Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-12-26
Report Of the secretary Ol
War.

We present an absact OF this report
The regular force consists Of eight regi-
ments of infantry, two OF artillery, and
two of Dragons. Fort Kent ~ the
Madawasha Settlement, has been occu-
pied, aud military post established nj
Copper lIarbor, on peninsula on the
southern shore of Lake Superior. The
two Geographical divisions of the army
have been relnsa,ed, the Fourth Depnit-
ment and the Ninth are reserved. The
troops are Withdrawn liom Florida. -
The Secretary has visited the Military
School a, West Point, and is satisfied
herewith. Vacancies arc usually an
ticipated by attaching the graduates OF
the Academy to the Army as breve'
second Lieuienanis, the number Of this
class is not considered too great A
joint committee OF Congress 10 recon-
manded .bat law be passed by which
an officer, after % years good and faith
ful service, should be allowed TO retire,
and be entitled to n section Of land and
two years lurloueh on full pay. II is
suggested that officers Of the line, assig
ned TO staff duties, should receive the
pay Of staff officers. There is no i'm
Poriant post north of Cape iIatteras with
out sufficient means of defence. n fort
on Soller's Points Flats at Baltimore Is
recommended the resumption of the
the work upon Font Delaware at the
Pea Patch, Of Fort Calhoun, and The
purchase from the State Of New York ),
the position upon Staten Island immed-
a;ely opposite Fort Hamilton The sur
ycy Of the Florida Reef and the Toru-
gas recommends lhat tho first work
should be constructed either at the har-
Dor OF Key West or the Torugas Rock.
As an auxiliary to the proposed Naval
] Depot at Memphis, the establishment ol
n strong ratification is suggested, placed
well in advance, so as 10 overlook not
only the vessels navigating the Gulf but
every ono doubling Cape Antonio. A
small force of engineer troops, one com
pany Of sappers and miners, should be
organized. The ordnance corps is well
organized, and National Foundcry
should be established The proper 10.
cation tor Marine Hospitals on the West
rrn waters, in Pcansy ylvania, Ohio, and
Kentucky, have been chosen. The re-
movals Of all restrictions from the sale OF
Mineral lands is urged. The improve.
mcnt Of the Western Rivers and the
Lake llaibors, has been prosecuted with
great vgor and the Red River Eali
can only be prevented from reformation
by continuing the appropriations. J, is
/ Il Il al IL 4
Light Houses upon The Lakes be trans
ferred to the Typographical Corps. a
new Territory is recommended, in con.
ncction with the extension or Military
Forts. Tho valleys near the head
streams Of the Arkansas, the Platte or
Nebraska, and The yellow Stone Rivers,
contain much rich land.
The Nebraska territory would en-
brace only our undisputed possessions on
this side Of the Rocky Mountains. 1t,
boundary line wopld commence at the
mouth OF the kanzas and run up The
| Missouri river to the mouth of the Run
ming water river, and would pursue tha,
branch, and thence duo West to the
Wind river chain. From this point.
turning Southward, the line would con.
tlnue along the Wind river range, and
main chain Of the Rocky Mountains, to
the head Of the Arkansas and follow.
ing that stream To the mouth Of the Paw.
nee Fork, would pass by the heads Of
The Neosha and Usage rivers, again to
the mouth Of the kanzas.
The limits Of this territory include the
extreme head Of navigation of the Arkan.
sas, all the good lines Of communication
| with California, the road from our from
tier to the Mexican boundary and Santa
| te, and also an excellent and more di.
rect pass to Oregon, discovered by re-
cent exploration, about 10 miles South
ward Of tho great Santa Pass IL car.
rying out these views he recommends
an appropriation Of $1,000, 900 for erect
ing the military posts from the Missouri
RIVER to ihe Rocky Mountains.
Contracts have been made for the re-
moval oftko Choc'aws and the Niiar.ics
and three commissioners appointed To-
inquire into the difficulties IN the Chero-
kce nation.
BY the estimates orthc Indian Bureau
for the coming wear, n demand will be
made upon the Government for tho es,i
mated annual appropriation Of one mil
lion one hundred and ninety three hous
and six hundred and twenty. nine dol
Lars and fourteen cents.