Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1823-12-10

posts. system OF economy and accounta-
bility has been introduced into every branch
of the service, which admits OF little addition
al improvement. This desirable state has
been attained by the act recognizing the staff
OF the army, passed on the fourteenth of April,
eighteen hundred and eighteen.
The money appropriated for Notifications
have been regularly and economically applied,
and all the works advanced as rapidly as the
| amount appropriated would admit. Three
| important works will be completed in the
| course OF this year; that is, Fort Washington,
Fort Delaware, and the Fort at the RigoIets,
in Louisiana.
The board of Engineers, and the Topograph-
| zeal Corps, have been in constant and active
| service, in surveying the Coast, and project
ing the works necessary for its defence.
The Military Academy has attained de-
gree of perfection in its discipline and instruc
ton equal, as it is believed, to any institution
| OF its kind in any country.
The money appropriated for the use of the
Ordinance Department, has been regularly
and economically applied. The fabrication
OF arms at the national armories, and by con-
| tract with the Department, has been gradual
| y improving in quality and Cheapness. 1t is
believed that their quality is now such as to
| admit of but little improvement.
The completion OF the Notifications renders
it necessary that there should be a suitable APP
preparation for the purpose of fabricating the
| cannon and carriages necessary for those
works.
Under the appropriation of FIVE thousand
dollars, for exploring the western waters for
the location of site for Western Armory: a
Iron cd ~
McRee. Col. Lee, and Capt. TaIcott, whohaye
been engaged in Exploring the country. They
have not yet reported the result of their la
bours, but it is believed that they will be
prepared to do it, at an early part of the session
ofCongress.
During the month of June last, general Ash
ley and his party, who were trading under
license from the government, were attacked
by the Ricarees while peaceably trading with
the Indians, at their request. Several of the
party were killed an wounded and their prop
erty taken or destroyed.
Colonel Leavenworth, who commanded Fort
Atkinson, at the Council Bluffs, the most ives
tern post, experimenting that the hostile spirit
OF the Ricarees would extend to other tribes
in that quarter, and that thereby the lives of
the traders on the Missouri, and the peace of
the frontier would be endangered, took imme-
date measures to check the evil.
With a detachment of tn. regiment station
ed at the Bluffs, he successfully attacked the
Ricaree village, and it is hoped that such an
impression has been made on them, as well as
on the other tribes on the Missouri, as will
prevent a recurrence of future hostility,
The report OF the Secretary of War, which
is herewith transmitted, will exhibit in great
CT detail, the condition OF the Department in
its various branches, and the progress which
has been made in its administration, during the
! three headquarters of the year.
transmit return of the militia of the sew
erai states, according to the last reports which
have been made by the proper officers in each
to the department of War. By reference to
this return, it will be seen that it is not COM
plete, although great exertions have been made
to make it so.-As the defence, and even the
liberties of the country must depend, in times
OF imminent danger, on the militia, it is OF the
highest Importance that it be we'll organized,
armed and disciplined throughout the Union.
The report of the Secretary of War, shews the
progress made during the three first quarters
of the present year, by the application of the
fund appropriated for armlnS the militia.
Much difficulty is found in distributing the
arms according to the act of Congress provid-
ing for it, from the failure of the proper De-
partments in many of the States, to make reg
ular returns. The act of May the twelfth, one
thousand eight hundred and twenty, provides
that the system of tactics and regulations of
the various corps in the regular army, shall be
extended to the militia. This act has been
very imperfectly executed, from the want Of
uniformity in the organization of the militia,
proceeding from the defects of the system it.
self, and especially in its application to that
main arm OF the public 'efence. 1t is thought
that this important subject, in all its branches,
merits the attention of Congress.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
which is now communicated, furnishes an &C
count O. the administration of that Depart
ment for the three first quarters of the present
year, with the progress made in augmenting
the navy, and the manner in which the YES
sells in commission have been employed.
The usual force has been maintained in the
Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and a.
long the Atlantic Coast, and has afforded the
necessary protection to our commerce in those
seas.
| In the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico.
our Naval force has been augmented, by the
addition of several small vessels, provided for
by the ''act authorizing an additional naval
force for the suppression Of piracy, passed by
Congress at their last session. That arma-
ment has been eminently successful in the &C
complement of its ohject.-The piracies by
which our commerce in the neighbourhood of
the Island of Cuba had been afflicted, have
been repressed, and the confidence Of our mer-
chants, in great measure restored.
The patriotic zeal and enterprise of Commo-
dore Porter. to whom the command of the ex-
petition was con6ded, has been fully seconded
| by the officers and men under his command
And, in rejecting with high satisfaction, on
the honorable manner in which they have
sustained the reputation of their country, and
its navy, the sentiment is alleged only by a
i al--L IL IL