The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-06
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
war prrAnrarsr, Nov. 80, ls4i.


administration seem TO authorize me IN presenting
for your confederation.
Tho functions of the War Department, compre-
handing not only the direction and the control OF the
military establishment, but also that oil pensions and
bounties for military serylce-oi improvements oi
rivers and harborsof the mineral lands, and oil all
Indian aiairs,-render the distribution oil THESE du
ties among the several bureaus, besides a matter OF
great convenience of almost absolute necessity
And the wisdom Of that administration when mus
separated and distributed these various duties oil Inc
department, is every day manlieslng Itself by The
efficiency, economy, and Promplness WIN when tie
heads of the bureaus discharge their respective
Offices
refer YOU to the accompanying documents, (nuni-
bered from | to l0,) being the reports OF the com
mandnp general OF the army and OF the officers at the
head IF the bureaus, for all details relating TO The
civil and military service Of the department
The military establishment Of the United states
has been organized for times of peace, with an eye
TO the closest economy in the public expenditure
without sacrificing the efficiency OF the troops, bu'
chiefly with the object Of preserving ana keeping
up that military knowledge and discipline, without
which a nation is never prepared 10 assert her own
dignity nor even TO defend her soil IRON INVASION
except at great and unnecessary loss Organization
and discipline have always been the means OF mill
tary power In modern times wealth, poPula.oh'
and skill in the mechanic arts are necessary 10 ena
BILE nation TO sustain serious and prolracted con-
test with any of the great powers oil Inc world
We are deficient in none of these elements. ii our
power is properly developed and directed, we snail
be found fully able to cope with any nation. we
have every maerel of war, except sulphur, in great
abundance within own territory, and the enter
prise and ell-estabished mechanical skill among
our own citizens to construct It's most formidaDie
implements. war, therefore, should our honor or
safety demand it, would be seli-sustaining measure
with u.s. bringing out the many natural resources OF
r he keeu all he internal channels
trade in full activity, and creating constant de-
mand for every product of our domestic manuiac-
lures.
The regular force, consisting of eight regiments
OF infantry, four of artillery, and two oil Dragons,
is under the command of the maj or general oil Inc
army Its disposition, condition, and movements,
will be found in his report If information more IN
detail should be required, it will be furnished by
reference to the registers and reports OF the autant
general.
| have had Fort Kent in the Madawaska settle
ment (our recent acquisition on the northeastern
fronter) occupied, SO as TO give the counenance and
fostering protection of our Government to its nhabl-
tants many of whom have not yet realized their be-
ing citizens of the Republic. road leading direct
ly from Bangor to that fort, agreeably 10 recent
survey, which greatly dminishes the distance, IS I'M
portant and necessary military work, and should
be 'consruc ed with view also to great economy IN
public transportation. The expedency Of the work,
and the necessity of further attention by this depart
ment to our northeastern frontier, not likely to
be superseded by the final ad ustment and demarka
ton Of the treaty line, when reflect that contig-
uous foreign nation must unavoidably, for portion
OF the year, make the circuit of that boundary, IN
conducting the military intercourse between her d
ferent provinces
have had a military post established at Copper
Harbor, on the extremity OF the peninsula which us
out lar into Lake Superior from the middle OF It's
southern shore Besides giving protection TO the In
dlans and miners and preserving order in new set
tlement OF such mixed population, it forms one
point IN the new country which the general extern
sion of our settlements and the enlargement Of our
territories by Indian treaties about rendering
cessary 10 be established, in accordance with the po-
Icy which has heretofore been adopted on our no tn
western frontier. With tive intermediate posts, be-
tween St Peters, the head of navigation the Mis-
sissppi river, and Copper Harbor, this Gordon
will be complete. 1 he Fur Company's post, at
La Pointe, near Fond du Lac should be one and
the Portage, on the water communication between
Lake Superior near Fond du Lac and ST Peters, the
other.
With view TO the policy to which | now advert,
and TO preserve the military posts already established
upon our Lake Frontier, II is proper should recon-
mend the appropriation Of funds TO the build
ngs OF Fort Gratiot commanding the straits between
Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair, and Of Fort Brady
at the Falls of St Mary, upon the outlet Of Lake
Superior, originally constructed in haste and Of
slight perishable materials. The usual allowance
Tor constructing military roads in the Territories
can no where be more judciously granted than for
The country south Of Lake Superior. When such
communications shall be well opened, and canal at
the ais OF 81. Mary-a work much III ged upon US
by national considerations-shall be constructed,
inns frontier would be capable OF receiving supplies,
and be well secured in a military point of view be-
sides The enhancement which would thereby be CIV
en- to the value Of the public lands and the eocour-
a5ement Tor their occupation by mining and other
population, possessing the skill and the capital TO
plore, develop, and bring into market the mineral
treasures OF the country.
1he remountng OF the second regiment Of dra-
goons VIII enlarge the very bes force Tor military
vice 10 tie pralre--an indispensable duty now de-
V'lvng on the government As long a foreign TEL
rliory makes so marked an encroachment into the
natural boundary of our southwestern frontier Fort
Jesup or post IN the rear Of II upon the Sabine,
must remain one OF the most important military posi-
ions on any OF our frontiers In addition TO the pro-
piey OF having large force stationed there II was
lncreasedby the necessary detention Of the Ae reri-
mtn preparatory to It's being recOnverted into the Sc
coma regiment OF dragons whose proper station is
the Indian country.
without destroying the military departments, as
established by general order OF the l2th day Of July
1872 and al the sans time preserving the comma nd
and the control Of the or general comm, ndinp in
chiei, over the forces oftbe line have feinstated
the two geographical divisions Of the army La max
Jog ms reinstatement have reserved, convenient
ior military purposes, from the command of the gene
rails OF geographical divisions the fourth department
commanded by Breyet Briguder General Brady, and
ihe ninth OF present commanded IN Florida by Breyet
Brgadier General Worth
The termination Of the Florida war and the tran.
guilty which prevails there under the viVilant eve OF
the oihcerln command have led to the Wi hdrawsI OF
most OF the troops from that territory. They have
generally returned to their former posts nd parrisons
ieel assured that The Instructions which issued in
conformity to your suggestions, from this department
on the 18th day Of October last TO the general com
mandhg 10 Florida, will, without injurious della,
has en- the gradual and humane removal Of the few
semnoes remaining IN that country 50 as to secur,
us people ION every apprehension of change in tina
pacific disposition by which those Indians appear t,
have oeen governed since the termination ofihe war
Efficiency and military sprit are much improved h,
Keeping troops IN mass. Central depots on hsnlth,
sizes, whether forts OF not so thai they arc rnn,l .