The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1842-07-07

session. the aspect Of eur foreign Affairs,
and The condition Of The Florida war, In
duced the Department. and the committee,
70 eonlsmplaie The augmentation Of dhe
army. as m event more probable lhan los
, reduction.
The increased energy and succrss Of
the operations in Florida have authorized,
within short period. The abstraction OF a
portion Of lhe force from that seryice, and
lis restoration n lis appropriate dates on
the western frontier. aud at the yarions
fortihcaiions and military posts around our
extended territory. The progress az milf
iary works during theprolracIed hostIilies
m Florida. and The large accessions OF In
dams on the western frontier. would seem
10 demand q larger force than was re-
CURED before the commencement Of The
war, and thus, regarded in a military
point Of view. The policy Of every reduc-
ton Of the army would hardly admit Of
question.
But the subject il presented 70 the
committee in financial aspect, and il
Is compelled TO consider what possible re-
trenchmeni, at all consistent with q ne
eessary military establishment, may he
made so as, in this department, As well
as Others. 20 effect some relief for the
exhausted revenue Of The country
With a profound sense oflhe necessity Of
making just sacrifices to The actual elncr-
gency, thee committee have come 10 The
conclusion. that preserving the present or
ganizatinn Of the army, so that H. may,
whenever necessary, be rapidly and efIici.
emily expanded, a considerable diminulion
may be submitted 10 in is actual num-
bers.
The proviso in the first section OF the
bill from the House, which has been re-
ferred 70 the committee, proposes. FIRST. TO
disband the second regiment OF dragons,
second. TO reduce the artillery companies
from III to 55, and, third. the infantry
companies from 90 10 81, making, in The
aggregate, a reduction of i,f75 from tho
present establishment fnon-commission-
ed officers, musicians, arliicers. and pri-
Yates, amounting 10 1864, leaving a
foce, on paper, Of 1929, which il would
be exceedingly difficult to keep up, by
enlislmsnls, 10 5000.
The committee propose different, and
aless extensive, plan Of reduction, which,
IN their judgment, will leave the army in
much more effective condition, and al
very little more cost than the plan sug-
gested by the House bill.
lnIegarl to The second regiment ofdra
goons, by the law authorizing its crea.
ton, the President may, whenever he
thinks il expedient, order it to be dis
mounted, and TO serve on foot, either in the
line, or as light infantry, and thus may,
II the exigencies Of the service require Il,
form it into rifle regiment. This dis.
erection has already been exercised, to
certain extent, by the Department. in tho
Of thirty horses in each conpa.
nv, of both regiments of dragons, max
ing very large saving in this most cost
y branch of the service; and doubtless,
his course of reduction will be still fur,
her persisted in, if the exigencies of the
service authorize il.
The committee, therefore, propose TO
continue the second regiment of dragons,
With this diminution Of actual expense,
and a reduction Of the privates in each
company, of both regiments, to fifty, in
tead Of the present number of seventy
me.
II is also proposed 10 reduce each COM
amy of artillery and infantry to fifty, suf-
ering the non-commissioned staff Of regi-
nents, and the other Unlisted men of COM
anies, sergeants, corporals, musicians,
'rriers, in the dragons, and artiiicers, in
ne artillery, to remain as at present.
This arrangement gives sixty non.
officers, musicians, and pri>
ates, to each company ofinfantry, sixty-
ne, including farrier to each company
Dragons, and sixty-lhree, including
to each company of artillery.
y this plan. the following reduction will
} effected:
In the twenty companies Of Dragons 600
In ihe forty companies Of artillery S2s
10 the eighty companies OF infantry s4oO
2,92o
saving the strength OF the army 1854
listed men, instead of. 1929. as propos-
by the House bill, making difference
1855. An army Of S,ssI, on paper,
III give an effective force in the field on
average of about 1000. And this is
IS than the standing force established in
e year 1904. in Mr.. Jefferson's ad,ni-
strstion, and the minimum necessary,
the opinion of the committee, for the
lily demands Of the service.
The pay of the general staff is another
bject presented to the consideration of
e committee, by the resolution Of the
mate. They have come to the conclu-
On that this subject should be postponed
the next session Of Congress, for the
Irpose Of procuring from the Depart
ent full report, both upon the organi-
ton and pay Of the staff. so as 10 en-
lie Congress to legislale intelligently
d efficiently on the subject. In The
i