, 1840-02-01
ABSTRACTO OF THE REPORT OF THE
SECRETARY OF WAR.

ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE
SECRETARY OF WAR.
This document being too lengthy tor our
columns, we take the liberty OF Prcsentlngs
portion Of it to our readers in as condensed
q form as possible.
s Er.ning Gaz.
II will be seen that the army, during the
past wear. has been kept in active service IN
Florida. a. well n the northwestern and
maritime frontiers. The necessity OF keep
ing our troops together in as large masses as
possible Is also shown. The camp of in
struction at Trenton is said TO have Saane
good tendency. Se1Lslsgisfatf7e 9ssios
j. said iasb6wanths.Si6 order to prevent
minors and improper recruits from enteiin ing
the service. The law Of March Cd, 1897;
providing for the enlistpen: of boys for the
naval service SO as TO embrace the army, is
also recommended. Itln desired that the
works OF defence at the outlet of Lake
Champlain, old Fort Covineson, Black Rock,
AID near Detroit, DO re5fired and recon-
struc.ed. Ii i. stated ths< while our soldiers
are better clothed andfsd than ,hoce Of 9TH
er nations theyAfe worse lodged. 1t is
therefore deSned essential TO their health
and moIs!s that this evil be remedied by Goa
struggling barracks, where they may be per-
DSnently and comfortably quartered.
The conduct of Ros, and his party TO-
wards the signers of the treaty at New
Echota, the turbulent conduct Of the Semi
mole, and Chsrokses, the murders &c. and
the untriendly disposition Of some of them
towards the whites, render the speedy GEN.
~pletion Of the chain Of posts on the western
frontier necessary.
Tit Secretary, from personal inspection,
IS well as from the report Of the Chief Engi-
neer, p~ronouuces our maratime deiences to
be totnliy inadequate to the purpose OF secu.
Ti:y against an invading enemy. Boston
aGd Newport are nearly in a condition. 10 re-
pei inva-:aa; but Portsmouth, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charles,or, Savan-
nah, Pensacola. and all the ports in the Gulf,
require farther protection 10 render them
safe from attack.
In respect to the organization Of the mill
tia he proposes 10 divide the United States
into eight military districts, ana to organize
the militia in each District, 30 AZ 10 have u
body of { relvs thousand five hundred men
IN active service; and another of equal num-
bsr as a reserve. The age Of the recruit to
be from twenty TO thirty-seven. The whole
tenn of service to be eight years; four years
in the first class, and four in the reserve. One
fourth part. twenty five thousand men. to
leave the service every year. passing, at the
conclusion Of the first term, into the reserve.
and exempted from ordinary militia duty al
together at the the end of the second. In
this manner, twenty five thousand men will
be discharged from military duty every wear
and twenty-five thousand fresh recruits
received into the service.
The failure Of the treaty with the Indians
81 Florida, and their falthIes,ness exhibited
IA numerous murders induces the Secretary
10 recommend a war of ex,erninafion to be
carried on bv a corpse Of 1.0oo men, trained
With an especial view to Indian warfare
They are to receive the pay and emrIuments
OF dragons. The small arms manufactured
both at the national armories and by private
contractors. are highly eulogised; but as The
same cannot he sail of cannon, the establish !
rnent Of a national foundery is recommended
and also Il national mandatory Of gunpow.
der, i, which there should always be at least
a years supply Of the materials for the manu-.
OF this necessary article. The ord
canoe department has been actively engaged
in manufacturing all kinds Of ordnance
the construction of war rockets &c.
The sale of the mineral lands i, recon-.
!nended, as far preferable TO letting them on
S Shich ths Miaias aasra!ions are
diminished. "
M l