Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-14
kgPoaruF lHE sEcRErASY OF WAR.
ID r,RrurxT or WAR. Nov. %. 1889.

STA: In CONT" an ~ win YOUR ias"oe"ous'
prncrsd tnl ~ before 'uu or,ei statement W tue
mus op.rar"u, rf thIs department Tor Inc past
wear. and such suggestions Tor the Improvement
q, ,,e several b, An,he> Of 'he public service,
c,mmited To rs care, As experience has dictated;
aud, in ,uihg this task, II u due to 'he SER
", .xsr ,iunS ami fidelity. OF the officers at the
H.. d ~ the respective bureaus of the department.
tina, 4 .hnuld a, knuw ledge their able assistance,
aud IN. important benefit, have derived from
their counsel and CO operation IN the adminiS,ra
II N of the concerns Of this highly responsible
Oil e.
Diring the past session, the hostile agsress'o"ss
Of the Sac aud Fox Indians. upon the oo'ae'. =, VI
I,nois and Michigan, required anu receive "'e
prompt attention OF the G.vernme", III
cu,;y.s nf the States OF Missouri, Illinois, anu
I,l,a,, aud of the Territory OF Michigan, CO.
on.raIrd zraIously and efficiently IN the mea-
60. ,f protec,ion. The regular troops IN the
v,c;n;,, Of the theatre Of hostilies were coneen.
tr,,.d under Brigadier General Atkinson, anu
hrnnyh, into the field; and The militia OF Illinois,
',,d IF that part Of the Territory OF Michigan
exposed to danger, promptly repaired 70 the de,
fence of the froniisr. Such WAS the nature o'
the warfare & of the country. that II was d'iheu'
Immediately to protect the long line u scattered
settlements, and to b,iDg the enemy 10 actioh.-
As precautionary measure. and to place the re.
sult Of the campaign as far beyond the reach o'
accident a. possible the at some OF the
nests upon the seabuard, and upon the lakes.
wer. ordered u Chicago, under the command ei
Mainr General Scott, to CO operate WIN the
force already employed under Brigadier Gene
raj Atkinson. The celebrity with which these
troops moved, is creditable ia their character
and discipline. One Of the companies reached
Chicago in eighteen days from O,d Point Com
fort. distance by the route necessarily travelled
-. rad
noyement of the whole was marked BY the great
nst ,,ssns,cb. Unfortunately, their hopes Of BE-.
mo useful to their country were suddenly arrest
ed. when hiyhes,. by the appearance OF the ch"
iera; and probate, few military expeditions nave
presented scenes more appalling in themselves
- or demanding the exer,ion oil greater moral coa
rsse. The occasiun was met Ov MAJOR G'nerai
Scot, IN manuer worthy Of his high character
aud the example he gave TO the American army
in tina, period Of irving responsibility Is not less
,,n.u;spt. tnen was his gallant bearing IN the
nrr.euce Of the eaemy during the late war. hi'
sSf,rss were well seconded by the officers, and
nn practicable method seems 10 have been can't
,.,, To STAY. or to cure. the pesuien"e. VI about
t-,e,n hundred officers and men OF the regular
,,o,ps ordered 10 the northwestern frontier, not
le,s than TIVE hundred died by the cholera.
General Atkinson, with the regular troops
AMI militia under his command, pursued the tn-
d,,ns through country very difficult to be pene'
t,,,,d. Of which little vas known, a"d where
cnucn exerton was required to procure supplies.
These circumstances necessarily DELAYED the
operations, and were productive ut great respon-
sibility To the commanding officer. and OF great
sulferings aud pr,aliun. to all employed IN this
harrassing warfare.
The Indians, however, were driven from their
Businesses. and fled towards the Mississippi,
10 Al,
try west of tina, river. They were immediately
followed by General Atkinson, with mounted
force, overiaken, and completely sanquished.-
The arrangements Of The commanding general.
a. well in u. pursuit as in the action, were
prompt and judic,ous, and the conduct Of the Of.
fcer, and men was exemplary. The campaign
terminated IN the unqualified submission Of the
hostile party. anu IN the adoption Ut measures
for III. permanent security Of the frontier; and
the result has produced upon the Indians of that
region a ssluta,y IMPRESSION, which, II ~ to be
hoped. will prevent the recurrence Of similar
scenes
The extensive operations rendered necessary
b, lrese events. have demonstrated the able or.
gan,zaiion aud efficiency of the various staff de-
D,rtmeut, Of the army, and their capacity to
met any exigency which may require their exer
tinns. They have also showo that the morale
AMI discipline of the troops ave wei; preserved.
and that. whenever or wherever their services
ma, be wanted. the expectations OF their coun-
Try will not be Disappointed.
An act Of the last session of Congress auth0-
riz.i the raising of SIX companies of mounted
rangers for the deleuce Of the frontiers Five
of these we,e organized without delay. immedi-
a,~iv after the passage Of the Law; but. ow.
ing Ia the absence ot the person selected for the
comm, nd Of the SIKH, with the troops employed
under General Atkinson. thar company was not
brough, into service during the active portion Of
the seasun. Ii is now, however, filed and IN.
der orders.
have caused comparative view to be appen
ded TO TIN, report. showing the difference Of cost
between the maintenance Of this corps Of ran
Gers, and Of a regiment Of Dragons. II will
b, perceived, that the former exceeds the latter
by one hundred and 6lry.three Thousand nine
hundred aud ,h'rty-two dollars. The rangers
costing annually two hundred and ninety seven
thousand five hundred and thirty dollars, and
the dragons one hundred and forty three thou