Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-18
POLITICAL.
REpoRT on THE sECRErARY on wAR.
DErARr0IENr oF WAn, Noy. 25lh, Iaa2.

/
DEPARTMENT. OF WAR, Nov. 25h, 1892.
TO the President Of the United states:
StR-ln conformity with your instructions, proceed 10
lay before you brie statement of The various operations
OF this department for the past year and such suggestion
for the improvement of the several branches of c public
service committed It's care, experience has dictated:
and in executing this task il il due 10 the services,
lions aud fidelity, of the officers al the head Of the e>pcc-
live bureaus OF the department, that should acknowledge
their able assistance and the important benefits have de-
rived from their counsel and cooperation in the admins
traon oil the Of this highly respectable Office
During the past session, the hostile aggresSons Of the
Sac and Fox Indians upon the borders OF Illinois and Ma
chgan required and received the prompt attention the
Government. The executives OF the States Of MsSU al.
Illinois, and indiana, and ot the Territory of Michigan co
operated zealousy aud efficiently in the measures
protection The regular troops in the vicinity OF the
theatre OF hoS,ilites were concentrated under Brig1
der General Atkinson, and brought iuo the field; and
the militia OF Illinois, and of that part Of the Territory OF
Michigan exposed to danger promptly repaired TO The de-
fence OF the frontier Such the nature of the warfare
and oil the country, that 1t was dicuI Immediately TO
protect the long line OF scattered settlements, and bring
the enemy TO action. As pre- cAuonary measure and
place the result Of the campaign far beyond The reach OF
accident possible the gasOns OF the posts upon
The seaboarl, and upon the lakes ordered 10 Chca
20, under the command OF Major General Scott 10
operate with the force already employed under Baier
General Atkinson. The celebrity with which these troops
moved, is crediablc to their character and discipline One
Old Point Comfort, distance, by the route necessarily
travelled OF more than eighteen hundred mile; and the
movements OF the whole marked by the greatest
despatch. Unfortunately their hopes of being useful 10
the appearance OF the cholcra aud probably few military
expeditions have presented appalling in them
selves demanding the eXcrion oil greater moral
age Inc occasion was met by MAJOR General Scott in a
manner worthy of his high character, and the example he
gave the American army in that period of trying espon-
sibity, is not less mportan than his gallant bearing
In the presence OF the enemy during the late His
efforts wcseconded by the officers, and pract-
cable method seems have been omitted to stay, 10
cure the pesteucc. OF about fifteen hundred officers
and men oil the regular troops ordered to the northwestern
frontier, less than hundred died by the cholera
Iii a.
under lis command, pursued the Indians through com
Try very difficult to be penetrated, OF which liule
known and where much eXertion required TO pro-
cure supplies reese circumstances necessarily delayed
the operations and productive OF great responsibility
to the commanding officer, and great suriugs and pri-
vatons 20 all employed IN this haTa si' warfare.
The Ind ans, however, weredriveu ON their fis'nC
and fed toward the mississippi with the in euton
seeking refuge in the county OF hat river. he
were Immediately followed by General atkinson. with a
mounted crce, ov'r'ak,n, end compIo ly vauqu,hed.
The arrangement OF The ndin General, well in
the pursuitas In the action pronp and udciou,
the conduct OF tho officers and men was exemplary. The
campaign terminated in ie unqua h,d subuiss ct The
hostile party, and in the adoption o. tnr the per
maDen' secutiy of The frontier and The result his pro-
duced upon tho Indians OF tat region, sarary impress
SON. whcht Is 10 re hoped, VIII prevent The recurrence
OF similar
The extensive operations rendered necessary by these
events, have demonstrated he attic orgauz ion end
cheney OF The various sa departments o. tie army aud
hsiT capacity 10 meet any cHigcncy which may require
helr oAerlion5 hey have eso shown mat The morale
and discipline Of the troops we'll preserved and hat
whenever or wherever their services may be wanted the
expectations OF their country will be disappointed
An Of lhe last session OF Congress a; hniz,d the
raising OF six companies OF mounted rangers. for the de-
| fence o. the frontiers. Five OF these orgatized
whoH delay, Immediately after the psss8Ce OF the law
but owing the absence The re son selected tor ,c
command o the SIKH, with the troops employed untri
Gene Al Atkinson, that company not brought inic
service during The active por ion o. the 1t
however, filled, and under orders
have caused comparative view 20 be appended 10
this report showing tie difference Of cost between the
maintenance of dis corps Of rangers and Of regiment
dragons. II will be perceived, that the former exceeds
the latter by one hundred and fifty three thousand nine
hundred and tdrty-two dollars. The rangers costing
nually two hundred and ninety thousand five hun
bred aud thirty dollars, and the dragons hundred and
ioriy-three thousand 1--we hundred and uin9iy eight d
uon unc'7 there arc circumstances connected with ihc
nature oil the duties oil these corps, which give to the
rangers al present organized derlcd preference over
NE drag"onS II my conviction, That there arc no such
circumstances, 6nd mat regiment OF 'rlgoon5 would be-
more cHcient az well rs more economical From hc con-
sHuion OF The corps rangers, and from the short pc
RODS o. 'hrr service thor organization "a but lizzie sNPc-
nor to i' oil he ordinary militia Every year thre must
bc great loss oi lime In tue Reconstruction ol Inc corps
ana ~ the acquisition oil TIE necessary experience and
knowledge Ana us constitution IS so dI-siniiar tom thai
Of any Other branch OF The army That perfect union oil
sentiment ana action between them con scarcely be cX
Pecled he w'nt OF these must frequently be Injurious
I TO The public service
Regular cavalry are tny competent 70 the discharge o
all The duties required of mounted rangers. In celebrity
movement they VIII OF course be equal and ~ (Which
however douhulO the rifle Is considered the most ell
cient arm for mounted troops, operating against the In
dams, Ibis weapon be placed in c hads of such
Besides other important Objects it is desirable 10 pre-
serve 10 military system the elements of cavalry