Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-25
DIP, HOLLO
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF
WAR DEPARTMENT, Dec. ], Is

SIR: The reports OF the Mai { tfteFhi com
manding the Army, and OF The Heads OF the d'f
ferent Bureaus, attached To this Department, uf
on the several sut iects committee to us charge
are herewith Submitted.
The accuracy II the ~in'orm1ilon, and the in'
ness Of The views thus exhibited, will renter "a
uernucus any extended ohscryatons from enc hr
recently called to the cousideruiIun Of tire varl
ous matters 80 we'll presented by officers Of great
experience aud Acknowledged ability, Such re
marks, however,, as seem required, will be made
IN the course Of the fpllp.ing statement If The
general reslils derived from thcss reports.
From the general return OF he Army, contain.
cd in the report Of the Major Genera, command
ing IN chief, 1t appears that the whole number al
troops now IN service, Is ten thou5fni SIX hun
bred and ntnctv-four: consisting Of seven hun
dred and tweniy~eight commissioned officers, and
nine thousand nine hundred and sixiy-siy non
commissioned officers, mnsicians, and prlVotes.
The aggregate exceeds The number specified III
the report Of 1910, by one hundred and twenty
four. OF the whole number, nino thousand eight
hundred aud eightviwo are reported as present.
aud the residue, eight hundred and twelve, are
absent or sick; Of whom toar hundred and torty-
seven are absent nu detached service. To com.
pleio the organization Of the Army, eighteen hun
dred and rhrty-cight recruits are reqIired-
DIring the past year the whole number recruit
ed was four tho tsand nine hundred and twenty
two.
1t is CRAFTY ing to find hat the number of de-
scrtors, within The year, as compared with the
number enlisted, has largely diminished.
The disposition Of the troops intended for the
protection Of our inland frontiers, and for garri.
soning the forts on The Atlantic, is given in the
report.
The residue Of the Army, consisting ut tho last
returns of about three thousand five hundred men
but which is nov, or will be, reduced soon 10 thrco
thousand, is employed in tho protection of he in
hnbitanis Of FiorIda, and in the offensive opera
,ions carried on in that Territory.
On the western frontier, the Indians have been
kept from wars among themselves. and from hos
tile acts against our citllens. With the exception
Of some dcprodatioas alleged to have been com
United IN Texas BY The CaddOCs, n tribe, Tor whose
conduct tha, country Is more responsible than we
are, the native tribes appear TO be quiet, and IN
dictate no disposition to commence aggressions.
On the northern frontier, the presence OF the
troops has been. and, doubtless, viii continue to
DO Of eminent service IN preserving the peaceful
relations of the country with the adj tcont terri
tories of Great Britain. Al the northeast, the
small force stationed near the disputed boundary
line seems required for the same purpose.
Within the year a new aspect has been given
to the military operations in Florida. The mi
nuteuess and accuracy with which they are de-
tailed in tho report of the COnmandlrg General.
render any other occount VI hem unnecessary. Ii
would DO unjust. however, TO withhold he express
sion of that cordial APPRECIATION, which is fell by
this Department, and, II Is believed, by the W hole
country, of the gallant enterprise and patient en-
DURANGO Of the troops and their able Commander,
Colonel Worth. Overcoming tho feelings which
n contest with such enemies must produce IN the
soldiers of "A civilized colntrv, and consulting on
Nv the high dictates OF duty, thew have persevcr-
ed IN a contest which. IN the only means of con
Quoting 1t, more resembles the pursuit at aDIu1Is
than IA warfare with human beings. aud in which
the tr,umphs o! success are mingled with pity.
not far removed from contempt, :r an ingiorious
foe.
The last atvices from that quarter, ~conirr, The
expectations Of n speedy and successful result to
the campaign. All that high intelligence. devo-
ted Yea, cons ANIMATE bravery and irrepressible en-
ergv, can contribute To that result, viii continue
TO be exer,ed by the troops and their gallan, COM
mander, for whom the difficulties OF a contest.
without resemblance IN the history OF war, seems
to have no tcrrOrs.
Tho suggestions. in the same report. Of the
commanding General, respecting officers holding
appointments at the same time, both in the liae
and in the staff. with the right of promotion in
each, and respecting tho Ineqrlltty Of p1v be-
tween officers of the s1me grade, 10 the different
branches of service, are worthy of great consid-
Grafton. enauating as they do from long expert
ence, the result of intelligent and disinterested
observation. And the recommendation OF the
present Generai~in chief concurring with those of
his lamenied and distinguished predecessor. in
relation TO pensions. will doubtless attract the at
tention of Congress tn that subject.
Tho verv moderate increase Of two REGIMENTS
to our army, recommended in the Same report,
will undoubtedly be received with all the conf
dence due 10 any Suggestions from such a source. !
The necessity for such an increase, TO man the
forts, posts. and tortitications. on our inland and
maritime frontiers, will be apparent on \ consid-
GRAFTON of the plans for the national defence which
have been proposed, and wholly or partially a
dopted. A brief and connected view of those
plans seem appropriate and necessary for that
purpose, and ,o a full understanding of hose parts
oil the reports herewith communicated relating 10
the subject. II is necessary, also. in explanation
OF me estimates Submitted for appropriations. TO
continue and complete the means OF protection
anu defence. La presenting such q view, the oc-
casion will be taken 10 make sucb observa,;o,s j,
NAV seem to be required.
The daCan.., -