The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-07-08
CHARLOTTE, N. C., july 8, 1871.
Report OF the Secretary of Var
Department of Var, Wog 81, lsll.

impairment ~ war, N0y 81, 1871.
SIR: propose to bring TO your notice,
he present tune, ouly such matters cont
ded 10 the superinehdence Of the Depar
Dent Of War as from their nalure or pre-
'ng emergency, or from the general intel
est they excite, you may deem proper I
communicate for the Information Of Cor
sress and the Public.
Although the inspections directed sine
tho adl0urnmen, Of Congress have bee
made With the greatest pronpiness, aD
furnish au extensive body OF information il
regard to HE statc Of the pubic defences q
well as 10 The discipline and efficiency o
Tie army, and bear full aud satisfactory les
/ limony to the importance Of the Inspector
Department, yet, from the limited time al
loved, and the Immense exteat OF territory
uyer Which The numerous establishment,
connected with the military service are dis
trlbuted, the inspections are necessarily 10
complete; aud il is therefore not dcslgqcl
to notice all the considerations suggested
b. the information they afford Until future
occasion.
Ia tie general condition aud disposition
af the army there has been no material
change since The last annual repou from
Ibis Depart0ent. The regular force sta.
toned 10 Florida, consisting Of eight .egi
mems, and Numbering il the aggregate, by
the last returns, FIVE thousand and Fifty sey
en-, il has been found cxpedleuI to con!iuae
N service in that Territory.
few incursions by small detachucnls
Of our troops Into the Businesses Of the enc
my, by which their ATROCITIES have been
slgnaliy visited upon their own heads, have
bsen the only expeditions to the general
cessation Of hosliliiIes which took place
last fall, soon after the regiments, reiatorc.
ed By new recruits and provided With every
necessary supply, were prepared for active
operations; nor baye they been renewed
siDce that TIME. Offers 10 negotiate from
several chiefs, tho device by winch these
crafty warriors have 50 olien bafled our
arms at The period most propi.IJus to sue.
cess, were renewed uuder sueh clfcGn.
cra once more 10 embrace them. The
stances as induced the commanding gen
strongest confidence appears 20 have been
felt that, with the aid OF a suitable amount
q iunds applicable TO that objcct, the whole
OF tue hosHle bards might soon DO per5uad
ed to surrender, and abandon tie country.
THIS lac of policy, though sardy in It's re
suits, continued to hold out such hopes Of
complete success as 10 encourage the late
Administration in the belief that this pro
tracted war had at last been brought SO
near close as 10 be no longer > sabjec. Of
particular interest or euxiety. For these
reasons It was not thought expedieut 10
check or interrup. the negotiations in pro
gress on the An Of March last, by direct
ing a different mode Of operations. The
result, 50 far, slaco the negotiations were
reserved 10 the EIi, has been the surrender
Of four hundred AID thirty one lndiaus, IN
Gliding about orc hundred warriors, al! Of
- hon have been transported 10 the cnuairy
assigned to them, west OF the Mississippi,
Some expectation is still INDUCED by the OF
ficer in command that the remaining bands
which have SO long infested tie upper aad
northern districts Of the peninsula will sur
render 10 short time but regret 10 slate
that but little hope can be justly cherished
that this unfortunate and wasieul war,
which has already cost so great nun
Der Of valuable lives, and so many millions
IF public treasure, will be terminated With
out still further sacrifices. 1t appears
that, after SIX months Of negotiation, 90
access has been had to the principal aod
most powerful chief, or TO any Of his
ai!uNers. Directions have accordingly
Been given for the most energetic and ettec
i've prosecution Of the war the moment fur |
her negotiations shall appearto be useless T,
Steps have also been taken to increase
he efficiency of the means now at the
disposal Of the officer in command and,
q the mean time, the retrenchment o! eve
" expenditure connected with the service
or purposes not essential III Indian warfare,
las been earnestly eulolned.
The many wcighly considerations which T.
ayi,e the immediate attention of Congress
o the subject of the public deences gceer.
lily, and particularly 10 The works absolute.
v necessary TO the security Of cur grea;
commercial emporlums, aud the keys to .
,ur most valuable resources Of every kind,
nust be so generally understood aud appre
,latel that nothing this Department cen
irge could add any tAiag to their force and
,oacluslyeness. To say nothing Of the de
itrucnon Of property, and our weakened .
condition in military pom; Of view attend, (
mi upon tho carrying OF any Of our most .
points, the penetration Of our ter
.,,ory and the sclzlre Of even one of olr
itrongholds by powerful enemy upon the
sudden outbreak of war, II would seem to be
,qgally the dictate Of patriotism and Wis
ION to make due provision against the IN, .
hoion OF such insults to the national honor
md character.
/, has been urged as m objection to the .
urthor progress Of the works heretofore
projected for the defence Of our extensive ,
sea coast, that the recent experiments IN
he use OF steam power in oceannaVlgation,
md the ready application Of the same pow
,riuI agent to the defence OF our principal .
=, ,bors togeiher with the late inventions /