Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-04

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
Nnva,,L,r IN Isn1

tWENsA. SlARa CONSftEsS.-.ist SESojcS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
WAR DEP iRTaEST, }
November 30, 1859.
Sir: have theohonor to submit You the following
Report upon the several branches Of the public service
ccnfdcd to ny charge:
The Army, as will be seen BY the accompanying
port of the Commandnr General has been kept or
tive duty during the past year In Florida, on The
Western, Northcrn AID maritime ffoners the troops
have been constantly and useiuly employed The OK
perence Of the last has confirmed the opinion,
always entertained by the Department. that great and
decided advantages may accrue TO the service from
keeping the troops together in large masses as the
circumstances OF the country will permit. The camp
of instruction AZ Trenton, and the concentration of
the regiments of few Of the posts the North
frontier attended with most saluary effects
and it affords the highest qualification to be able to
bear testimony to the eXertons OF the superior officers
and 70 the zeal and industry cvnced by those Of every
grade in their camp and garrison duties, and IN drilling
and nstructng their mon. On this occasion, rs we'll
in the field, the deficiency of company officers
apparent and the injury to the service from taking
many staff officers from the line sensbly felt. In
deed it is manifest that the army cannot be efficient
under its present organization and that the staff ought
to be separated from the line. Some further cgisla
tive enactments reqpre,! to prevent improper
cruits being received into the military service, and
10 punish persons who knowingly and wilfuiiy swear
falsely when taking the oath required BY regulations to
Be administered to them. Minors not uni:equently
impose themselves upon the recruiting officer by swear
ing that they of age, or By producing false ccrt
of the consent of their parents and guardians 20
their enlistment and after receiving their cothng and
otherwise putting the Govern ncmt 10 expense, claim
to be released the plea Of being under are. The
commission OF this crime oil frequent
10 cail for remedy Il is perjury, and ought 80 he
regarded and punished. Experience at some Of the
recruiting stations where boys haze been taken into the
service, with the consent OF parents and guardians,
drummers and musicians, convnccs that plan
similar to that advaatagcousy carried into effect IN
the navy might be adopted with great advantage III the
army; and | recommend an extension OF the law OF
March 9 1897, providing for the enlistment of boys
for the naval service to embrace the army and ordnance
The works directed By Congress to be constructed
on the Northern frontier, have been commenced and
are in progress. IL is to be regretted that owing TO
some misunderstanding The appropriation asked for to
enable the Department to fortfy the outlet Of Lake
Champlain, struck out of the bill for the defence
of TIE country. This work is deemed of essential i'm
portance as likewise one al old Fort Coving-
ton, and barracks at Black Rock and in the neghbor
hood Of Detroit: Hopes entertained that Congress
will not again withhold the necessary appropriations to
enable the Department to commence these WORKS, and
TO complete those already begun, with little delay
practicable The disturbed state of the Canada from
tier, and the absolute necessity which exists TO keep
upon that line large force be spared from
other points, will require the erection OF permanent and
comfortable barracks. One Of the prime pa OF
deserton be found the crowded and uncomiort-
able condition of the soldiers speak from my own
knowledge, when say that soldiers are better paid,
fed and clothed, than any troops in Europe; but an
equal regard 10 ,ruh forces me to acknowledge that
they are worse lodged lacced, tel compelled to
state that the comfort Of the soldiers, in this respect
has been totally neglected. II is essential to their
health their morals, and their discipline chat good
barracks should be constructed wherever the troops are
to be permanently quarcrcd and that they should be
decenty furnished and supplied
The causes which call for the speedy completion OF
the chain OF posts ,pon the Western frontier have been
often stated that appears unnecessary TO repeat
them here. But i; pepper for to add, that these
dangers have become more imminent from the presence
there of the Seninoes and Cherokees, who lately cn
grated under circumstances not calculated to render
them friendly to the whites The turbulent and ainb
tous character OF of these Chiefs and the cold
bloodcd and cruel murders, committed hy their orders
upon their unoendng countrymen, whose only crimes
were their friendship for the whites, their love OF peace
and their devotion 10 the best interests Of their nation
may lead fatal consequences in spite of the prudence
and forbearance OF the pubic authorities In virtue
The stpulatons of the treaty. and in pursuance OF
duty as guardians of the red men, and OF our obga
tons to see the laws of the country duly executed, o
one Of these chiefs murdered with circumstance:
Of savage barbarity within the boundaries OF the State
of ArkansasO orders have been issued TO demand Tho
murderers, and TO take measures to extend the protect
ing arm of Government over the unfortunate men wh'
signed the treaty of New Echota, and who are proscrib
cd and ouawed by the wiling instruments OF the -Sa&
ea,ce g r-t;ous nroieets c. L,rc, CT The last i'm
porance that the ortresscs that frontier should be
completed and the force strengthened.
The socitude te BY you at the close Of the last sca
son Of Congress the subject Of The delenccs Of The
country on maritime frontier, led to a still closer
examination into their condition They were found rs
had been before stated unfinished unarlncd and total
y inadequate TO protect the harhors they arc intended
10 guard from the attacks Ola comparatively small force
This conviction, forced upon my nind by the reports
OF the chief engineer, has since been confirmed bv
personal inspection in every instance, where IL has
been in my power to visit the works Our or;rcipal
cities on the seaboard are at this time exposed 10 be
laid under contribution, and navy yards TO bc de-
stroycd, without the possibility OF defending them
When the works, now iii progress in Boston harLur
are finished that place will be perfectly secure: and
small addition to those at Newport will deprive an
my of that fine rcadstcad; but Portsmouth is entirely
acknowledgements exposed and the important
city and harDor of New York still intellectually
protected, and will remain after all the works
in progress shall be completed and armed I; is
obvious that the entrance of that habor at the Mar
cannot be defended by the works on Long Is
land alone; but that the opposite Shore Staten Is
land must likewise be fortified. The State of New
York, in whose possession the land still remains, has
erected some works there which entirely ncfi-
cent that their existence in their present condition
calculated TO deceive the ignorant, who might at
tempt their Defence and afford facilities TO an
invading force in its efforts TO enter the hagbor Fiji
!adclpha, Baltimore, Charleston, Savansah, and the
ports in the Gulf all require further protection TO render
them safe from aach In report, preparing in reply
to resolution of the Senate calling for information
this subject shall enter into all the details connected
with it but cannot refrain from rcmarkrg here,
that due regard for the security and honor of the
country, requires that effort should be made with