Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-14

lSchdrge Of all IN? du'ies rtuu"eu w N r
rangers. In CELEBRITY Of movement '"ey WIZ "
course be equal, and It (Which however 10 ooa"
fui) the rifle is considered the most EN- leu, on
Tor mounted troops. operating agal"s. '"o III Of
aus. tins wsanon can be placed in the hands OF
such cavalry, and they can easily be tra'neo 10
its use l
Resides other important objects, II IS desirable
IN nreserye in our military 3, stem the e'emeh"
of ,a,aIry tactics, and to keep pace win 'ht "h'
nru, ements made in them by "thei ha'""s
The establishment Of a regiment OF dragons
would complete the personnel Of our army, anu
would introduce force which would harm""'Ze
with. and participate IN the esprit du corps 40
essential to military efficiency, and 80 easily
aud certainly created by military principles
! 1t seems to be now conceded. add II surety
| nav well be, that mounted troops are aoso'uts'y
necessary for the defence Of that part OF 'he
inland frontier in contact With the tnd'an .''oes'
Our permanent military posts, garrisoned by IN
fan,ry. exert moral influence over the Indians,
| and protect important and exposed petitions
But to overtake and chastise maraudlng parties'
! and in fact 10 carry on any serious operations
against an Indian toe in the level regions OF the
west. h0rsemeu are indispensably necessary.-
Presenting, therefore, that some force oil TINS de-
scriptlon will be retained, have the honor TO
| suggest the proprie,y Of the conversion OF
the corps Of rangers Into regiment OF Ora
goons.
The report of the officer, at the head OF the
Engineer Department, presents a comprehensive
view of the operations assigned to the corps uh'
der his superintendence, in its three great dI's.
ions Of foriificatisns, internal improvement, and
military education.
In the construction OF the various works oil
defence upon the maritime frontier, the progress
\
err and economical administration ct this ,mpor.
tant duty, and with the numerous calls upon the
officers Of that department. So much delay and
loss are experienced, not only in this branch OF
the public service but 10 almost all others, re-
curing the disbursement OF money, BY the late
| period at which the apprOpr iatiOns are sometimes
made, that am led to Introduce the subject
here, in the hope, that it will engage the at'en-
tion of Congress. The pecunary loss Is not
the ONLY injury, particularly in all the works OF
furt,lica,ion and internal improvement. The
operations are necessarily discontinued during
one part Of the working season, and too rapidly
prose cuted during another, aud the result Is,
consequently, more or less untavorabie.
The numerical strength Of the engineer corps
is not now sufficient for the performance OF the
duties required Of its officers. They have. all
been actively and zealousy engaged. and their
scientific and practical atta'nmenls emInenty
qualify them for the discharge OF the various tune
tons they are performing, whether belonging ap
rr,pria,eiy to their profession, or assigned to them
by this department. For the fats connected
with this subject refer to the report Of the
CHE! Engineer, contentIng myself VITA onserv
ins, that there is no economy 10 keeping this es
Enlistment below the number, demanded by the
eyisencv of the service. Either the duty wii
ka CerfO q has ha m cd Pa2
some instances, or. as has happened in others, II
will be worse perfirmed, and at greater ex
pense: for il is impossible TO transfer from civil
life. o. from other depar tments OF the army, per
sous possessing the requisite atiainments. with
out previous experience, to insure science and
skill IN the execution Of these duties. and sys
TEN Of vigllant supervision in the administration
Of their fiscal concerns To acquire these quail.
6cations, tine and experience are necessary
Aud the responsibility imposed bv a permanent
attachment 20 The department.. and the esprit du
corps created bv IT, are both favorable to more
faithful and ,ficIent discharge Of the duties ap
pertaining to il. For these reasons, and from,
the clearest conviction, that such measure is
demanded BY the public interest, | venture to
renew the recommendation contained ia nv ! st
annual report. for moderate aud gradual in
crease Of the engineer corps, and Ia express NV
full concurrence in the views pres nt.h by The
Chief Engineer upon that subject.
The Military Academy. as will be- seen hs the
repnr, Of the Board OF Visi,ers, Is steail, pur>u
Ing its Course of usefulness. a, an i,StitulInl
national in its jects, its administrator, Its sup
port, and its pupils, il merits the fostering are
Of the Government, and the kind regard of The
public Fur series Of years. il has un leryone
the rigid examination nf the most respectable e.
tizens. selected from every part OF the country.
manv Of whom have arrived there with strong
prejudlces against It, but all of "hom. | believe
have returned with deep c"nvh ton Of its I'm
portance aud admirable management As a
school, where the various sciences auxiliary to
the art of war, are taught. aud taught most tho.
roughly; a. a camp Of instruction., where the
practical duties Of the soldier are acquired, and
where the difficult art of governing is learned. by
learning first the duty of obedience; as place
Of deposit. where all the improvements in mill.
tary knowledge. throughout the world, are asc.r.
tanned, preserved, and invest. gated; and As
point Of concentration. where young men are
brought into friendly contact and emulation,
from every mart 0f the {Juion and arc sept ,,t