RECONSTRUCTION AND 1 ‘11 2 :10VEUENT OF THE BRITISH ARN1Y.

TO THE EDITOR or THE SPECTATOR, January 1839.

SIR-T have read with attention your re it irks on the Army and the possible savings ii, that hranell of the pitblic esoeu 'mire, in the Supplements to your able journal of the 31 N weather I'432 .1,11 of the 18th November 1837; com- paring them, at the same time. wi, h air Iii tiler letters to you in the Spectator of the 21st and 24th Jailia ay 1817. I ui v le,g terve to send you an abstract of feasible proper •el ile s in the uOotai y branch, which should unite economy with superior efficiency, regialarit y. and perfection in our military system, FO far :as retail. the organiz trim of the Army, which now presents discrepancies and odious itninnille1 that should no longer be tolerated. I must leave to you the task of Argonne and eoforeing those points, as I have barely time or room for the abstract showing the results. With respect to your sug- gestions for bettei propor.iiming the rimilber of officers to that of the men, I will, however, say, that whilst you propose to reduce in only two classes, viz, the second Majors of Regi molts awl a SIS'Idt..rn per troop or company, by my plan the Army wool.' be Mei-eased in etfomee strength, and the reduction full equally on all classes of Officers, by hiving Regiments of Cavalry and Batta- lions of Infantry all of S troops .ir c rinpanies each.

I am, Sir, your humble servant, X. P.S. The General Army Staff, and Superior Civil Departments, in a future letter.

Abstract of Proposed Strings by a more Air and equal Reorganization

of the Army.

1. Tit,. REGTMFRT. OF LIFE AND IIDRAF GUARDS appear to have exactly the same est,,idisliment 01 horses, offi- cers. ;mil men, .as iti s,taaIurs A bile the charge ter each

Charge, 1837. Difference Saved.

Regiment of Lit...it:mirk ;a

£29,730 0 0

And for the Royal llor• Guards only 26.295 0 0

Reilnce time Lire Guards to the same standard as the

Guards 3,435 0 0 6,870 0 0 RCIII1CY the pay of each rank of Officers to the lower standard of the eorrespondiug rank in the Table of

Pay. (See NOW A )

2 253 11 9 Reduction of 3 Majors, already effe:deil by time last

Brevet in the 3 Re_dments

1,442 0 Difference of pas between Lieutenant and Cornet to two Lieutenants, in eivess on the eat Allotment of the Royal Dorse Guards. at 451. 6s. 3d Dedoct 3 Non effective Colonels. at 1.8001 per annum

5,4Wo-o o

90 12 6 Add 3 Effective Colonels, at 11. lge, per diem, as per

Pay Table=6371 1.971 0 0

3.429 0 0

Balance of saving by dacing the 3 Regiments 00 000

equal footing, per annum

£14,085 4 3 22,185 405 blishment is only £21.779 We hare at home 18 more Regiments of Cavalry of 6 troops each. 253 horses, 363 officers and inen, cost- ing 17,1541. each ; or for the 18 corps of 108 troops =4,554 horses awl 6,534 officers and men 308,772 Reforming these 14 Regiments into 14 of the same strength as the First Dragoon G wird., we have 112 troops=4,718 horses and 6,692 officers and men 304,906 -- Being an increase of 4 troops. 164 horses. and 159 men, with a sat lug of Or, giving the totals, instead of a Cavalry force now at home of 19 Regiments=116 troops, 4,891 horses, and 7,013 officers and men 330,957 We should hate IS ltegimeuts=120 troops, 5,055 horses, and 7,170 officers and men 32605 Showing a difference of 4,272 Replace the 19 Noma-effective Colonels now receiving

19,000 Pally 13 Effective Colonels, at 11. 12s. per diem=

584/ 8,760 Total saving on the Cavalry branch, with an increase of horses and tueu This would be proportionably increased if the 4 Regiments in India were included : they have 8 troops each, and an extra Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, Captain, and 10 Lieutenants, with 1 Assistant•Surgeon-Total 14 officers;

This would reduce the charge for each Regiment from 26,2931. to about 23,8901., without the diminution of a single man. As the duties are the same, the rank equal, the Horse (1uards the older corps by '227 years, and the prices of commissions the same ia all ranks except a very trifling difference in those of Lieutenant and Cornet, which may easily be adjusted by a repayment of the difference, there is absolutely no good reason against giving effect to this plan.

