This Corps, as at present organized, labors under many disadvantages which would be to a considerable degree obviated, if divided into Regiments and concentrated at two depots, as previously suggepted. The law re-organizing the Marine Corps in 1835, provided that there should be 1 Colonel Commandant, 1 Lt. Colonel, 4 Majors, 13 Captains, 20 1st Lieuts., and 20 2d Lieuts., with non-commissioned officers, musicicians and privates—the whole number not to exceed one thousand men.
The object in furnishing so large a number of subaltern officers, was, that they might serve with detachments at Navy Yards, or at sea, in naval vessels. Within the last past ten years, our foreign Naval Stations have been increased so as to demand the addition of many vessels tothe number employed by the Department prior to that time; consequently the call for Marines for guards on board those vessels, was greater than could be complied with, and rendered it necessary, under the restriction, that the ' number should be reduced to fifteen men—a Sergeant's guard—for a first class Sloop of War. The reduction was not only concurred in, but actually approved of and recommended, by the late Board of Navy Commissioners, notwithstanding the remonstrances of several Commanders against the decision, as rendering the police guartl of so large a ship very inefficient. This small measure of political economy served neither one purpose nor another. The Sergeant was so much in the minority, that the men were frequent aggrieved and left without the hope of redress ; and the legitimate officer—a Lieutenant—who ought to have had the command of twenty-five or thirty men, at least, on board a Sloop of War, was left unemployed on shore- At this stage of the action, a former Secretary of the Navy abrogated the fine spun regulation of the Navy Commissioners, and ordered that a Lieutenant, with the former complement of Marines, should be stationed on board all vessels of a class superior to a Brig. Here we come to the impossibility of complying with this order for the want of men.
Non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, are required to fill up the guards of every vessel in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. Marine officers are sick and disgusted with the present condition of the service. On board our vessels they are frequently left with a small squad of from fifteen to eighteen men, subjects of remarks and insolent inuendo from the crew, and badinage with the naval officers. What has the Marine Corps ever done to merit the cold shoulder from those who seem anxious to foster other branches of the general service 1 Has it ever flinched from its duty 1 I doubt if a single instance can be pointed out. During the last war with England, they stood firm with old Commodore Barry, at Bladensburgh, until they were cut down or made prisoners. In the fight with the Malays, at Qualla-Baltoo, on the coast of Sumatra, they led the van amid a host of the savage enemy. Pending the Indian difficulties in the swamps of Florida, with- their veteran commander to lead them, they enacted a part that received, and merited, the just applause of the whole army. At sea, too, in the different engagements, doubtless, the Marines have done good service ; but they are seldom if ever alluded to by naval heroes.
Then let me ask again, what can be the cause of the prejudice which has been so often displayed against a small Corps which has received less favors from Government than any other, in either Army or Navy?
If doubts should be entertained of its capacity to sustain itself, just let our rulers put it to the test—add a thousand men, divide it into regiments, •place its worthy General in command, and transport it to Tampico or Vera Cruz, and when next was heard the news of a fight in Mexico, if the Marines had not borne a conspicuous part in the thickest of the affray, why I, for one, shall have nothing more to say.
To create two Regiments of Infantry out of the Corps, would but require the small addition of eight 2d Lieutenants to the list of officers, and the promotion of a like number of old 1st Lieuts. of eighteen and twenty years standing, to the rank of Captains, and other improvements of trifling importance.
