Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-31
PsTSsLHi DOCUMENTS.
Of tie Secretary Of Her. ed intfrim-[CoxclcpEn
DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
December 3, 1896
I,EpOiil'


the ARMY.
l2 Proposed increase IN tic pay Of Prr'es-fi;N"
bounty on rcsnStmcnts-l think It highly eS?e nn
that the DAY of prlvatps should also be increased Inc!
are now allowed when serving ~ cavalry III inc ftST
ments of draroons. eight dollars per month; IN all o'S
cases, six dollars per month TO t"uhy Is ~"
cent on second enlistment, which Is encouraged oy
rratu,v of two months pay In consequence o. 'ae
great increase in the price OF labor, 1t has oreh "G
difficult during the last year to procure aoieood'"
10 supply the places OF '"Se soltfs W'sc ''' ~
service had expired and the recrui;agp t the second re-
rmen OF dragons and to Gil up vacancies IN The othrr
regiments goes very slowly submit whether II be
not advisable increase the regular pay and as The ser
vices of experienced and disciplined soldier are af
more valuable than those Of recruit, cannot
doubt the proprety OF increasing the bounty on re-eh
lstment. 1t might be granted in laud, at less iconve
nence to Government, than paid IN money, ana "9a!'
probably be equally acceptable TO the s"diEr Ana as
the service OF the army for years to come, WI" he
chiefly western ir"ncrs most OF The men: "ilcn
discharged in that region would probably nd IT Tor tiF
interest become actual settlers The policy OF Tie
Government in regard The disposition of the pablo
lands would thus BE- pr6notcd;-and the settlers whom
this arrangement would plant or the lrocrs would be
found from their military know!sdge among Tie most
useful of their class These objects might be e fur
Their promoted. by giving IN increased quantity OF land
on the condition II actual settlement.
10 Proposal far tie employment II Ch'ra.Hs:-Some
provision, it appears To me- should b" made tor secur:
ing to the army the services O! Chap!anS The ACT q!
April H. 1903, required chaplain, with the pay anu
emolumens OF mnj IT Of infantry. 10 be appointed to
each brigade. This provision was continued in force
until superseded by the Of The Sd Of March, ISIS,
fixing the military peace establishments and there Is
authority for employing such an officer in The army
at the public expense, except at the Military Academy
The constitution Of the United States has wise pro-
vidcd that "Cnngrcss shall make no law respecting an
establishment Of regio! prohibiting the free exercise
thereof but this cannot lessen the obligation of Con-
gress furnish 10 the officers and men employed III the
military service, such opportunities OF religious worship
and of moral culture may be compatible with the APP
proprate duties Of Tie army. And when IL IS considered
that the sudier resumes, later,
the character OF citizen, how important does it become.
that he should be shielded, much possible, from The
perncous influences 10 which military lie is usually
exposed The eughlenng md tranquIIizing effects al
regular attendance on public worship, and The aid
which ludcious and devoted chaplain may give in the
promotion Of discipline ard sGbordnaon, ought hot 10
be overlooked in the organization of an army.
Since 1ci5 the services of chaplans At The fixed posts
have frequently been secured by voluntary contributions
collected and applied understand, by the council OF
administration. AS The officers composing ,4!a council
will lie enabled TO consult the wishes of the garrison,
and in other respects better qualified TO make Juei-
cous selections for services of this nature thah inc au
thoreS al the scat Of Government, recommend tie
passage of law, authorizing tlehl to select ana epoy
chapains from time to time, and giving TO the persons
SO empoyed the pay and CnouEcnts OF such grade as
Congress may think proper to prescrhr 10 each fegl
ment when employed III the field the like arrangement
might be extended.
IA General condition of the .7rmy, Sc.-The vacan
ces in the rank and file being numerous and many otl-
GERS Of the me being engaged on detached SERVICE or
absent with leave, iurlough, the army though III
high state Of discipline has not been found IN the h!est
condition for active field service. And notwithstanding
the successive orders which have been issued directing
officers join their regiments. the deficiency III officers
has not yet been supplementary having resigned, and
others being situated by reason OF sickness or OTHER
causes to make suspension OF the orders IN respect
to them unavoidable. These circumstances, however,
only enhance the merits Of the officers and men, whe.
Their regulars, Marines militia volunteers who have
encountered the dIlncutes, pIIvaons, ana peris OF
field service The western frontier and in the south
Several instances have occurred during the war with The
Scminoes, in which our troops have MOLLY sustained The
honor Of the American nae and those who will dsPas-
sonatey consider the events Of the past year Will hnd
in the services of the army, uaiy strong claims on Tic
confidence and gratitude of tie cation.
The Gencral.n Chief has noticed in his report. and
in appropriate terms, the gailan!ry and good conduct at
BrTadier- General CInch who commanded III Florida
on the breaking out OF ho$ties in that quarter The
merits Of that officer highly appreciated by ;his
department, that his resignation was not accepted until
it had been ascerained 10 have been rendered necessary
by important private affairs In consequence, doubt
less of pending inquiries. General Macohs report in
Inmates opinion 10 the conduct or operations "i
any ohcr general officer in Florida. or in The Creek
county This iorbearancc was manllrsly proper, and
will be initiated by the department. But :. Is not !con.
sisent with the rule thus adopted: TO express the hope
that may ultimately appear that nothing has occurred
TO Justify permanent estrangrncnt between soldiers who
trod together the path of renown nor TO dim The luste
his country.
IT, MILITIA AND VOLUNTEERS.
IL has already been stated that within the last year no
less than about "a 800 militia ard volunteers have been
mustered into the service Of the United States. As these
forces when in actual service, form part of the a:ny
of the United States, Srch particulars concerning ho*e
employed during the year, seemed proper TO be no.
ticcd this report have been presented under The Ere
ceding head
The defective organization Of the militia noticed
length in the las, annual report Of the Secretary Of
War; aud the outlines suggested OF plan for its
improvement, which received your sanction, and
submitted to Congress in the opening message of TIE last
session. No legislative action having been had upon the
subject, deem i, my duty to invite to it your renewed
attention. If any arguments, IN addition 10 those here
toforc urged were needed on inns Pont, they would he
found in The experience Of The last year While the calls
on the militia have been answered in manner highly
honorable to their patriotism, they have led TO IL!
Illustrations Of their deficiencies in organization and dis
cipine. The alter has very often been presented to
the consideration OF Congress: and until the cons,itu'
onat power Of organizing, arning, and dscIplnng ms
arm OF national defence shall have been adequately
EXERCISED will continue 10 be duty 10 invoke their
enlightened inter position
The r soM ftnnATio%s, ARsENALs ROADS &c.
ne present condition our Observation-Disclosures orson,rs
and other works of public dcE.nc "isei'"'S'
pear by reference 10 the accompanvimm eei!''y dp'
the engineer and ordnance departments 49, rpm
rale and very able report Of the late SecsStn e
OF the 9TH Of April last transmitted to the Sc " al,
your message OF the following day. couuins So ,S Nun
view Of the proper 10 be taken for their cnn
pleon and armament, TO make any farther oLsrrv,
tons that point superAuous in This place. | would
however, particularly invite your attention. and also thu
of Congress, ~ the proposals contained in that
and in the last annual report, for the establishment CT
national foundry for cannon, and to the suggestions
the subject of dc pots for arms then also submitted
The reports Of the chief engineer, and Of the head
the Typographical bureau must also he referred 10 cE