s.ake establishment of °Meets and own. The First

Regiment of Guanls cods 86,081 0 0

Each of the other two RegImeuts, of 2 two battalions each, or 1,450 strong, costs

53.011 0 0

33,070 0 0

Reduce the Lieutenants in all 3 Regiments, in excess to one per company. or 6 per regiment. at 7s. 10d. per diem, or 1421. I9s. 2d. per annum >, IS 3,573 5 0 Reduce the 3 Non-effective Colonels about

4,2i3..8 10 Add 3 Effective Colonels. at .£1 19 0 per Pay Table If Note. or X711 15 each per annum, 2,134 5 0

Add 3 Effective Maiors, nt XI 4 G per Pay Table of Note, or £447 2 6

each per annum 1,341 7 6

3.475 12 6

817

16 4

Balance of saving by reducing the 3 Regiments of Foot

Guards to one equal scale

£37,461

1 4 I have here taken the pay of Effective Colonels and Majors from the Table; but if you will compare them with the corresponding ranks an the Horse Guards, as below, common sense points out a very considerable reduction in the pay of all ranks of the1/4Foot Guards, except Lieutenant and Ensign. 2 Reduce the 3 IIROIMENTS OF Fool' Guaaris to tho 3. The CAVALRY. In your paper of November 1832, above referred to, you quote Die First Dragoon Guards of 8 troops, (while all the others have 6 ou home set- vice,) as the cheapest corps in the service: and you are right. The First Dragoon Guards. tar 1837, has 337 horses, 479 officers and men for lint iu this statement, the corps has a Supernumerary

Major at 19s. 3d.=3511. 8e, ltd., and 3 Lieutenants too many, 3 Cornets too few ; deducting the differ. Is.=541. 7s. fid So that the expense of the corps on its proper esta- 0 0

15 74

405 15

4 4e

0 0

0 0

3,866 0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0

10,240 0

£14,311 15 7i

which enables more than that number to be always on furlough in England. But the East India Company pays for all.

4. In the Inexwritv we find 100 Regiments of the Line, or 103 Battalions, unequally divided into Regiments oft and 2 Battalions, Were we to equalize the whole, like the Guards, the First or Royal Regiment, the Sixtieth, and the Rifle Corps, into Regiments of 2 Battalions, 8 companies each, adding the Noncommis- sioned officers and men of the reduced companies to the remainder. (say 1 noncommissioned officer and 20 privates added to each,) and the Staff proposed in my lvter of February last, we should save %dance of saving on the reorganization of the In- fantry in 52 Regiments of 2 Battalions £160.863 5 9

32,446 U I

To save by the entire abolition of the Agency The clothing now costs the State, per statement for 1837-8 306,800 0 Of %%Inch we will allow that the Colonels liberally ex- pend 206,8A:0 0 100,000 0 0 Total saving on the Agency and Clothing £132,416 0 0 t` Every Regiment of Cavalry, including Guards and theLine, would thus con- sist of 4 squadrons, 8 troops.

1 Colonel 8 Captains I 1 Lieutenant-Colonel 8 Lieutenants 1 Major 8 Sub-Lieutenants with a Staff as at present.

Every Regiment of Infantry, including the Guards, viz. 3 Regiments of Foot Guards, 52 of the Line (including 2 Rifle Regiments), of 2 Battalions, or 16 aminpanies each, would consist of

1 Colonel 1 Paymaster

I Lieutenant-Colonel 1 Quartermaster

2 Majors Commandant 2 Adjutants

I Regimental Major 2 Colour-bearers 16 Captains 1 Surgeon 16 Lieutenants 2 Assistant Surgeons, or 16 Sub-Lieutenants 4 Ditto on Actual Service

per day, per ann.

each. X a. d.

31 Lieut.-Colonels, at 17s.= 310 5 0 51 Majors .. at 16s.= 292 0 0

51 Paymasters at 15s. =273 15 Q 198 Captains... at 1 Is. 7d.= 911 7 11

198 I.ieutenauts at Gs. 68. = 118 12 6 51 Surgeons... at Ils. 48. = 206 16 3 91 Quartermasters,6s.68. = 118 19 6 X 15,822 14,892 13,961 41,856 22,487 10,547 9,049 t. d.

15 0 0 0 5 0 7 6 15 0 8 9 17 9 Deduct also 102 Non effective Colonels receiving as Pay 125,617 8 9

The following is the result as to actual saving-. On the 3 Regiments of Life and Horse Guards

On the 3 Regiments of Foot Guards

On the 19 Regiments of Cavalry at home . se

On the 100 Regiments of Infantry, 103 Battalions

Ry alaffishing the Agency By abolishing the Clothing system

By abolishing the Royal Staff Corps Total saving on the Personnel only 76 £14.083 37.461 14,511 160,863 32,416 100,000 2,527

.01- -1,823 This abstract does not include Hie 4 Regiments of Dragoons in India, or the Artillery or Engineers, or a revision of the enormous rates of pay in all the superior ranks of the Foot Guards (ride Table below), which would probably augment the sum saved to about 500,000/. The total of the Estimate of 18-37 8 for Effective service, Horse and Foot, Guards and the Line, is 3,5'23,410/. So that the saving is above 10 per cent., without the reduction of a single soldier ; for there is rather an increase on the Cavalry when reformed, and the 3d Bat. talion First Foot Guards reduced, is replaced by a more useful Battalion of the Line. to complete the 52 Regiments of 2 Battalions each. The reduction falls an the class which you have justly remarked (NAPOLEON did the same) are out of all proportion in our Army. The Estimate shows 5,631 officers to 100,436 noticommissioned officers, (hummers, and privates ; of whom 8,036 are non-effective, or wanting to complete, leav ing but 95,400 men. This gives al out

ffi

I officer to every 18 men on the full establishment, and to lees than 17 men on the actual one-an extravagance never heard of in any other army. The 198 Captains and 1392 Lieutenants for reduction, might be allowed to remain ri in suite, equaliy divided between each Regimeat till absorbed by casualties; and the present income of each Colonel may be assured to him for life, if the Go- vernment or Parliament think they have a vested interesa-though we have some Regiments frequently disbanded or reduced without any equivalent but half-pay being permitted to a single officer. On foreign service, every Regiment of Cavalry to be allowed an estra troop as a Recruiting Depot, with a Captain and Lieutenant, and an extra Major and Assiatant-Surgeon : every Regiment of Infantry a Recruiting or Depot Coin- parry, and an extra Assistant-Surgeon per Battalion. In time of war, a 5th and 6th squadron may be added to each Regiment of Cavalry, and a 3d Batta- lion to each Regiment of Foot, as in ad other countries, before increasing the somber of Regiments; a Major, an Adjutant, and an Assistaut-Surgeon being the only Staff required. The following figured abstract will show you the result as to Officers and Staff of the present s) stem mid that which I have proposed, the number of men being in both cases the same. I calculate that, one year with another, we have 76 corps of Infantry on foreign service, of which only 20 are complete in India: the others, varying from 54 to 56 Battalions at other eta- 'lions, are mere fractions of 6 companies each; leaving the other 4 sompanies at Use, under the name of Depots, requiring a Payola,* r, an Adjutant, and

76 Colonels, at 6001.= 45,600 0 0 26 Colonels, at 5001.= 13,000 0 0 2 Colonels in Chief, the tuo Rifle Corps. nt 239/. 8s. 68 473 17 0 2 Lieutenants in excess in all Corps except the Light Infantry and Rifle Corps (II in number) being 92 Battalions, or 184 Lieuts. at 61. 88. per diem, 1181. 12s. 6d.

her annum 21,827 0.L0 Difference of Pay between Lieutenants and Sub-Lieutenants to 8 additional Lieute-

nants in the 7th Foot 182 10 0 Total Reductions .E206,705 15 9 Add

52 Effective Colonels of Infantry, at 1/. 2s. :6d. per

day = 4101. 12s. 6d. 21332 10 0 104 Colour-Bearers of Infantry, 1 per Battalion, at

5s. per diem = 911. 5s. 9,490 ".0 0

A complete Battalion, to complete the Fifty. second Regiment of 2 Battalions, except the Officers, which are allowed for in the above deductions, including 8 Ensigns .. Additions say... 15,000 0 0 £45,842 10 0

1......„,, Staff-Sergeants, each; thus doubling the expense of Staff on Regiments of only 10 companies, in order to keep at home all lordlings too delicate for &trip service, but who need a pretext for promotion. . By my plan we should require but 31 complete Regiments for foreign service, with a Depot Company for each • which I have allowed in this Table, and which will slightly vary from the reductions proposed above, in which the Depots were not considered, i Captain and 1 Lieutenant per Regiment. .

