2 
securing the tranquility of the colonies in the far west. Consequently it had 
been split up into a number of small groups, and its organisation and instruction 
corresponded to the needs of this special service. But the pacification of the 
country being now considered as assured, it seemed reasonable to adapt the 
organisation of the army to the condition of defence against foreign attacks; and 
with this object in view, General Schofield, in his report, recommended that the 
infantry regiments should be divided into three battalions of four companies each, 
that the artillery units should be modified, with a view to adapting this arm to 
garrison service; that promotion should go on independently in each branch of 
the army; that examinations should be instituted for officers, and that the pay 
of non-commissioned officers should be raised, in order to encourage recruiting. 
The General also recommended an immediate augmentation of 5000 men in the 
infantry whose strength was 25,000, and an increase of the number of regiments 
of artillery from five to seven. The total strength of the last arm would have 
been raised to 84 batteries, viz.: 12 field batteries for general service, and 72 
garrison batteries for coast defence. These calculations appear to have been made 
solely with reference to the defence of the sea coast. It was not considered 
necessary to erect any fortifications on the Canadian frontier. 
General Schofield’s propositions were not all agreed to by Congress; but by 
the end of 1891, thanks to the forethought of the Commander-in-Chief of the 
Army, seconded by the good-will of the Secretary for War, the organisation of the 
Federal Army had already undergone numerous and important modifications. By 
an order of 1890, regimental promotion was substituted for promotion on a general 
list. In 1891 the system of commands was altered, which enabled General 
Schofield to push on the reforms which he advocated. With a view to the con¬ 
centration of the army upon certain points determined by strategical considerations, 
he withdrew the garrisons from about forty small posts, and formed these hitherto 
independent units into battalions. He also modified the organisation of the 
artillery regiments, so as to form a nucleus for the defence of the fortified places. 
Improvements were also introduced into the system of recruiting, into military 
law, See., and new regulations .for infantry exercises were published. At the 
same time the militia were put on as good a footing as possible. With regard 
to materiel , a Special Commission assembled at Springfield to try all the modern 
patterns of rifles and all the smokeless powders which could be procured. The 
adoption of a small-bore repeating rifle may be considered as near at hand. The 
artillery was given a complete armament, consisting of a light gun of 8'2" calibre, 
a heavy gun of 6", and a mortar of 3‘6"for field artillery; and of a 5"gun and a 
7" howitzer for garrison artillery. At the end of 1891 the armament stood as 
follows :— 
3‘2" guns . 
. 125 with carriages. 
3-6" „ . 
. 24 
3‘6 "mortars... ... 
. 16 
5" guns .. 
. 10 
7" howitzers.. 
. 10 (carriage under trial). 
All these pieces are steel breech-loaders, and their ballistic properties are of the 
highest character. Nothing is wanting except smokeless powder, which is being 
carefully sought for. 
In accordance with the above measures for improving their military position, 
the Americans began, in 1890, to organise their coast defence. A plan had been 
drawn up in 1886, which laid down the principles upon which the system of 
defence should be based, arranged under several heads. 
The different points which a hostile fleet might attack are classed as follows, in 
order of importance — 
