The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-31
MERCAToR.
THE NEW REGIMENTS.

THE NEW REGIMENTS. .-
The action Of the House Of Representatives on
their bill for raising two new regiments
ing for il an authority for the President TO increase
the number Of privates in the present regiments Of
the peace establishment disappointed even
many Of those who voted for the substitute as an al
ternative-that, or nothing. There 10 q very com
mon error IN supposing that there il largely dis
proportoned number Of officers Of the army who,
in time Of war, will be equal to alnost any expan-
sion Of the military force. As to the line, this is
true only to the extent Of increase Of the present
regiments to what is called "war establishment'-
that is, the doubling the present rank and file pre-
cisely what has been authorized to be done by the
substitute bill which has passed the House. But
was II done as preparation for war; IL 80, has
enough been done II as an increase Of the peace
adjustment, it departs from the settled policy of
what is called skeleton army"
What says the Secretary Of War, in his letter to
the chairman of the Senate Military Committee,
dated 29th Dec, lS42
"In relation +, raising additional regiments, ! re-
fer you TO my views as expressed in my report to
the President, and by him sent to Congress.
I'm reference to peace establishment, l would
recommend two new regiments, if the suggestion to
increase the rank and file of the present companies
should not be favorably received. In the present
aspect of our foreign affairs this mode of augment
ing the regular force of the country commends itself
to my judgment. These regiments, should they be
are W DC III auuluOn 10 inc troops proposed
to be raised to garrison the chain Of posts to the
Rocky mountains" @ -.
"Two new regiments" and in addition to the
troops proposed to be raised to garrison the chain Of
posts to the Rocky mountains" aE 3D.. %
Thus the reiterated call of the President and Of the
Secretary for mounted forco to protect the mgra-
ton of men, toomsa, and children to Oregon, have
been entirely overlooked and neglected; and this is
done by the friends Of the administration.
A word M the neceaat of nm addition In the
mounted force of the army. s., a..s.
| 1t is well known that the two regiments of dra
goons are more constantly and actively engaged thar
any other part of the army. This was the case be.
fore the annexation of Texas, with her vast inland
| frontier, over, tciihin which those true American
Arabs--the Cumanches Kiawas, and Apaches, who
like many other kindred tribes, are nomadic--con
tinually make inroads to murder and plumber; be-
fore it became ear policy TO encourage migration tc
Oregon, which passes over thousand miles of prai
rie from the Missouri line to the South pass, ant
which is insulted and robbed close to settle
msnts by Pawnees and Kanzas, (aH mounted.)
! What infantry do in this vast prairie terrific
ryl They are most important in large and regula
armies; but the moment they overstep the western
State boundaries, they may be compared to boat a
sea without sail or rudder They able to defent
| themselves, and nothing more. m..."
| II is thus evident that Two new regiments o
mounted troops arc absolutely necessary for tn
l line Of posts to Oregon and the Texas frontier
Governor Dodge lately demanded company ofdra
goons to be sent to the upper Mississippi, Stain
they would be of more service than regiment Q
infantry. @t" ....t
As to the staff corps Of the army, it is true ths
they are large enough-necessarily so, perhaps, ow
ing to vast extent of territory, and the scatter
ed state Of the army--if our peace establishment
were expanded four-fod. But there are not cnoug
Of company officers for the war establishment
we take our own and the experience of Europea
armies for guide. . .t z.