_

aaoicaraa as, r altar t or

x

0 R .1 I 'a, , R '. ' i -' S7' g ?s ' aa s . a 7, ;;;- 0 zr 0 ',1 2., N. .7 :<.' 0 r- 1 DI• 0 ,

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: : . • '4 • '

CD . ''' ID t. Regiments. g' 6,

ov

I 0 ..)

es es aa ro'

I •-• 41 I '-'

a ..) 712 rs

GI

Battalions or 0 g

Squadrons. st

-a

Cli

.1-1 ID 0 0 { • : I II p .

[ e.,. CD .,... ID sc. to

1 at

I

I k V T tz !i: ii. c...A as

panics. Colonels. 0

'I

il si

• '' I '''' •-• "I rg

-1 to e.: to e.1 as CD ID CD

Lieut..Colonels.

I. ti I .., co ,, Majors.

=

I E tO g 2 I ."

I iV r 'D' ' ! g

Captains.

r

z 2 I 11

Lieutenants.

iI?

5 ,7,1Etk-.4.2

1 i

1 g 5A a. tl

Sub Lieutenants

-z1I ig.G. I g I geaM: Paymasters.

2,,,Mas I ci I E .., a . Adjut.its. aa I-

CD I rIli; 1 .±

Quartermasters. t..

I 77.■ co .., IS CD .1

IR ej 15 ti, I il E es n co Surgeons. ni

i

I E or n c., Iil_ F; ..., 03 . Assist.Sursisous. '4

.4

• • VA CD

gi : : M ca Veterinary Sur. i

ROODS.

*-1 •-• ID C/ --1 .... • • . . . I Colour Bearers.

Co +1.. DI I7I tO • • • •

1

'Totals.

The Colonial Corps are entirely omitted in this Table, though they should be placed on the same scale.

The Life Guards are now paid by the Quartermasters: the Foot Guards by a solicitor !

