Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-30
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF WAR '-


many facts and some suggestions necessary
to be laid before Congress, as aids TO legis
lation, but nothing novel or very special,
interesting TO the people at large. Con.
gress is referred in the opening TO severa
statements furnished by the commanding
Major General, and the several Bureaus of
the Department. relative to their business
and views respectively. We are next in.
formed that the regular army consists OF
ZIG commissioned officers, II military
storekeepers, and 1890 enlisted men, (non
commissioned officers, artficers, musicians
and prlvates, of Dragons, artillery, infan-
try and riflemen,) 40 sergeanis, and $50
enlisted men. of ordnance, making an ag.
gregate of s,6l3. The organization OF
this army is given in detail; the nine mill
tary departments into which the United
States are divided, are described, with their
respective forces, head quarters and com
handing officers; General Scott. command
er in chief, having his head quarters al
Washington. The duties of the heads of
the various subordinate departments and
bureaus are indicated, from the Adjutant
General to the commissioner of Indian AT
fairs. The present excess of force over
what is allowed by law, is expected to be
soon reduced below it by deaths and expi.
rations of terms of enlistment, which will
make continued enistments necessary. II
is recommended that the law abolishing the
office of one Inspector General be repealed.
two such officers being deemed necessary;
and also that the second regiment of Ora
goons, which had been by law converted
into riflemen, and their horses sold, be re-
mounted; horse troops being Indispensable
to the defence of the western frontier
against Indian excursions.
Some farther provision is deemed neces-
sary to prevent duelling between officers
and citizens. Some Of the military courts
incline to construe existing laws or rules
on that subject, as having relation only to
disputes among officers ihemselves-hence
the commentator of explicit legislation
TO prevent all doubt Duelling has, how
ever. been almost if not entirely abolished
among the officers; whose genllemanly and
deCor"us conduct towards each other has
prevented disputes, and rendered unneces-
sary not only pistols but trials for alleged
offences. The officers and men have been
kept in constant employment, and the re.
movals have been few, and mostly conse-
guent upon the quiescent state of Florida,
and the settlement of the northeastern
boundary question. The estimates for the
army proper for the ensuing year will fall
$9O.6iS l0-l00 short of those of The last
y ear, although it embraces S27.364 7O.lOO
for the expenses of recruiting, which was
not required last year in consequence of
the reduction Of the army, and S9420 for
the three months pay allowed to the men
whose term of service will expire during
the current year and may re-cnlist. The
attention of Congress is directed to certain
statements and suggestions of the Commits
sary General, the Adjuiant General, the
Major General in charge of the Quarter
masters department; and The administra-
ton of these, as also the departments of
Subsistence, Paymas,er General, and Sur.
geon General, are spoken of in terms Of
appreciation. The Meteorological reports
from the several military posts. and Pro-
fessnr Espy's report in relation to the OBJ
servations as to The progress and course
of storms, &c, taken al the same and other
places, furnish numerous important as well
as curious facts in those branches of science
which, when tested by further observations.
may lay tiC lOi utlIllItC kil'lN J.
edge on subjects heretofore little under
stood.
The business of the Engineer Bureau in
the construction of Notifications authorized
by law, has progressed with spirit and eff
cheney. The report of this department
contains recommendations for the purchase
Of the State works and sites on Staten
Island, with view to their reconstruction;
the commencement of Notifications on
Sandy Hook; at Sellers Point, in Mary.
land; on the coast of Georgia; between
Mobile Bay and the Rgelets; on the ap.
proaches to New Orleans, described in the
report, the closing of Hog Island Channel
Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. the
continuation of the Cumberland Road
through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois; and the
payment of the sum Of Sl.359 so incurred
in making survey for The continuation OF
that road to Jefferson city, Missouri, under
resolution Of the Senate, of January
1889, all of which are respectfully re
commended to attention. The conslruc
ton Of military works on the Dry Torlu
gas, Key West and Biscayne Key, or som,
other positions near the extremity of Flor
ida, is deemed necessary to our coast de-
fence. West Point Academy is highly
spoken of and commended to favorable no
tlce, as in an eminent degree calculated Il
III for service those on whom, in emergency
we must mainly rely to lead and insrruc
The troops required 10 defend our country
and maintain its honor in the field; and ir
addition to the estimates f rlt, which are
$l4,472 so less than last year, small sun
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