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

ence Of works Of national utility. The commander o
the army Of the south says emphatically in late com
municaiioa to the Adlutant General, !" Had the opo
graphical engineers been employed in their appropriate
duties IN Florida only year of the sixteen since
have obtained possession OF the country, from two ic
three millions Of dollars might have been saved il
the expenditures Of the war" The ignorance Of III.
topography Of the country, here complained Of exists
Win regard to other important regions Of our country
which will, probably, sooner later, become the thea
tres Of war and earnestly hope the Department vii
have II IN It's power to remedy this defect, by combining
the members Of the corps their appropriate duties
examining and surveying the country for the purpose,
OF national improvements, and national defence and
experimenting the erection OF national works.
Having stated the increase which appears TO me in
dspensaby necessary render the several parts Of The
general stall OF the army effective it becomes my dut,
TO submit to your consideration the defects OF the pre-
sent system, and TO suggest better organization o
this most useful aud important branch Of the service
On examining the functions Of each Of the separate d.
visions, IL viii be that in the moving and subsis
ing the army providing for clothing and supplies IN
GLIDING transportation. barracks, camp equpsge, and al
things necessary for the health, comfort aud ecienc,
oil the troops the duties Of every branch Of the genera
stat are connected and dependent upon each other
that the best planned measures may be defeated by the
failure or neglect Of any one Of them; notwithsand
ing which, they distinct bodies entirely independent
OF each other differently organized, governed by differ
ent regulations aud, although plrely military In ihe
functions, depending only upon the civil authority al
the head Of the Department Of War, Such arrange
ment is complex, and incompatible with the uniformity
and subordnation which ought to distinguish the orga
nization Of every branch Of the military service re-
commend, therefore, that there be created staff corps
to consist OF one brgader general chief Of the staff six
colonies, six lieutenant colonies, eight MAJORS twenty
captains and twenty FIRST lieuenants who shall exer-
else all the functions, and perform all the duties al pre-
~ n.
General, Adjuant General, Inspectors General, Com
missary General OF Subsistence, and their assistants
and also by the typographical engineers and assist
ant typographical engineers and that the Com
mssariat of Purchases, and the medical staff of the
army, be attached to the said staff corps thus uniting
under one head homogeneous body sufficiently nume-
rous to promotion within ITSELF create an esprit
de corps excite emulation aud keep alive hope. This
organization, at the same time that secures uniformity
and efficiency to the operations OF the staff, is entirely
compatible with it present division into separate bu
reaus, and will not disturb the existing relations OF the
present officers of the corps with the branch to which
they are now attached.
This increase OF the rank and file and staff OF the
my here recommended, by which its efficiency would
be greatly augmented and its administration rendered
much more economical, has become necessary, indie
pendently of the assigned from greatly
tended frontier from the number and description Of our
maritime orresses, and the large body Of Indians which
yernment towards that people has concentrated upon
our western borders. When, IN 1921, the army was
reduced TO 1877 men, the extent Of frontier did
not exceed 6,373 miles, along the inland portion OF
which the Indian tribes sparsey scattered large
proportion Of their numbers being within the States, and
rendered harmless by the surrounding white population
and the marame frontier occupied by few incon-
siderable forts Since that period its extent has been
increased, by the acquisition Of Florida and other causes,
to $500 miles, most OF our principal harbors and bays
have been fortified by extensive works, and the Indians
concentrated upon the western line so TO present a
front Of not less than $4,000 warriors The protection
due by the Government to the inhabitants OF this extern
sye and exposed portion Of our country would require
much larger force than is here proposed, If their safety
made 10 depend entirely upon the regular army
and would respectfully recommend the construction
OF chain Of permanent fortrcsses along thai line, and
competent organization of the militia Of the frontier
States important and necessary auxillares for this
purpose II any danger is to be apprehended from an
army of fifteen thousand men, scattered along from
tier OF more than 5000 miles, and commanded by oti-
educated to reverence the laws and cherish the
freedom of their country eectuay to be guarded
against by a proper organization Of the militia Their
aggregate force is little short OF million and a
half Of men, and whatever may be their efficiency
against foreign enemy, they may always be relied
upon when the Liberties Of the country are assaled.
That the necessity of this may be fully I'M
derstood, have annexed statements, furnished by the
Chief Engineer, exhibiting the number and names OF
the different Notifications completed and under construc
ton and the full armament and amount Of force which
each requires to arm and garrison 1t OF the works pro-
iected- by the Board Of Engineers, but which are not
yet commenced and for the prominent points along the
frontier which require protection and for which no
plans projects have yet been made and list OF the
posts on the inland frontier Of the United States, with
notice Of the garrsons deemed necessary for them IN
time of peace and to preserve peace furnished by the
acting quarternaster general.
The measures Of defence for the border settlements,
which the policy Of the Government towards the Indians
has renderedi their imperative duty to adopt have en-
gagged the anxious consideration OF this Department, and
the matter will be fully treated, IN answer to call OF
Congress for information on that subject.
The report OF the Chief Engineer, which is herewith
submitted, contains summary OF the numerous and
important works under the superintendent Of this
branch Of the service 1t is manifest from review OF
this document, that further increase Of this corps
is rendered necessary from the great accumulation Of
the public works confded to its charge But the high
order of talent, united to great requirements, which
have hitherto distinguished this corps, and which are
required in the discharge Of duties involving not only
large expenditures, but in many cases. the safety and
honor Of the country demand that this should be done
with the utmost caution The youth who exhibited the
greatest aptitude for such sudies and who their pro-
gress through the Military Academy, distinguished
themselves above their fellows, and deemed worthy
enter this corps by those who appointed by the
Government to decide the relative merit Of the candid
ates ought alone to be added to it should they be
placed in charge Of any work until they have been a,
least two years assistants to older and more
perenced officer II is due to this corps to say that
their pay aud emouments insufficient for their sup
port. Performing duties that require the exercise OF
talents and attalnments which, in civil life, command
the highest rate of remuneration, and in hon
orabe to themselves and useful to the country, they
less amount Of pay than any other branch of the
service. beg leave, therefore, respectfully to recon-
mend that the officers Of this corps be placed the
same footing those Of the cavalry Of the United
States proper regard the interests of this branch
of the public service induces to recommend the APP
pontmen Of Inspector Of Notifications, with the rank
of colonel, whose duty it shall be, under the orders Of
the Chief Engineer make regular and systematic IN
spectons Of all the Notifications and public works I'M