Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-12-05

accountability has been introduced in
to every branch ofthe service, whicl
admits of little additional Improvement
This desirable state has been sitainea
i by the act re organizing the staff Of
the army, passed on The fourteenth Of
April eighteen hundred and eighteen
The monies appropriated for forli-
fications have been regularly and c.
economically applied, and alIthe works
advanced as rapidly as the amount an.
preciated would admit. Three i'm
portant works viii be completed in the
course of this year; that is. Fort Wash.
ington, Fort Delaware, and the Fort
at the kigolets, 10 Louisiana.
The board OF Engineers, and The
Typographical corps, have been in
constant and active service, in survey
ing the coast and projecting the works
necessary fori its defence.
The Military Academy has attain
cd degree OF perfection in its disci.
pine and instruction, equal, as is be.
leved, to any Institution Of its kind
10 any country.
The money appropriated for The use
OF the ordinary department, has been
regularly and economically applied
fabrication Of arms at The national ar
mories, and by contract with depart
ment, has been gradually improving
IN quality and cheapncss. II is be-
lievcd that their quality is now suck IS
to admit Of but little Improvements.
The completion of the Notifications
renders II necessary that there should
be suitable appropriation for the ur-
pose OF frabricating the cannon aud
carriages necessary for those works.
Under the appropriation of five
Sousand dollars for exploring the ives
tern waters for the location OF site
fora Western Armory, commission
was constituted, consisting of colonel
M'Ree, colonel Lee, and captain Tai.
cort, whs have been engaged in ex.
ploring The country They have not
yeireported the result ofthese labours.
but it is believed ihst they will be pre.
pared to dol st an early part of the
Session Of Congress.
During the month OF June last. Gen.
eral Ashley and his party, ~ho we're
trading under l'ccnce from The &C.
verDmcnt, were stacked by Ricarees
while peaccably trading with The In.
cians, st their request. Several of the
party were Killed and wounded and
their property taken or DESTROYED.
Colonel Leavenwortb, who com.
manded Fort Atkinson, at the Coun-
chi B'uAs, the most westcta posi-, ap-
pretending that The hostile spiri, Of
the kicarees would extend 10 other
tribes in that quarter, and that thereby
the lives of the traders on the Missou-
ri, and the peace ofthe frontier, would
be endangered, took immediate mea-
snres to check the evil.
With a detachment of the regiment
stationed at the Bluffs, he success6,llv
attacked the Ricarcc villsge, and il IS
hoped that such an impression has been
made on them, as well Is on other
tribes on the Missouri, as will prevent
arccurrence OF future hostility.
The report Of the Secretary Of
War, which is herewith transmitted
will exhibit, in greater detail. the con.
diloH ofthe Department in its various
branches, and the progress which has
been Hade in its administration, dur
ing the three first quarters Of The year.
l transmit aretnrn Of the militia Of
the several states, according 10 The last
reports which have been made. b, the
proper officers in each, to the Denart.
nent Of War. By reference TO This
return it will be seen that il is not com.
plcte, although great cxerions have
been made to make it-so AS the de.
fence, and even the liberties Of the
country must depend, in times of i'm
minens danger, on the militia, it is Of
The highest Importance, that it be- we!i
organized, armed, and disciplined
hrou out the Union. Tie report Of
the Secretary OF War shews the pro-
grcss made during the three first quar-
ters Of the present year. by the appIi.
cation of the fund appropriated for arm
ing The militia Much difficulty is found
in distributing the arms according to
he act of Congress providing for il,
fromthe failure of the proper Depart
ments in many OF the states to mako
regular returns. The act Of Nay the
10Th. 1920, provides that the system
Of factirc and rer,,ixlio,c at III. x*ar,r,,~sS