GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith to the honorable Secretary of War my annual report on the subject of education in the Army; also an exhibit of grants obtained, of which I gratefully desire to make honorable mention. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEÓ. G. MULLINS, Chaplain, Twenty-fifth Infantry, in Charge of Education in the Army. SAINT LOUIS, Mo., November 1, 1881. The honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR, Washington, D. C.: (Through the Adjutant-General of U. S. Army.) SIR: I have the honor to render my annual report on the subject of education in the Army. Since assuming charge of this work most of my time has been devoted to gathering data and information from reports and by informal correspondence with officers throughout the Army, so that I might understand the actual condition and need of the Army. The work is as yet in chaos, and no great progress has been made; but we have made a beginning which promises, through intelligent method and persistent toil, to lead to a noble success in the future. A large number of officers have evinced a lively interest in the subject, and have been very kind and helpful in giving valuable information and suggestions. The opinion is entertained that through this educational enterprise the enlisted man may at last be given that incentive and diverson so long and generally felt to be a pleading necessity in time of peace. As to the number of buildings constructed during the current year for school and religious purposes I have not been advised; and am unable to state how many posts are still without suitable buildings for such purposes. Thirty-eight posts report "no facilities for school." The reading-rooms established in most of the posts, and supplied with reading matter by the Quartermaster-General's Department and by generous contributions from various benevolent societies, have already become a very pronounced success, and are popular both with officers and enlisted men. The approximate average daily attendance of enlisted men upon the reading-rooms has been 4,800. The following is an exhibit of the average number of pupils who attended the schools in operation at the military posts during the year: I find that there is a great want of libraries in the Army. Very few posts have good libraries; many have none at all; some not even an unabridged dictionary. Inasmuch as the recognized libraries now are post libraries, and are fixtures at the posts, it is respectfully recommended that some arrangement be made whereby the few existing regimental libraries may be purchased for the posts. I have the honor to call the attention of the Hon. Secretary of War to the difficulties met with in the effort to supply competent teachers for the post schools from the enlisted men of the Army. A soldier detailed for teacher in the post school now receives only thirty-five cents per diem extra pay, and is subject to all military duty (garrison or field), or such duties as may be prescribed by his post commander; and we have numerous instances where the teachers have been taken out of the schools and sent to the field with their companies, in which case the schools were broken up. This necessarily causes much inconvenience, loss of time, and almost destroys the interest which should characterize the subject of education in the Army. While we have law for the establishment of schools, we have not adequate means provided to fulfill the evident intention of the law. There should be a distinct class of enlisted men for teachers, and an annual appropriation for the purchase by wholesale of books and school supplies. It is respectfully and earnestly recommended that a law be passed by Congress authorizing the enlistment into the Army of the United States of one hundred and fifty young men to be rated as schoolmasters, with the rank and pay of commissary sergeant. A mighty forward impulse would be given to the schools could the standard of attainments necessary for the non-commissioned officer be elevated; and it is respectfully recommended that a standard of education for non-commissioned officers be adopted, and then that all corporals and sergeants be compelled to attend school until educated up to that standard, or be required to show certificates witnessing that they have passed a satisfactory examination upon the prescribed standard. I have been surprised to find that there are some sergeants who can neither read nor write; many non-commissioned officers who can do but little more. The advanced science and art of modern warfare surely demands a higher standard, since the requisite quick intelligence and sound judg ment cannot be expected, as a rule, of the ignorant. My observation and study incline me to think that the companies and troops in which men are discontented, which have largest number of cases before general and garrison courts-martial, and from which there are most frequent desertions, will be found to be companies and troops which are afflicted with the most ignorant non-commissioned officers. I am well advised that the majority of the superior officers of the Army would favor the adoption of some standard which would insure a higher order of non-commissioned officers, and the latter would be well pleased with the consequent increased dignity and honor of their very honorable and important position. I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. G. MULLINS, Chaplain, Twenty-fifth Infantry, in Charge of Education in the Army. B.-Grants of books and reading matter obtained and distributed to the Army by Chaplain G. G. Mullins since January 1, 1881. From American Bible Society, New York, through Dr. Alex. McLean, 5,100 Bibles and Testaments. From American Tract Society, New York, 1,000 hymn and tune books; 150 copies Volksfreund; 50 copies Illustrated Christian Weekly; 100 copies American Messenger; 100 copies Morning Light; 100 copies Botschafter; 250 copies Child's Paper; 250 copies Apples of Gold; 2,000 copies tracts. From leading publishers in United States, 300 volumes miscellaneous works. From American Baptist Publishing Society, 100 Sunday school books. From Methodist Book Concern, New York, 300 Sunday-school books. From Young Men's Christian Association of New York City, 600 papers and magazines each week, on which they pay $350 annual postage. From Harlem Branch Young Men's Christian Association, 100 papers a week. From unknown friend to cause of Christ and humanity, $500; expended in books, papers, and charts for Sunday schools in the Army. GEO. G. MULLINS, Chaplain, in Charge of Education in the Army. |