1. THE profession of arms has, in all countries and in all ages, been the most successful pathway to the highest honors of the State. The victorious chieftain never falls to be rewarded with all the lavishness that a grateful people can bestow; his Career is full of grand attractions; besides the excitement which the valiant heart seeks, mankind cheers, praises, and supplicates in his behalf, the young admire and emulate, the old honor and reward, the fair "love him for the dangers he has passed;" his return from the field of victory is a grand display of triumphal processions, teeming banners, waving scarfs, and thrilling music; his rest from his labors is the ripening harvest of his declining years, honors fall thick and fast and are garnered with the other fruits of his labors in the pages of history, to the support and pride of his posterity.

2. Valor combined with a strong intellect may win laurels that are worn with a bad grace by an unpolished victor; his great deeds only render his rude manners more conspicuous, and he stands before the world a living regret for his own deficiency; how essential, therefore, that every officer should be a gentleman, and cultivate good manners and refinement to adorn the elevated station which his heroism may attain. 

3. The military service is full of hazardous exposures to varied climates, inclement seasons, epidemic and prevalent diseases, and great fatigues that endanger the body more than the enemy’s fire and steel; great responsibilities, care of troops, plans and counter-plans, and anxious anticipations, strain the thought and tax the powers of the mind to the utmost; every officer should therefore be physically and mentally sound, with mind well balanced, feelings and passions self-controlled, and a strong and perfect constitutional organization. 

4. The operations of armies call in play every improvement of art, every resource of science, and every invention of genius; a multitude of minds, teeming with infinite experience and every variety of knowledge, must be directed with skill and economy to accomplish the aim and object of war; no inspiration of genius, no gift of nature can do this without acquired knowledge and experience; great and extraordinary intellects may acquire more rapidly and retain a greater amount of these means, yet every leader must possess them in proportion to the command he controls. Every officer should, therefore, be more or less educated and experienced, not necessarily a graduate of a college or academy, for self-educated men are often most practical and successful; but he cannot be an ignorant man and hope to be recognized as a great chief. 

5. Time and labor are the great means within the reach of every one to achieve success in any profession; industry and long service will overcome all difficulties; they yield slowly and tardily at times, but without effort they yield not at all. He should begin service young, and master well each successive grade, and every item of knowledge he accumulates independent of his profession will add lustre to his position and enhance his chance of success.

6. In short, the officer should be brave, intelligent, and courteous. He should be patient, just, and reliable. He should be ambitious of distinction, industrious in acquiring knowledge of his profession, and conscientious in the performance of his duties. He should possess a high sense of honor, a great pride in his peculiar arm of service, and confidence in himself to perform the tasks assigned to him. He should not trust too much to his good fortune or fancied ability, but use every chance of success; his plans should be well matured but rapidly and boldly executed; the end and object once fairly in view should never be lost sight of but pursued persistently in spite of all obstacles; energy and perseverance will compensate for lack of genius and anticipate ill fortune. With these qualifications in his mind and at his command no officer will fail to realize an enviable future.

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION.

7. FOR the purpose of administration armies are organized into Companies, Regiments or Battalions, Brigades, Divisions, and Armies or Corps’ d’ Armee. When occupying or garrisoning a country, they are divided for the same object into Posts, Districts, and Departments. Posts correspond to Battalions or Regiments, Districts to Brigades or Divisions, and a Department commander’s authority is equal to that of the commander of a separate army.

8. The officers upon whom the duties and responsibilities of administration fall are Company, Regimental or Battalion Commanders, and Commanding arid General officers. Lieutenants, Field and Staff officers are a class whose duties are subordinate to the administrative class, and the latter are in the main responsible for the acts and duties of the former.

9. Whilst the duties of the Administrative class cover all the ground of the Assistant class, yet there are duties that are peculiar to each grade. Every officer is supposed to be familiar with all the grades below him, and those who are not are at a disadvantage that should be overcome without delay.

10. We will begin with the lowest grade and carry the officer through all the successive steps to which he is sure to attain if he really masters each one as he advances. The following are the grades and order in which the duties of each will be treated; the duties of special and general staff officers being deferred for future works: