The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-06


law ~ a. n qure enlstments Of recruits to keep
up thbf nusqber That law abolished, the Office of
one lpspeetor General, three Paymasers, two Sur
geons aud two Assistant Surgeons, and directed that
numberSOf Paymasters, Surgeons, and Assistant Sur
geons, to be discharged within one month after its
passage but gave no such directions as TO the dis
charge of one Inspector General and consequently
both yet retained in service end the appSopra-
ton acts for the last and present years provided
means fer the payment Of the compensation sll0wed
by law 1t is respectfully recommended that much
OF the 4th section of the act Of 23d August 1872 en-
titled An act respecting The organization OF the ar
my and for other purposes" aboishes the Office OF
one Inspector General, be repealed. The services
of the two valuable and experienced officers filing
those stations deemed essential to the well being
| of the Army
Thefirst section of the same act converted the I'd
regiment of Dragoons, after the 4th Of March last,
into Regiment of RInemen. The regiment has ac-
cordngly been dismounted and the horses sold. 1t
is respectfully recommended that this provision OF
that law be repealed. aDd the said regiment be re-
mounted and continued as the I'd regiment of ORA
goons This can be effected at very moderate ex-
pense-an advance Of perhaps twenty per cent on
the amount for which the old horses were sold will
furnish them with and better horses. Their uni
form has not been changed, in consequence Of the
quantity of Dragon clothing on hand and hope that
the result now recommended might be contaminated
The extended frontier entire west Is subject
to Indian incursions Many of the tribes are mount
cd and it is impossible either to overtake thom 10
protect the inhabitants, repress the marauding of
the sayages by the small body of mounted soldiers
which would be stationed that frontier or In the
Indian country, or brought to act against them. Co
lerity of movement is required, and is Of the utmost
Importance to the security of citizens This can,
it is believed, alone be completely effected by ORA
goons, and The single regiment in service is not suf-
Gent for the purpose. 49, u
Some further provision is believed 10 be necessary
Ao'uaily to prevent dueiing betwees officers of the
army and siizenH- many OF The officers who consti.
tute the military courts holding that the provisons Of
tue 18TH 10Th and 9th sections Of the rules and art
Giles OF war have relation only to officers of the army
IN disputes among themselves. The propriety of this
constr uc,ion is at least doubtful but explicit egisla-
ton on the subject would put the matter beyond all
doubt. The practice is a barbarous one, and should
DC suppressed in civilized and Christian country
10 the credit Of the army it must be said that has
been almost If not entirely abolished among the off
GERS and their geptlemany and decorous conduct to-
wards each other has prevented disputes and trials
Tor alleged offences in an almost unprecedented de-
gree. sn9a}ca el IhgA M E
The officers and men have been kent in constant
state of employment, and there have been but few
movals of troops from one post 10 another The state
OF our relations with Great rtain has enab ed the
Commanding General to withdraw from Forts Fair
field and Kent on the Northeastern frontier, the
troops there stationed Their positions were such as
10 render subsistence very expensive ando have kept
them there would have involved the of cutting
mllitary road to those pos om Houlton, an enor-
ding benefit. This movement led to the hange of
some other troops stationed in the Eastern States so
to bring the ID Regiment of Artillery more immed
ately under The command Of its own Colonel. Sew
eral companies have been removed from Florida to
other posts there being apprehension of any dan
ger In that region from Indians the number Of war
Ors remaining being now reduced to leSs than one
hundred, and they evincing no hostile disposition.
The estimates for the Army proper for the ensuing
year. it will tie perceived, fall $50 649 lOl0O short Of
hos off otast nnh n ptuhr
70tOo for the expenses of recruiting which was not
required last year in consequence of the reduction Of
the army, and ),42O for the three months pay allow
ed the whose term of service will pire du-
ring the current year and may re-enlist. M
To the many valuable Suggestions contained in the
report of The CommissaTy General, attention is a.
vlted. From his known ability and ex perience they
are entitled 10 the highest respect The statem. nj
from the Office Of the Adjutant General accompany
ing that report give in minute detail the and con-
di'ion of the whole Army, arranged with system and
order.
The Quarermasters Department is to be cla.sed
as part and most essential pat of the Amy pepper
The report of the Major General in charnc u This
branch of the service contains bis views Ia relation
thereto. To bis suggestions, those Of knowledge
and experience, respectfully ash asseusi,a and
peciay 10 70 much a. relates TO tAs import of the
importance of ef6cers OF the Iiuo bang stesaied in
order for the staff duties Of that Department thus
making them Irofceni in both branches Of ser.
veto the propriety of erecting barracks aad de.
fences at Forts Gibson and Brady, and also to the me-
ccssty of furnishing other buildings than cafemates
for the quarters of The men, ell for hospitals in
the regular notifications which have been 81
This Is measure essentially necessary for the Comfort
and health of the troops, and for which appropriations
will be neCes.aiy.
If the present regulation in regard to travelling ex
penses is found to work oppressvey, it be chang
ed or modified by the Secretary of War without fur
Their legislation. 1t was adopted by my predecessor
to correct what was believed TO be an abuse of the
former system. 81 i1 .fnalt. .rnsT
The Quartermaster Generals Department j. eff
GENTLY organized and faithfully administered Its
importance is manifest to all military men, and |
think II cannot be diminished without essential injury
to the interests of the service. In regard to the Staff
Of the Army may be laid down as a sound rule that
should never be regulated by the number of troops
IN The line, bun by the extent of the country over
which the army is spread Hence our staff must ne
cessarlly IN time OF peace be more disprcportionae
to The number of troops in service than that of any
other nation on the globe.
The business Of the Subsistence Department has
been performed with great accuracy and method. |
The troops have been well and regularly supplied at
reduced cost, and the accounts the Commissary
General truly states, have been promptly rendered |
The report Of the Psyniaster General exhibits the
state of that Department in very satisfactory man.
ner and shows that lis head has kept up street ac-
counabilIty, and caused the troops to be paid with
much promptness as their scattered positions would
admit. 4 % trc9 'c
tifyng evidence of the fidelity with which the medi-
cal branch of he military service has been admins
tered, and shows that by the observance Of strict
system of economy, compatible with the care and at
tentoa due 10 the sick and n6rm considerable re-
duction has been made in the average of medical
supplies per man.
With this report are submitted the Meteorological
reports from the various military posts, and the 70
port of Professor Espy in relation the observations
as to The progress and course OF storms &c. taken
Thcse furu al
rous important we'll as curious facts in those
branches of science which, when tested by further
observations, may lay the foundation for definite
knowledge on subjects heretofore little studied and
understood.
The observations of the Surgeon General in rela |
ton t. the ofcasemates for quarters and hos ptas
at permanent foricatiops (Which subject is also adj
vertcd 10 in the Quarermaster Generals report) are
respectfully submitted as showing the existence of
an evil which sound policy, well humanity re-
uircs To he nacdied - |