Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-11
Rernrt Of the Secretary Of War.

strength, and constitution oil the regular army ne
rank and hle-embracng every arm OF the service
does not exceed 500 Dien At this time, there is
stationed but single regiment on the whole north
ern frontier from Maine TO Lake Superior--an ex-
tent of two thousand miles; and on the whole line
from the Falls Of St Anthony 10 New Orleans, &c
teen hundred miles, )only regiment OF dragons
mud two of infantry. The artillery reEiments-re-
duced by detachmenis Of four companies from
each-now garrison the Notifications Of the sea-
board from Newport to New Orleans. The re-
naming and larger proportion Of the army is now
stationed in Texas. The report gives interest
ing account Of the political reasons which have re-
duced the government TO give them this destna-
ton. The Secretary does not think il prudent TO
remove the troops from this position until rela
tons with Mexico have assumed more decidedly
amicabe character In the event Of there being
any necessity 10 increase the army ne proposes TO
build upon the basis Of the regiments, by adding to
the rank and file Of each company instead OF crea-
ting new regiments. This necessity may be found
in the course Of Mexico, or in the conduct of the
Cumanches, or of the Indians that are found in Or
egon, or that may interrupt the increasing current
of emigration TO the Rocky mountains. BY the
proposed arrangement Of filing up the infantry
companies to sixty-eigh men, andthe dragons to
sixty, the privates are increased, without cores
ponding augmonta OF the officers.
The repor. suggests that, besides this increase Of
the number of prvates in the two existing regiments
Of dragons, another regiment of Dragons Of
mounted rfemen may be necessary, in the event
Of extendingour posts to the Rocky Mountains.
1t states, though the concentration of so large
proportion of the army on the frontier ofTexas may
have, in some measure, enlarged the expenditures,
certainly in The article of transportation yet it
has, in some degree, been compensated by the i'm
provement which has taken place in the discipline
Of the troops. Ii renews the recommendation for
establishing corps ofsappers. miners, and ponto-
niers, to assist among otherthngs in constructing
bridges, in consequence of the military occupation
of Texas. One hundred men will be sufficient for
the purpose
The report gives rapid but interesting account
OF Col Kearneys expedition, during the last sum-
mer, to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains
the impressions it produced among the Indians
the number OF emigrants whom it met on their way
to Oregon, TO the number Of 1925 men, women
and children with 900 head Of cattle 400 horses
and mules, and 400 wagons. This report of Col
Kcarney accompanies the communication of the
commanding general, and will furnish, no doubt,
an. interesting store Of extracts, at season of
greater leisure. 1t also refers to the adventures of
another detachment Of the dragons, under the
command of Captain Sumner nearly to the north
ern lire Of the United States, beween Lake Superb
or and the Lake of the Woods. Among the Indi-
ans whom they met with on their route, and upon
whom they made due impression with their militia
ry array, was numerous band Of the halfbreeds of
the Red river of the North who had come from
the region ofthe Hudson Bay Company into our
lines, to hunt buffalo. They had even solicited
permission to reside in the United States.
The Secretary to the considerations which
had prompted Gen Gaines to despatch the volun-
teers of Louisiana to the camp Of Gen. Taylor
Ample justice is done to their CALAMITY, and Con-
gress is invited to make appropriation for their
compensation Gen. Taylor had also accepted the
services Of four Texan companies of mounted men
for three months.
The estimates for the ensuing year do not great
ly vary from those Of former years. The item for
armingthe Notifications is increased 800 600 The
attention Of Congress is directed to the State orthe
fortihcations-to the armories of Springfield and
Harper's Ferry-to the establishment of a national
foundry for cannon-to the preservation of the gun
powder belonging to the goyernment-to the con-
dition Of the mineral lands in the northwest which
the Secretary proposes to transfer from the manage
ment Of the ordnance department to other,
1.-THE Presidents message suggests TO the land Of
fce,)
II calls the attention Of Congress to the forty
eight forts in process Of construction, and TO the
propriety Of erecting new forts at other points,
Among these suggested by the reports Of the en-
gneers, are Notifications of the Narrows at Staten
Island and at Sandy Hook, and the condition of
the ong-suspended fortress at the Pea Patch; an
additional work at Sellers Point for the protection
of Baltimore; and projected fertilization on the
Florida reefs.
The Secretary speaks with great consideration
oil the school at West Point, and proposes some i'm
proEements. He calls special attention to the re-
port of the chief of the corps of typographical
gueers--to the improvement Of the harbors on the
lakes, which are SO well calculated TO furnish ac-
commodations to steamers that in state Of war,
may be turned to the most effective purposes, and
10 furnish facilities TO a commerce that is now esti-
mated at one hundred millions annually
The Secretary speaks with enthusiasm Of the ex-
petitions under Captain Fremont, and his valuable
services. He refers tc the reports of the pension
Office, which has now registered upon its books
2S,92l pensioners-2,37 added during the last
year. and i .4SS knownio have died He devotes
a considerable space TO the Indian agency and the
Indans--the Pottaw atomies, the Choctaws, and
particularly the Cherokees. He lays before the
President some highly interesting communications
from our Indian sub-agent in the territory of Ore
gon
He dedicates the conclusion Of his comprehen-
sye and very interesting report TO a subject which
IS OF so profound an importance in free govern
ment, viz the organization ofthe militia He sug-
.gssts various aterntons and, among the rest, sub
Mits the question whether it might not be advisable
TO reduce the period Of servic from as years Of age
to 81, upon the ground that, although citizens Of
rs years Of age are not too young to bear arms,
they are not generally in situaton to equip them
selves with arms, the law Tequres.-URiOn
THF REPoRT OF THE PosTMA sTER q FErRAI-