To allow a fair amount of expansion without too much disturbance to the organization in increasing to war strength, the regular army was over-officered in peace times.

The chief reliance in war was placed upon the militia.

The organization and training of this force was left, however, under a few very general directions, to the various States.

As a result, its quality varied and it was nowhere highly efficient in the military sense.

Some regiments, it is true, were impressive on parade, but almost none of the officers knew anything of actual modern warfare.