REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGK B. M'CLELLAN. 75 



having spent two years at this school, they undergo a final examination ; if they pass this, 

 they receive vacancies as they occur, serving meanwhile with arms of service different from that 

 to which they originally belonged. 



The non-commissioned ofiicers, musicians, soldiers, veterinaries, master workmen, &c., are 

 supplied in three ways : first, by conscription ; second, from the cantonists ; third, by voluntary 

 enlistment. 



For the purposes of the conscription, the European provinces are divided into two parts, the 

 eastern and the western ; the line of demarcation follows very nearly the meridian of Moscow. 

 In time of peace each of these divisions takes turns in furnishing the annual supply of recruits, 

 which is five men out of every 1,000 souls of the division called upon. But in time of war, or 

 whenever the exigencies of the service demand it, this ratio is increased, or both divisions are 

 called upon at once. There are certain conditions which exempt from the conscription : for 

 instance, if there is but one male in a family ; being the father of three young children ; being 

 an orphan or a foundling, &c., &c. In the communities called upon lots are cast ; but it is 

 mentioned as a singular instance of the workings of chance that the lot is very apt to fall upon 

 the most worthless characters in the community. 



Under the head of conscription it may be mentioned that men guilty of civil offences are 

 frequently condemned to serve in the army ; for instance, if a coachman carelessly drives over 

 any one in the streets, he is sent forthwith to the army ; vagabonds, thieves, gipsies, dissipated 

 men, &c., are not unfrequently condemned to serve. Yet, mingled with these worthless 

 characters are many good men, in fact, the latter preponderate, and the influence of rigid 

 discipline soon converts the others, at least into good soldiers, if not into good men. Any one 

 designated as a conscript may purchase a substitute, if he can find one. 



The cantonists are soldiers' children, educated for the army at the expense of the State. 

 Every son of a non-commissioned officer or soldier, born after his father enters the service, is 

 necessarily a cantonist. 



At the option of his parents, he may be taken care of in one of two ways : he may remain 

 with them until the age of 20, the government allowing him clothing and rations, and then 

 enter the army as a private soldier ; or he may, at the age of six, be taken charge of by the 

 government, and is then brought up at one of the establishments maintained for the purpose. 



"With regard to the cantonists of the first class, the state assists in their education, which is 

 not so perfect as that of the others ; those who are physically unfit for the service are appren- 

 ticed to a trade, and finally sent to the military colonies. 



The cantonists of the second class remain at the preparatory establishments until the age of 

 12 ; they then enter the corps of cantonists, which consists of 25 battalions, 20 squadrons, 5 

 batteries, 1 regimental school of tlie guards, 14 artillery division schools, 3 sapper brigade 

 schools, 1 Cossack school, and 1 Siberian school. 



At about the age of lY they leave the corps of cantonists, and enter either the battalions of 

 instruction, where 8 battalions of carbineers, 1 squadron of dragoons, (attached to the model 

 regiment of cavalry,) 3 batteries, and 1 battalion of sappers are destined to receive them, or 

 enter the special schools, among which are, 11 schools of the garrison artillery, for educating 

 non-commissioned officers, 3 technical schools, for the education of master workmen in the 

 armories, 3 for master workmen in the powder mills, 3 for master workmen in the arsenals, 1 

 veterinary school, 1 surgical school, 1 school for accountants, 1 topographical school, 1 school 

 for riding masters, and 1 for fencing masters ; finally, they may enter the army directly from 

 the corps of cantonists. 