The 4 Regiments of Dragoons in India are allowed by the new plan an extra Major and Assistant-Surgeon; a Captain, Lieutenant, and Sulalientenant for the Depat, and an additional Lieutenant per troop abroad. The 31 Regiments of Infantry, which I calculate would be permanently on foreign service, (or 62 Battalions,) are allowed an extra Aesistant • Surgeon p r Battalion, with a Dept Company per Regiment; and the 10 Regiments in India an extra Lieutenant per company. I allow also a Colour or Standard-bearer for every battalion and squadron- !' good berth for half-pay Quartermasters or deserving Sergeants; yet the de- crease of Officers and Staff is full 753. which makes the proportion of Officers to men on the full establishment, 1 to 23 nearly. Instead of 20 Regiinents of 10 companies in India, we should only require 10 of 16 companies each. Instead of 14 Regiments of 6 companies in the \Vat Indies, we should only require 5 Regiments of 16 companies. Instead of 10 Regiments of 6 companies in North America, we should only require 4 Regiments of 16 companies. Instead of 18 Regiments of 6 companies in Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, we should have 7 Regiments of 16 Companies. Instead of 14 Regiments of 6 companies at the Cape, Ceylon, 'Mauritius, and New Holland, we should have 5 Regiments of 16 compaidea. And in all, the garrisons would not only be as strong or stronger than at present, but be much more efficient from superior organization and discipline in larger bullies. The result is 31 Regiments of 2 Battalions abroad, instead of 76; leaving a reserved of 21 Regiments of 2 Battalions at home for reliefs, &c. with the perk Con. pinkies of the 31 Regiments, one each. But even this reorganization of our Army would not alone improve it, unless accompanied with the following measures to complete it, which I partly take from my former Letter. 1. That the system of Brevet Promotion he put an end to, with the superior rank to the Officers of the Guards. 2. That a fixed peace establishment of effective Generals, Colonels. and Field Officers, for Staff purposes (beside regimental ones) he formed ; and the rank of General be gradually abolished, as in France, leaving but the two ranks at Lieutenant-General and Major-General besides Marshal, as at once more simple, more useful and economical. 3. That vacancies in this establishment be filled up by rigid selection of merit only, from the first fifty or sixty in the following list. That hat a Retired Full and Half Pay List for each rank of Generals and other Officers unfit for regimedial service, be formed, under certaia strictiy defined conditions as to length of service with a Regiment or on the Stag, wounds, &c. 5. That General Officers no longer holding Regiment., their Half-pay, whea unemployed, be fixed on the scale allotted to the corresponding ranks in the Navy. 6. That the future sale and purchase of Commissions in the Army be abo- lished ; the State purchasing up at the regulated price all couludasionaofferedfor sale that have been acquired by purchase. 7. Ti, establish a wholesome system of Promotion, something like the Frock one, lately published by you in the Supplement of 18th November 1837; and to define by a legislative act all the rights and claims of officers and soldiers tni their country, particularly the ultimate right of retirement from the service os half or full pay, under specific conditions as to length of service, age. etas' paigns in the field, service abroad, wounds, infirmity, present rank, and dice mums, for gallantry, &c. 8. That as all Officers on retirement stand on an equal footing, rank for rank, the Retired Half or Foe'! Pay should for all arms in the service be alike ; ecusequently that the Half-pay be in future the standard for all. 9. Officers to rise regimentally to the rank of Major (per 7th clause) in rill MIMI of the sea vice, and then to be thrown into one general list for each arm, to he posted or employed in any regiment of that branch, as the set vice may require. an d promoted jointly by spent into seniority. 10. The Artillery may be divided 5 Regiments of 2 Battalions each, exactly on the same plan as the Infantry, but with a separate cadre of Generals and superior Officers for the Artillery duties, anti detached commands of Arta. kry in the fortresses and districts abroad and at Lome.

11. The Marines may timlergo the same operation, and be formed into 6 or 7 Regiments with the sonic Officers and Staff as the Infantry.

I have now concluded my survey of the reductions r-t only feasible, but ex- pedient in the Regimental branch of our service, with the joint view of eco- nomy and efficieney. Strong as are the motives for the severest economy and retrenchmeet in a nationbuitlened with eight bundled millions of debt, I re- gard that as even of inferior !aiusequeuce to what we should gain by this reor- ganization in effective utility to the Army itself, amid consequently to the country at large. The whole would thus be equalized and placed on one uni- form system ; abolishing for or all the absurd distinctions, ridiculous privileges. stul anomalies which now exist in the rank, carious establishment,, rank, and even in the numbers to corps of the same arm ; which lead to endless confusion of the public accounts, dioconteot, needless partialities, and assumptions of superiority. you call for practical measures: here is one founded on thirty-

seven years' military experience. X.

Note A.-TABLE OF GROSS PAY TO THE LITE AND HORSE GUARDS, AND DRAGOONS ; SHOWING THE EFF}.CT Or EQUALIZING THE TWO FORMER TO THE LOWER SCALE.

I P R1

IV OsiN CS

Itor the 3 Helps.

Gross Pay of Pay per •

Diem. 1Dragwn

Regis.

L a. d. L s. d.

1 16 0 1 13 10 1 9 i I 3 0 6 0 - 19 3 - 16 0 - 14 7 - 11 0 - 9 0 6 8 0 - 12 0 10 0 _ 0 -8 0 • Including 2s. for Horse.

All the other Staff are paid alil e, except Surgeons of Dragoons, who receive Ils. 4d. per diem; 12s. in the Lie Guards.

Note B..--TABLX OF GROSS PAY TO THE TOOT GUARDS AND INFANTRY OF THE LINE, ARTILLERY, ENGINEERS, AND MARINES.

I If a Second Captain, IN. 64. 7 In addition to pay as First Lieutenants.