To organize a Brigade of Marines, as previously intimated, would but vauce the following veteran officers, viz : the Brevet Brigadier-General— whose long services at the head of the Corps, and gallant conduct in the Florida War, won his Brevet by a unanimous vote of the Senate—to a Brigadier-General, Commandant of the Brigade. The Lieut. Colonel— whose wounds attest the stand he made at Bladensburg, with the distinguished Com. Barry—and a Brevet Lt. Colonel—to the rank of Colonels, to command the Regiments. Two Majors—who have also had Brevets— to Lieut. Colonels ; then there would be one Major left, as the Corps is at present officered; consequently it would only be necessary to promote one Captain to a Majority, to complete the field officers of two Regiments of Marines, as will be seen by reference to the Navy Register. Now, as there would be twenty companies in two Regiments, a complement of twenty Captains, according to Infantry regulations, would be required to command them ; and, whereas, there would be but twelve Captains of Marines, as per present list, it would be necessary to promote eight old 1st Lieutenants—five of whom have been in the service upwards of twenty years—the other three about seventeen, and nearly all of them have wintered and summered every climate of this mundane sphere. Then, to complete the number of 1st Lieutenants—ten to each Regiment—the promotion of eight 2d Lieutenants—who have been, some over ten, and none under eight years, in the service—must ensue, and to sum up the whole, an addition of eight 2d Lieutenants would perfect the organization of the officers of the Regiment. Now, who under Heaven, after taking a fair and impartial view of this subject, can object to this arrangement of a portion of the Naval Service, ever ready, willing and anxious to perform any duty upon which it may be ordered, in either Army or Navy ? Here-in lies the advantage of the Marine forces. If their services can be dispensed with by the Navy, to shoulder their musket and act with the Army, is precisely in character with their training.
It may be objected that because detachments of Marines are constantly going and coming, as vessels are departing and returning to and from foreign stations, Regiments or Battalions cannot be kept together so as to act in concert with "effect. Now, any difficulty which might arise from the above cause, might be obviated in this way: We'll suppose that the Regiment at New York has been thinned out until the ten companies muster only fifty privates each—making the Regiment five hundred strong —and an order from Head-Quarters directs the Colonel to furnish 1 Captain, 2 Lieutenants and 100 privates, for a line-of-battle ship ; well, even so, it need not break up the Regimental organization, for 10 men might be taken from each company, and still there would be 40 privates to a company remaining ; and the officers might be selected according to the roster for detached duty. But if a greater number were required, so as to reduce the companies still lower, the Regiments might be re-organized as a Battalion. But the great object would still be accomplished, of perfecting officers and privates in the Infantry tactics, by Companies, Battalions, and Regimentally, so as to join the Army in the field, if necessary, at any time, perfectly drilled, without previous admonition.
When the Captain of a company was ordered on detached duty, let the 1st Lieut. take command. If he, too, should be dispatched, give it to the 2d Lieut., if competent, else order an officer from another company, as Commander pro tern.
For exercise at the Battery of great guns, it were better that the men should be taken indiscriminately and drilled in all the various manoeuvres, from the 1st Captain of the gun, down to the powder boy. Thus would all become initiated in sponging, loading, and in short, all its ramifications.
It might be inquired, what would be the utility of making promotions and additions in the grade of officers 1 The reply naturally suggests itself —every Corps d' Jlrmee, Brigade, Regiment, &c, &c, must have a regularly organized complement of officers, either as Infantry, Artillery, or Cavalry—and, as an Infantry regiment has the smallest number of officers, it is herein proposed to assimilate the Marine Regiments to that of the Infantry, with regard to the officers.
The field officers are past the period of life, and are too advanced in rank, to act in a subordinate situation for sea service ; nevertheless, they are superior tacticians, and under the superintendence of the LieutenantColonels, and Majors, the drill of the Marine Batalions would be admirably efficient.
For the Captains and Subalterns, in the following category might they be advantageously disposed of: A Captain and two Lieuts. on board each Flag Ship of all stations—six in number; a Captaiij and two lieuts., with the guards at the Navy Yards at Pensacola, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Boston and Portsmouth.
New York and Washington Navy Yards could be accommodated with the requisite Marine Guards every morning regularly, from the Garrisons, m charge of a Lieutenant. Three 1st Lieuts. to command the guards of the receiving ships at Norfolk, New York and Boston ; one Captain and three 1st Lieuts. for the recruiting service. This arrangement would leave eight Captains and 12 Lieuts. for duty with the two principal divisions of the Brigade, and at the Navy Yards located near New York and Washington ; likewise for all contingent duties connected with those stations— in no wise an inconsiderable item.
This also pre-supposes that all and singular are invariably ready for the most arduous service, malgre the manifold ills of life which produce disease und disasters while on our trackless course from the cradle to the grave.
==
And now the Chuck Norris cadence...
No comments:
Post a Comment