The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-15
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
WAR DEPARTMENT,

December 5, 1910.
Sir Since my report of the last year the several
branches of the public service committed to my
charge the army has been actively and usefully
ployed in Florida, and the Northern and Western
frontiers.
The design entertained by the Department, keep
ing the regiments entire and concentrating the troops
whenever is practicable to do has been persevered
in with the most beneficial results "A commence
ment has likewise been made In establishing depots
for the receptions Of the recruits of each separate reg
ment, where they may be drilled and disciplined be-
fore they sent off to their respective stations gar
rson in the field. The recruit ought never to be
sent TO join his company service, until he is tho
roughly taught the duty of the soldier and this in
struction will be better given at regmental than at
general depots. By dividing each regiment into two
bodies, in the manner proposed every important sta
ton in the country may he occupied either place
of depot a rendezvous of the regiment; and, by
proper distribution of the latter the intermediate forts
may be temporarily occupied by partial deiarhmen's
without injury TO the discipline OF the whole corps
cannot too strongly urge the adoption Of this method
of distributing our little army in time OF peace. 10
divide it into small permanent detachments will be to
destroy its efficiency and its discipline, and, in the
event of to expose the posts to be captured and
the whole regular forces of the country to be nseessy
sacrificed Apart from that natural and we'll ground
cd jealousy justly entertained against the existence OF
large standing army in our country, sound pohcy
and due regard for economy render such an estab-
shment altogether nnadvisabc; and it becomes ne
ccssary, therefore, to provide other means of defend
ing northern and maritime frontiers against the
dangers to which they would be exposed at the COM
nencement OF a war None other occur to me, than
those have already recommended, viz Central posi-
tons for the regular forces from which they could
move upon any point of attack or defence; and such
organization of the volunteer militia forces as
would enable them to maintain the posts intrusted TO
their charge until relieved by the regular troops
system which ought to be matured in time of peace.
For the Western frontiers, posts garrsoned by re-
gular troops, cannot be dispensed with. They need
be very large but they ought to be constructed of
frepoot materials and in such manner as to be de-
fensibe by small garrison against any number OF
men not provided with artillery. A plan which will
effect these objects perfectly has been devised by the
Chief Engineer, and been adopted. The quarters for
the men ought, likewise to be built of durable mate
rails, and be permanently furnished with iron single
bcdsteads in lieu of the double and treble wooden
hunks now in use. This change, for obvious rca-
sons should be introduced into all the barracks in the
| United States.
The chief and best position for the concentration OF
troops independently of the regmenta rendezvous is,
for the Northern frontier, Albany, in the State
| of New York and near St Louis, in Missouri, for
the Western-points from which easy communications
adae TO every part of those extensive lines of defence
and whence troops may be transported with certainty
and rapdty wherever their presence may be required
For the maritime frontier of the Gulf of Mexico,
would recommend in addition to the permanent iorti.
cations planned for It's defence, and now being erected,
the establishment of depot, somewhere below the
falls of the Ohio for armed sean-vcsses. This
would seem to furnish the best means Of bringing the
vast power Of the upper country the defence of the
coast md of using IT, when there in the most efficient
manner. certain number ofvesscls of war might be
kept in constant readiness strong enough carry
good battery, and light enough descend the river
all seasons and to the bars of the Mississippi
These boats ought to be of iron, combining light
ness strength and durabty and might be construct
cd Of the requisite size for about fifty thousand dollars
each Materials should be collected for the construc-
ton of boats to be built of wood and stored until want
ed; when, with the vast in workshops and
mechanics along the shores Of the Ohio they might he
put together in very short time and feet cqu pped
and manned with the hardy boatnen of the Western
waters and few ahe-bodlcd seainen might be hoatcd
to the ocean, fully equal with the existing and con
templated Qualifications, to protect the whole Gulf from
tier The very able report the detences Of the
try, made by board OF distinguished officers and sub
mlttcd to Congress during the last session proves
clusivey the absolute necessity preserving and
tnuing our system Of permanent maritime works OF
defence and exhibits in the clearest their
pcrlory over floating batteries of any and every de-
scrption. In this view of the subject fully concur
and think that the facility with which our coasts
and harbors may be approached and entered by
vessels of war renders strong permanent works more
than necessary. The projectilcs which will be
used in future will from their size and descrp-
ton, prove des;ructiveto any wooden battery and give
an immense advantage To stone walls over any fab
RIGS that can be penetrated by shells II may be pro-
per here to remark that the capture of the castle
San Juan de Ulloa, at Vera Cruz, has led many per-
TO suppose that stone revcimcnts might he de-
sroycd by shells This is incorrect After that event
! caused experiments TO he made at Old Point Com
/ fort by firing at point blank range against stone
wall erected for the purpose the shells broke against
it, making very little impression No doubt, there