The state of these Tables sufficiently proclaims the necessity of a revision. I would strike off all fractions of a penny ; all sevenpences I would make six- pences, all tenpences a shilling, all fourpences should be sixpences ; not for the sake of economy, but for simplicity and ease. The anomalies in the table call for a revision on a fair and liberal scale. Look at the pay of all superior rank in the Guards as compared with the horse Guar& and Dragoons, and alio at the Colonels and Staff of Marines. An Adjutant of the Guards and of Font, has 10s, per them, of the Marines, 13s., with his pay as First Lieutenant, A Quartermaster of the former, 6a. 64., of the latter, II:. V. But this is not el. There are ceitain allowances granted to the officers of the Foot Guards, (limner not whether they are extended to the Horse Guards,) which are not included even in these most liberal Tables, and that to those whose proportions are most ezoibitant,-for the Lieutenant and Ensign of root Guards are not overpaid it 7s. 104., or 5s. 10d., or as I would make it (on the reduced esta- blishment) 8s. and Gs. respectively. There are certain unexplained allow- ances, amounting to 133/. 16s. each per annum, granted to all the Field Officers of the Foot Guards, besides their pay. and further to the :3 Senior Majors of the 3 Regiments. Another commuted allowance in lieu of apartment., coals, and candles, which raises the pay and emolument's of those Majors above those of the 3 Lieutenant-Colonels under whose orders they are.

'Here is the result in figures- Gross Pay Per Total per Diem. Annum. Allowances. Cash.

s. d. s. d. X s. d. L d.

Lieutenant.Colottele .. 1 8 6 = 510 2 6 4- 133 16 0 = 653 18 6 1 Major 1 4 6 = 447 s 6 + 252 16 2 = 699 IR 9

9 %jigs 1 4 6 = 447 2 G 907 15 I = 654 17 7 4 Majors 1 4 6 = 447 9 6 -1- 133 16 3 = 580 18 6 These absurdities are truly English. Who can wonder we are gentry-ridden lad in debt !

Daily Pay.

Colonel Corn. 1 mantled._ J

Colonel Lieut. Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Sub Lieutenants Payrnatters Adjutant - 10 0 Quartermaster - 6 6 Sonora, Major 1 0 0 Battalion Sorg. - 12 0 Surgeon - - - Assistant Sorg. - 7 6 Foot Guards.

s. •

119 0 1 8 6 1 4 6 - 16 6

- 7 10

- 5 10 Ilorse Artilltry

Engi- neers.

Marines - 15 0

- 8 6 - 6-10 0 - 6 0-76 6 - 6 6 - 7 10 ,- to 10 -6 0-74 8 -11 4 -11 4

- 7 6 - 7 6

.e s. d.

3 0 0

112 0

1 7 1 1 211 - 16 1 - 9 10

s. d.

2 5 0

17 10 117 0 - 16 0 - 10 6 - 6 6 - 5 3

1To abolish No other. entered. Ditto, ditto.

Infantry' Foot °Ill"' Artillery Line. I s. el. X s. d.

2 14 91 t 2 6 1 6 3 17 0 - 18 1

16 0 - 16 11 - 11 7 - 6 6 - 6 10 - 5 3 - 5 7

s. d.

2 14 91

1 6 3 e19 1 116 1

-11 1

- 8 10 - 5 7

I To abolish 1 the whole. Fr. Guards It Marines cantor re- duction Ft. Guards I ditto. Ditto, ditto.

(Ditto, do. Artillery, Engineers a Marines increased.

{Artillery Engineers increased to Fs.

{ Marine.

hate Pay• mmters, but tbe rate. Oft blank.

Lifts Horse Guards, Guards No. in Exerts per Excess em. I

per Annum.

2 Regis. 1 Regt. excess Diem.

.6 a. 4.1.6 s. d.

L s. d. Ltd.

116 02 1 0

1 - 5 0 { }

pNresta

lonel III 0 1 9 6 2 3 0 ,- 54 15 0

1 6 0 1 7 0

1 - 1 0

1850

16 01 1 6 8 ,2 4 0 8(13 0 0 it

- 11 0-13 0

8 112 0 584 00 ub Lt.) - 8 6 1- 14 0 8 2 4 0 803 0 0

-13 0 ,- 10 0

2 1- 6 0

109 10 0 tamer

- 6 0 - 8 6

i 1 - 2 6 1 45 12 6

612 62.413 2 6

Per D'

Colonel.

Lieut.-Co Major . Cnotaiu.. Lieutena Cornet (S Adjutant Quarterm