Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-09
DOCUMENTS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DErAnTMENr, ,
;
Nov. 9th. 1881


'nent OF the proceedings of this Department having ar
rived, have the honor in conformity with your nstruc
tons, to lay before you abstract of its operations to-
gethcr with The reports and estimates from the various
bureaus, exhibiting The condition of those branches of
The public service, connected with its administration
since my last annual report. military movement
Oh any importance with the exception of the expedition
OF the regiment Of dragoons has been rendered neces
3ary The reports and information which have reached
the Department respecting the situation of the Army
are highly gratifying. In IFS discipline its moral cha
raccr, and the general performance Of lis dutes the
government and the country have every reason % be
satisfed with ITS condition and prospects As safe
guard FOR the ontersas school OF practical nstruc-
non-as depository of military information, and the
means OF preparing and providing in peace the ext
gences OF war the present military establishment has
iuy answered the objects 81 It's organization and sun
port And 1t rs but AN act Of justice state, that in all
the essential requisites of capacity and conduct the Of
ceTs OF the American Army do honor TO themselves and
their country
Il is known TO you that of the western tribes of
Indians roaming through the extensive prarcs west
of Arkansas and Missouri particularly the Canaan
ches and Kiawas, have, for some wears INTERRUPTED
inc peace OF that quarter by predatory attacks upon
our citizens and upon the indigenous and emigrnnt
indians whom we are under obligations to protect
Their war parties have annoyed our citizens in their in
tercourse with the Mexican States, and have rendered
Tile communication difficult and hazardous Ii be-
necessary 10 put stop to this state of things,
ether by amlcable representations by force. Thos
remote tribes have little knowledge of the strength of
he United States or of their relative Weakness and
II was hoped, that the display Of respectable military
orce Tor the first time teir country, would satisfy
nen that farther hoshes would lead their destruction
Ibe Dragons being peculiarly adapted to this service
were ordered 10 penetrate into that region and to
endeavor, by peaceable rcnonstranccs 10 establish
permanent tranquility and if these should fail TO repo
any hostile demonstration which might be made For
unaeiy The efforts to introduce amcable relations were
successful and the object ofte expedition obtained
without single act Of hostility Colonel Dodge who
led the expedition, and his whole command appear to
nave performed their duties in the satisfactory
manner, and they encountered with rmness the prva-
tons incident to the harassng service upon which they
were ordered 1t is 10 be regretted that the prevalence
Of sickness prevented the whole regiment from Joining
IN TINS duty, the zeal for the public interest per-
vaded the whole that sickness deprived the country
some vauabic ves and among others, of Brgaicr Ge-
neral Leavenworth. lmpeed by his anxiety to forward
The views Of the Government he exposed himself while
yet weak, TO the hardships OF a borIer canpaion and
sunk under the malady which these induced Ills hi4h
personal character his services during the late war and
ms exemplary official conduct since, well known
TO you to require from any thing this brief
allusion to his worth and fate
Among the accompanying documents win be found
ni statement OF the proceedings Of Col Dodge and OF
the satisfactory result OF his expedition.
The Report of the Chief Engineer contains sunln,a-
y OF the various objects ntusted TO his supervision and
OF ther progress and condition. II viii be SEEN that
the Cumberland Road, east of Wheeling will be soon
completed III the manner required by of te last
session, and for the amount allowed by law No further
appropriations Will be asked for. AS much progress
has been made in the other works as the advanced state
e a's season. when the appropriations made would
beg leave to ask your particular attention To that
part OF the Report OF the Chief Engineer which recon-
mends an addition TO the number Of the officers of his
corps believe the public service requires this measure
New duties have recently been imposed upon the
OOIpS, express acts oil Congress while.
other cases, 1t has been found necessary by Exccu
tive regulation TO require from the officers services
not originally contemplated in tie organization OF the
department The erection of Qualifications, the CON
structon of roads, the establishment of fixed points by
astronomical observations in boundary lines, and The
Improvement OF borsand rivers, among the objects
committed TO the Engineer officers. And feel bound TO
report to you that as far my observation information
has extended their duties have been performed i'm Inc mos,
satisfactory and exemplary In scientific ACQUIRE
Inents, and in their practical application these officers
are deserving of high commentator and il is very da
tlapr ntt9ftlar orl.., Il
TO ensure their personal attention ali the Objects With,
in the control Of the Engineer Department This can
not now be DONE and the public service suffers in
qucncc Of it.
Similar call for re organization of the Topo
grapcai Corps, and the officer ut the head of has sub
nlticd ap'6Jd Tor THIS purpose which, while it will
der that corps efficient viii not increase the public
expense ask for il your favorable consideration The
duties connected with this branch of the service reaire
peculiar attainmcnis and great practical cxuerience
lncy can best be performed by officers devotnp their
whole tune aud attention to the subject system Of de-
tail requiring periodical changes however proper il may
be; with relation to jSst routine of military duties SO
long as temporary assistants selected from and con.
uhued in the line OF the army ii is still calculated to
ensure the best execution Of the functions appropriately
belonging TO the Typographical Engineers The RENE
ny would be to remodel the corps, and permanently
attach to it as MANY officers may be necessary And
by consolidating WITH the Civil Engineers the general
operations would be smpliod, and the duties Of the
corps might embrace oil the objects connected with sur
veys Tor civil or military purposes There Is in this
corps fund ofexpcrencc and nlopmatior which cannot
but be useful TO the country.
IL viii be seem by advcrtin0 to the rrport Of The officer
IN charge OF The Typographical Bureau that difficulties
have occurred IN the execution of the Joint resolution of
Congress, passed at the last session. and PROVIDING for
The eonstrnccnofa railroad through the public grounds
al Harper Ferry Some modification VIII he necessary
before tie Object OF Congress- andOf the Company can
be attained; and tins may probably be cced by rcquir
ing the latter TO pay 1o value of any improvements in
lafcd ~ tic road by giving Authority to replace them
IN other positions, should uey be deemed OF sufficient
Importance ia require being paid for removed
The present condition q the work Of the Delaware
Breakwatcr IS shCwn the Report Of the Quarermaser
General and in that Of the Commission lately instituted
BY your orders 70 examine it, # has heen known for
some time ta gradual dispositions were making i'm the
vicinity of t!is work. by which tho depth Of wafer
process was slow aud uncsrlaiu, that no ankle
~ was felt with respect to it's final effect upon this
great National Improvement. Recently, however
the accumulation of sand in the artificial harbOr
has been much more rapid, and indicated the nc
cessity oi thorough examination, by scientific per-
sons, IN order TO ascertain, if possible, the causes of
uiis occurrence, end to check or oiviac them che
views of Che officers selected for this purpose viii bc
found I'm their report and agrccahlg your directions
they have been adopted by the Department An csti-
mate Tor one hundred thousand dollars 10 be applied 60
THIS work. is among llie ANIMAL estimates Of the Depari-
mCnt, and fapProyed by Congress that sum will be- APP
poPraied 40 the manner pointed out by The report 10
tie completion Of that part OF the work already begun
and yet unfinished. In the Inean time by a series Of
observations frequently and carefully taken the proba-
bic operation Il the tides and currents may be ascer
| out
The oct Of March 3D. 1879 60 continue tho present
mode Of supplying thc uriuy Of the United Slate5" OK
pres BY its oWn Limitation Be "a Of March next
The Subsistence Department which was continued by
.lis act has been found highly useful 10 he army, and