The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-14

DocuMEsus ACCOMPANYING THE MESSAGE
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
DEPARTMENT or WAR,)
December 2, 1887 (
STA In compliance with your instructions, and in
conformity with established usage, to present annually
TO you for the information of Congress- statement OF
the transactions Of this Department. together with such
suggestions in relation to the various subjects under its
administration the public interests may seem to re-
quire, have the honor 10 submit the following
REPORT:
II will be seen by the statement Of the Commanding
General that the principal part Of the regular forces has
boon drawn from the posts the frontiers and conccn-
rated in Florida and his account Of the military trans
actions in that Territory win exhibit the progress Of the
war to the close OF the last and the events attending
the commencement Of the present, campaign The
proposals made by the Indians to submit tho terms OF
the treaty, and the negotiations entered into with
them to this effect caused the cessation Of hostties
period when they might have been carried on to ad-
vantage.
This measure on the part OF the General commanding
the army Of the South, although productive Of delay and
increased expense, dictated by humanity and aud
able desire to avoid, IL practicable the necessity Of
further enforcing by arms the execution Of the treaty
and was approved by the Department Nor can any
just blame be attached to the conduct Of that officer for
keeping his faith with the Indians and rather suffering
gagements by securing the chiefs who had entered his
camp ard placed themselves in his power, under the
pledge Of receiving his protection.
The enemy proved fahless and the season for active
operations passed away without any important results
Great expense was incurred preparations for the
mova OF the Indians which their treachery rendered
abortive; but the honor of the Government which is
beyond all price, preserved and is satisfactory to
know that the renewal Of host,es has only taken
place after every effort had been tried in vain 10 per-
suade these deuded people to submit peaceaby to the
execution Of the law Ii is recapituate
the circumstances which led to this they area-
dy well understood but it may be important to state
the which have enabled enemy, inferior in
number and resources battle the efforts Of the Co
vernment to subdue hem and which have rendered the
contest not only dssstrousy proaced, but SO very
expensive The theatre Of war; remarkable for its
natural difficulties, entirely unknown to the com
handing officers Of army. They were compelled to
their forces with the utmost caution in the face OF
bold, active and willy foe, thoroughly acquainted with
the passes of the rivers aud which nterscc
the country and who lowered about their tanks concen
trang their numbers upon point OF attack, with unex
amped rapidity and flying from the open ground with
swness that baffled the pursuit Of the white man. The
difficulties Of transportation on which the success OF all
military operations depend, always great and in
such country involving unusual labor, expense, and
delay, were some cases nsurnountabe. In several
instances when within reach OF the enemy, our troops
baggage trains for supplies and thus lose the opportunity
Of striking effective blow, because the subsistence
could not be brought up for their Wherever
it possible, supplies transported by water to
points the theatre Of operations but having to as
cend rivers steamboats, necessarily employed at
an enormous cost to the Government. From these
points the transportation became still more expensive,
well as difficult and dangerous numerous and well
appointed escorts had TO be furnished wagons to be
dragged painless tracts OF spongy pine barren,
through almost impossible swamps, and across marshy
rivers temporary magazines to be built and posts to be
established in the wilderness, to which further supplies
Of provisions and forage to be brought, for the
country entirely destitute Of both, and the baggage
train transport its forage for few days con-
sumption only When is considered that these diff
cutes had be encountered and surmounted by raw,
undscpned troops in the face Of active enemy that
destroys unseen, delivering deadly fire at unex-
peced moment, and disappearing in morasses lmpcne-
trable the eye Of the white man. the zeal and perse-
vering courage of the officers and men worthy OF
all praise II is under such circumstances that our In
dian allies have proved useful Their peculiar saga
city in detecting the statagems Of their race, and their
untrng vigilance and activity in the field, are the best
protection against the ambuscades, night assaults, and
surprises which constitute the warfare Of these tribes
and harassng and destructive to our troops. 10
the strong arms and brave hearts of own men, we
may safely rely for victory in action; but we must de-
pend upon the Indian TO detect the lurking place OF the
TO guard against his willy approach, and to discover his
deadly presence at every difficult pass. For these rea
sons the friendly Creeks employed in the army of
the South during the last campaign but as it had been
found necessary detan their families at great expense
until they could all be transported together to the West
they were discharged and their way to their new
homes Before their departure, measures were taken
to supply their place by engaging Indians OF other tribes
In extending the necessary orders, clerical error was
made by which the Indians offered higher pay than
the law allows to volunteers The error was corrected
as soon discovered but about two hundred men
have been brought TO Florida under the first instructions
beg leave suggesthat an appropriation be asked OF
Congress enable the Department to preserve its faith
with these Indians. which venture to hope will not be
refused
Another cause OF unusual expense is to be found in
the character of the troops employed. At first they
were drafted men volunteers engaged Tor SO short
period Of service render their employment not only
expensive but inefficient; and when they engaged
for longer tme the nexperence OF their stall officers
occasioned great and unnecessary expenditures, while
the description Of force chiefly mounted men, augment
ed very much the cost Of the campaign The rennne-
aaon this irregular cavalry received from Government,
merely for the Of their horses amounted, in six
months to nearly, if not quite equal to their real
value. The Government has had, besides, to pay a
large amount for horses that persisted for want of forage
which the state Of the country rendered it mpractcabe
to transport in sufficient quantities for the supply Of so
large body of cavalry. The irregular force thus en-
poyed in Florida during the campaign Of 1886 amounted
TO about ~ 900 men onehaf Of which cavalry, at
expense greatly exceeding that of regular troops, and
by no means so efficient one half the number OF that
description Of force.
Notwithstanding the experience gained during the
two last campaigns showed the great cost of en-
ployng volunteers the Department had alternative
but engage them again, which the patriotic offers Of
the citizens from every part of the country enabled it to
do The nature Of the climate Of Florida requires tina,
the active operations Of the campaign should be
traed into short period of time, and this only be
effected by bringing into the field much greater
Der of troops than would otherwise be necessary The
regular force although collected from every point,
deemed inadequate, and resort has been had to militia
in order to make up, with the regulars, four columns