New-York tribune., 1841-06-09
)ooumcuts accompanying ttc aorcstocn:'s eaessaD
Communication from the Secretary of War.
DEPARTMENT or WAX, siAy 81,

DEPARTMENT or WAX, sisy 3ls:, ISL
SIR: propose Dng your notice at the present 'e
snly such conded the sPcCatenaence OF the De
partnen; Of War as FROM ;heir pressing eer-
gcny oc!.s the general they excite yon may deem
rapcr comrnunca;e for he aornaton e Congress aA@
the public.
Although the inspections directed since the adjournment Of
Congress haze been made greatest promptacss and
furnish extensive body Of information IN Fesard to ih
Of the public dccnccs vel as 10 the discipline and
efficiency of the army and near fall and satisfactory test
mony the importance OF the Inspector Department yet
from the limited tine allowed, and the immense extent OF
territory Which the numerous establishments connected
with the military service distributed the inspections are
necessarily incomplete and IS therefore designed 10
notice all the considerations suggested by the information they
afford until future occasion.
In the general condition and disposition OF the army there
has been material change since tie last annual report
from this Department The regular force stationed m To-
da consisting of eight regiments and numbering, IL the
aggregate by the last returns, axe thousand and iiyse
has been found ozPeden 70 continue ~ service "a mat
Territory.
few inculsioas by small deiachnenis of Our troops,
the Businesses of the enemy by which their atrocities
have been gnay vsi,od upon their heads have been
the only exceptions the general cessation 10 hoties
which took place last fall after the regiments, rem
forced by recruits and provided with every necessary
supply prepared for operations haze they
been renewed that time Offers negotiate from Sc
vcra Chiefs the device By which those crafty warriors have
often batied the period most propitous ~
success renewed under such circumstances induced
tie commanding General embrace them. ne
strongest confidence appears haze been felt Tat with the
and of suitable Of funds applicable 10 that object,
the whole of the hostile bands mig be persuaded TO srIe
der. and abandon the country Tais line OF policy, though
rary results continued hold such hopes OF com
pcc encourage the late Administration in the
blet that this protracicd had last been broGg,
close be longer subject OF peculiar interest
anxiot For these thought cxpedient
check interrp the negotiations progress the 9TH
of March last by directing different mode OF operations
The far, the negotiations were renewed IN
the fall has been the surrender OF four hundred and thirty
Indians, including about hundred warriors, al OF
whom have been transported the country assigned them
OF the Mississippi. Some expectation is still INDUCED
by the officer comsland that the remaining bands that
have long infested the upper and northern districts OF the
peninsula viii surrender in short time nut regret that
but lc hope b. Hsty cherished that this unhappy and
wa>riu war, which has already great number o
valuable lives, and many millions OF public treasure viii
be terminated without still further sacrifices 1t appears
that after six months of ncgotiaon has been had
To the principal and powerful chief any OF his FOL
lowers Directions have accordingly been given for the most
energetic AID effective prosecution OF the the moment
further shall appear useless. Steps have also
taken i.cr.asc the efficiency OF tho at the
DISPOSAL of the officer command; and IN the meantmc
the ctrenchmo of every expenditure connected with the
for purposes not essential IN Indian warfare, has
been earnestly cnloncd.
The nany wei.ty considerations which invite the imTed
ate attention OF Congress subject OF the public de-
fences generally, and particularly the works absolutely
ccay the security ot great comncrc'al enPornm
and The keys TO valuable oi every kind
be generally ors;ood and appreciated that no.
ching this Dcpar,ml could add any thing to their
and concusiye, TO say nothing OF the destruction
property and ealened condition in military point
of ,ie attendant u;. carving of any OF
sabe points the penetration of terraoy, and the sei
zlre OF even ono srongholds by powerful enemy,
upon the sudden outbreak OF war, II won!d seem 10 be
equally the dictate OF patriotism and wisdom TO make due
provision against ctioa such insults the national
honor and character.
II , been urged a. IN objection the further progress
the works heretofore projected for tic dctcncc OF cur en-
ese soa-coasi That the experiments IN the use OF
steam power navigation, aud 'he ready Application
Of The same powerful ih .ecacc OF our prEcipal
harbos sgettcr wiyh The a;e nye on> the means oi M
ccasing the de. rcctess Of shells, must Introduce
entire change the system OF coast defence as wei rs
maritime war in general mat the mental acly,
characteristic the age every other ad science has
not fruitful IN suggesting improvements IN the art OF
war In, yauc I some rt which has already been tested
practice aud oubIiesS otAcr val, IN tlnc prove cinay
successful In department q: public aiirs may IL at-
raj COMMISSION and dcndrre between all the sciences and
inventions be benecaly illustrated than IN the
improvement the OF HatioTal defence hat the
humanity viii Ae promoted IN proportion as the eH
sting svsciaS and p defensive warfare are perfected
bv new improvements aordng al nations greater Sc
curty 10 the independent joymeH OF ;her own acqu>-
lions and forms OF society and government n putting the
weak upon equal oong with the strong IN render
ing less frequent, and allowing all the arts OF peace To
flourish in uninterrupted ygor cannot be doubted 1t i
source o much qualification observe that several S'ie
men of hr professional distinction the army employ
ing themselves in these appropriate studies But tile IN
carrying rd the paus devised n former ears due re-
gard should be had the improvements already introduced
in the means vi defence aad Ear as practicable 70 such
notifications may be rendered necessary oy nilFe disco
: RES we must take by the MO: ctncient Application
of the means aread known and approved no: 10 lose the
advantage Of present security
Tn array well authenticated facts and Fcsa;soi past eN-
porcncc and the vel sustained reasoning oI'''e" upon
.be, exhibited in l repor' the board OF 9ticers Eer-
red to IN the accompanying OF the Chot OF ie CoTs
ct Engineers, appears be conclusive III isoT OF '"l32
tag Tie systcn of encc ,heren rccommeHitd' so .a a.
Least as to place hc country aha: denomaai'd g99@
are o, fsiv. preparation against oay sudden occurrence
Of To his exten, the completion of the works Ae'"-
fore projected may regarded as indisfcn-Aoe' aoTeef De
.cri1c tacy -a; b. perfect system OK national
T. vii! be from the estimates stated iA 'ls eL ~
~. 20 ..aa =. rae lnrliEcat-.. ard :2.t95 9u