Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-12-12
A,.ExANDRIA GAZETTE.
REPORT OF THE sEcRE rARY OF WAR.
DEpaarMsxr OF War,
November goth, 1883. {

instrue tons, a report oil the operations az" au
mlni,,ra,on Of this Department tor the past year,
Il affords me pleasure to bear my testimony :"
the zeal and ability OF the respective omcs'S' a.
the head OF the varisus bureaus, ana o. Jus -.
Moved 10 aid them in the performance OF 'he ',n
portant functions committed 10 TINS o'a"N" - ~
Executive Government
aarsfsrencs IN the accompanying reports ana
documents will shuw the state Ut the Army; as
well with relation to its numbers, anu 'heir Pos'
finn and condition, as to the progress OF 'he
r;ops works entrusted TO them, anu Tue co'e.
,ion and preservation OF the necessary "'~~'e'
far offensive aud defensive operations. which Is
;nd,.nensable 10 the safety of the country Inc
n,,nrinls which governed the reduction OF 'he
ANY. from a war to q peace establishments mas
hs,n found by subsequent experience 70 DC sa'u
,,ry. and ito practical operation has oeeh 10 'o'"
, body of officers equal in all the requisites os
military knowlegde and efficiency u those VI
,nv other service which Is known 10 US. Inc
Army is organized. that, should an increase De-
come necessary, 10 consequence OF 'n''Se :"
e. ,r ;n,srest and opinion, to which all nations
i, their intercourse with one another nave oeeh
.xn,sed and from which we have no right 10 ex'
nrc, perpetual exemption, any reasonable addl'
lion NAV he made to it, without disturbing It's ar.
,,nosmeot: and the professional knowledge anu
own, rience embodied in it, will be Immediately
,st in the new corps, aud will identity them win
those previously 10 service. The military e&Pe'
ri.nce of other countries, as well a. OF our own,
has shown that the system OF extension oy ~h'c"
new and old troops are Incorporated toeether' Is
much better calculated to produce discipline ana
suhordination, and thus to meet the exlgencies
IF a service. which does not allow large 0cdies
of troops to be kept up in time OF peace than
the organization Of separate corps. composed o'
inexperienced officers and men. with all thsif
military knowledge to acquire, anh ali 'heir NM
t,ry habits 10 form. And this Is more 'pafuca'
,arIy true Of the Staff Department OF an Army,
upou which its movement, its subsistence anu
the economy Of its administration, must pr'Hei
pally depend, The system, established IN Oh.
service, is equally creditable to the Army and
satisfactory to the Government. and may be aP
piled to any necessary extent. without any d'm,'
mutton of that economy and efficiency, which
have heretofore marked its operation.
Much advantage is anticipated from the opera
tion Of the Act, passed at the last session OF Con
eress. for improving the condition OF the Army.
Already its effects have been felt, as the suhjoin
ed documents will show. in the decrease oil deser-
ton. and in the increase oil the business OF re-
cruitiug. The addition to the pay oil the rank
sod file the reduction Of the term OF service, and
the improved condition Of the non-commissloned
Officers. promise important meliOrations IN the
character of the Army. This prospect cannot
,bst hs interesting 70 the Goyernment anu tne
be- increased by the consideration that the charac
ter Of our military establishment may hereafter
essentially depend upon the measures nov taken
for It's moral and intelectual advancement. AL
though it were idle, IN the present state Of the
cOuntry, 10 apprehend any danger from the force
which Is enpluvPd. still the lessons Of experi,
encr, taug rby the prog ess f events 1t other ma
uons, ought not Ia be neglected. nor the pussibI
lity overlooked, that other circumstances NAV
lead to the Increase of our military strength and
Ia the dininntion at that wise jealousy, which is
now one ct our national characteristics. Moral
habits IN the soldiery constitute one of the best
safeguards sgainst the ahnse of military power,
and their incubation has engaged the attention
OF tSls department during successive periods of
Its administration. Amongst other measures,
which have been adopted. with this view, YOU
bave recently directed the discon,inuance of all
parahes on Sunday, ~ order that that day NAV
be exclusively devoted to the purpose Of in
structron and inprov- ment. Certainly, in time
OF peace, no Just reason can exist for converting
a dav Of res, and devotion INTO day Of military
parable.
The act for the better defence of the frontiers.
BY raising u regiment of Dragons, is in the pro.
cess Of execution. About six hundred men have
been enlisted. and most Of the officers appointed. t
and hve Of the companies have been ordered 10 |
proceed to Fort Gibson. upon the Arkansas,
where they will be stationed during the winter. /
The remainder of the regiment will be concen
Irated at Jefferson Barracks this season, and il
IS intended in the spring to order the whole to
proceed through the extensive Indian region, be.
tween the western boundaries Of Missouri and
Arkansas. aud the Rocky Mountains. II is
ieemed indispensable to the peace and security
II he frontier, that respect able forceshould be
displayed in that quarter. and that the wandering
Ind restless tribes, who roam through it, should
,e impressed with the power of the United
states, by the exhibition Of corps, so we'll qua.
flied to excite their respect. These Indians are
'e,ond the reach Of a mere infantry force
!" hhout stationary residences, and possessing
IN abundant supply Of horses, and with habits ad.
n'rao'y adapted to their use, they can be held
q cheek only by similar force. and by its occa.
iona' display among them. Almost every year
las Witnessed some outrage committed by them
Ipon our citizens; and ss MANY of tho Lode,