it should at least be double. Circumstances too may arise before long which may cause the reimbodiment of the Militia, for it may be necessary to continue the present force in Canada for some time, as even should the rebellion cease, it would be a long time before things would be quiet, as so many men would be turned loose at once, that very likely some Filibusteros might be troublesome, and it would be doubtful whether the American government would be powerful enough to control the dissolute bands who would overwhelm the country in all directions at best, the class who form their present soldiery are not the most tractable people in the world, and might force the government to extend their territory, by demanding some reward for past service, and to consider that some of the uncultivated land in Canada would be a handsome remuneration. Even let us lay that aside, and let some other matter turn up in Europe, we shall then again be obliged to call upon our Militia to defend the country by doing garrison duty, which the Volunteers are not expected to do, as they cannot be called upon unless in case of actual invasion. It is therefore most proper that particular attention should be paid to the Militia, especially the Artillery, as that arm is now so much more used than formerly it is necessary to have it most effective, so as to allow our regular gunners to proceed elsewhere, and as we said above, twenty-eight days is not sufficient time.

The line regiments of Militia have always been creditable to their officers, as when they were disembodied they were fit for any service, and would be again in a short time if required, 28 days' drills might do for them, as their duties are not so multifarious as in the artillery; volunteering into the Line after a training is very injurious to the Militia, especially if there is any probability of their being required to do duty; at the end of an embodiment it is different, as then they are not required, many of their times is about to expire, and they are a great acquisition to the regular service by giving them at once well-drilled men.

Another part of the duties of all officers whether in the Regulars or Militia, and one on which much depends, is a knowledge of Military Law. There are certain regulations requiring all young officers for a certain period to attend all Courts-Martial before they can be allowed to sit as members, but they do not witness the most important part of the ceremony, for whenever

the Court is cleared they are obliged to retire the same as any other person; this might be remedied by swearing them in the same as members, but not allowing them to vote, thus they would hear the deliberations upon certain points, and be able to form an opinion themselves upon the proceedings, which at some future period might be useful; as they would be sworn in, they could not divulge the opinion of any member, more than if they had been actual members of the court. Officers are often apt to trifle away their time on Courts-martial, and not pay proper attention to the evidence, especially young men.

This must be very vexatious to the prisoner as he feels that due justice has not been done to him, or at least he will think so, and not only he, but others must feel discontented to think that he does not have due attention paid to his case. A great deal depends upon the president who has ample power to correct anything of this kind.

There must have been some strange proceedings in the Militia when first called upon this most important duty, as in many cases officers were required to try men who had never been on, or even saw a Court-Martial, consequently must have been in perfect ignorance of all the detail and etiquette used upon such occasions. The president and members cannot be too dignified, punctilious and particular upon these occasions, especially if any civilians are called before the court, as many of them are apt to think that the whole proceedings are conducted in a light and frivolous manner, and that a board of officers are not fit persons to administer justice, especially in these radical times when people are so apt to give their opinions upon subjects they do not always understand.

It is to be hoped that something will be done during the session for the better regulating the Volunteers. It is a new subject and will require much consideration to arrange matters so that they do not dwindle away into mere rifle-clubs and prizeshooters, while the more important part of military combinations is overlooked.

At a late meeting at Blackheath of the 25th Kent Rifles, Sir Richard Dacres proposed a resolution. "That the value of the volunteer force depended greatly on their permanence." cannot be disputed, but the thing is to consider how that permanence is to be secured. Now that the people are not in immediate apprehension of invasion, many are luke-warm and do not care so much about it. We see in every gazette how fast the officers resign, no doubt there is a similar feeling among the more subordinate ranks, and they are dropping off just as fast, only we do not hear of them. In the country, in small places it has very much subsided, and many object to the expense that may be incurred, as uniforms are wearing out, and there is a talk of one

uniform being adopted throughout;-who is to go to the expense? It will be a severe pull upon the government to equip so many men, especially when they have been at such a great expenditure lately in finding arms for our loyal Canadian brothers, regardless of the rest of the American difficulty will cause some demurage when the grant is applied for. Yet it would be a serious loss not to do something towards keeping up such a force in the country.

About large towns there is not the same difficulty in keeping the thing alive as in the country, for there the men are more in communication with each other, especially where there are garrisons; the young men have more opportunities of seeing the military, and learning their duty, and do not find it so irksome as those in agricultural districts. In large places they have greater facilities for forming rifle clubs, shooting for wagers, &c; but this, however desirable it may be to be a good shot, does not always make a man a good soldier; nothing but frequent drill can do it, so that the men may have confidence in each other, and especially in their officers; this it is to be feared will be difficult, for when a private sees that his officer knows no more than himself, he will not have the same respect or confidence in him, as he would in any officer that had served previously in the regulars. It was the case in the Peninsular with the Portuguese troops, for in every regiment at first, there were English officers in command of companies, and frequently field-officers; but it was found in action that the companies commanded by English officers were often double their proper strength, the men not having the same confidence in their own countrymen as they had in the English. It would be the same in the Volunteers, for they would, if brought into action, naturally try to get under an experienced officer, rather than one who they knew was not. It therefore behoves the Volunteer officers, who have never done any duty, to make themselves useful in their stations, and that can only be done by showing their men that they have learnt and know something more than they do, and are not only willing, but able to instruct them.

Generally speaking, the Volunteers are a more intelligent set of men than most who enlist for soldiers; we do not speak of men like some of the London corps, who in many instances are among those of the first intellect in the country; but we allude to those in rural districts, who have not the same opportunities or previous education; the difficulty will be to keep these latter from dispersing, for they cannot afford to pay any inore money for clothing, or military expenses, and every time they have to go any distance for general drill, it costs them something, though they may consider it in the light of amusement, yet many find it expensive; it is two days labour lost, one for the day which U.S. MAG. No. 401, APRIL, 1862.

NN