Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-12-11
NV sRaIEs..-voI. L. No 4s

made on them. as wen =, IN o,,..
tripcs onthe Missouri, as will areves,
aresurrcnce Of future hosiil;Iv ~
Inc frpoit OF the Secr.,, !.
war, which is herewith transm',,.' -
WI exhibit, IN greater detail. the con
d'tion ofthc Department in is yar;o,,.
branches, andth progress which pas
been nsadc in its adn,;nislra,;or A.
iog the three fret Quarters Of the year
transmit return Of the militia &c
'fc several states, according TO the Ia Z
reports which have been made bv ~.
proper oiiicers 10 each, to the Decart.
n'ent OF War. BY reference TO III.
return 4 will be seen that i, is no, ron,
piete, siihough great cxcr,ions b,vs
been made to make il So AZ he 10
'ence, add even the liberties Of ,b~
country must depend, in times Of inn
m'nent danger, on the militia. il i Of
The highest importance, ita; Il be wei,
organised, armed, and dlsc;b,;ne. !,
Throughout The Union. The refort ~
The Secretary ofWar shcws the pro.
gress made during the three frs, Quar-.
icrs OF The present year, by the appli.
caiion of the lund appropriate for arm.
ing the milisia. Much difficulty i found
~ distributing the arms according 70
Toe act Of Congress providing for i,
from The failure OF the proper Depsrt'
n,cnfs ir many Of the states 10 mat
regular resurns. The act Of Nav The
l2ih, 1890. provides that The systctm
OF tactics and regulations or the yarious
corps ostsic regular arsny shall bcex-
!eaded to the militis. This act has
been very inpericclly executed. from
The want OF uniformity ID the orrani.
zaiion ofthr militia, proceeding rom
lhe defects Of The system itself. andes.
pecially 10 its application, to that main
arm Of the public defence. TITS Thoughts
hat this important Subject, in all its
branches, merits i.,c attention of Con
gross.
The report Of The Sccresary or the
Navy, which is now communicated.
an account Of the administra.
ton OF that Department Ger the three
lirst quarters Of the present year, with
Inc progress made in aogn1cnting the
Navy, and the manner IN which The
vessels in commission have been en-
ployed.
The usual force has been maintain.
cd in the Mediterranean Sea, The Pa.
riiic Ocean, and along the Atlantic
Coast, and has Afforded The necessary
protection to our commerce in these
seas.
In the West Indies and the Gulf
81 Mexico, oar naval force has been
augmented, by the addition Of several
small vessels, provided for BY the ssact
authorizing an additional naval force
|or the suppression OF riracy,r passed
~ Congress at their last session
That armament has been emincntlv
succcsssiil in The accomplishment offs
object. TIE pracies, by which our
commerce nthc neighborhood OF the
Island Of Caba had been afflicted have
been repressed and the confidence Of
SIr merchants in great measure re-
stored.
The patriotic zeal and enterprise Of
Commodore Porter, TO whom Inc COM
mand OF the expedition was copfidcd.
pas been fully seconded by The officers
md men, under his command. And.
n rejecting, with high satisfaction Cd
he honorable manner in which they
nave sustained the reputation Of thcir
country aud it's navy, the sentiment 10
alloyed only bya concern, that in the
ulhlmeEt ct that arduous service. The
iisesses, incident TO the season, and 10
he climatc in whichit was discharged.
fave deprived the nation Of many USE
III lives, aud among them Of several
,hicers Of great promise
In the month Of August very ma.
|ignant fever made lis appearance at
Thonpson's Island, which threatened
he destruction of orr station there
Many persisted, and the commanding
Officer was severely attacked. I'M
certain as to bis fate, and knowing that
most of the medical officers had been
rendered incapable of discharging
heir duties, it was thought exredient
% send toihat post an officer Of rank
and experience, with several skillul
surgeons TO ascertain the origin of The
ever and the probability OF its recur-
renee there in future seasons; to fur
nIsh every assistance to those were suf-