Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-24

II REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.-The
following synopsis of this Report, we copy
from the New York Courier a. Enquirer.
The Secretary gives full history Of the
CONNIE nce ment and progress Of our Mexican
war operations; the battles Of Palo Alto,
Resaca de la Palma and Monterey, are narra-
ted then we have the termination of the ar
mistice the conquest of Santa Fe and the
CALIFORNIA;, and accounts of the various move
ments of the armies Satisfactory, though not
official information has been received Of the
taking of Monclova, but not chihuahua. Cen
eral Kearneys detachment was expected to
reach the Pacific about November last. The
operations of Colonel Fremont and Commo-
dore Stockton west of the Rocky Mountains,
are referred to with commentator. Anthem
tic information but not official report has been
received of their operations. The military
force of the United States has been augmented
from 764O men TO 10000 men. The duties Of
the war department have been arduous and
embarrassing The department of Tamaulipas,
and the right bank of the Rio Grande for sew
eral hundred miles from its mouth, New Leon,
Coahula and Chihuahua have all in effect
been wrested from the enemy and the Mexi-
can authority, civil and military, displaced
in New Mexico and the Californias-all in the
short space of seven months.
The regular army, under the law Of last
session; when filed up, would amount to 16,-
99S, officers and men, but does not now ex-
ceed 10000. Our success in the field is at
trbutable probably to the large number called
out since the passage Of the bill increasing the
army. 1t is impossible to tell the number Of
troops which the exigencies of the war may
require. The volunteers called out, who have
encountered the enemy, have more than justi-
fed the expectations formed of this descrip-
ton of troops but it is no disparagement to
them to say that regular forces would be pre-
ferred in a war to be prosecuted in foreign
country. Considerations of economy are also
decidedly in favor of troops engaged to scrvH>
during the war. The Secretary is most sok.k-
tous that this subject should receive the atten-
ton of Congress, and that body Of troops
should be raised to take the place Of those vol
unteers who will claim a discharge at the end
| Of their term of service.
| The plan suggested by Gen. Macomb in his
report in 1886, is recommended now in refer
ence TO regimental field officers Provision
should be made for offences committed by our
troops and by persons connected with the army.
An increase of the regular army is recommen-
dcd. The estimated appropriations, for Eortif-
cations for next year amount to $495 ,600-
The report then goes on to speak Of national
defences of sappers; miners and Topographic
cal engineers and their present organization
of the ordnance bureau being inadequate ; de-
ficicncy in the medical staff of the army his
tory of operations in mineral lands the past
year; number of pension agencies, a, exclu-
sive of Navy pensions, and number ofpe nsion-
crs about 10000.
The independent treasury act contemplates
the employ ment Of officers therein named as
pension agents and renders II doubtful whether
those hitherto employed are not Suspended
lie recommends that authority be given to
continue the present agents at a reasonable
com pensation. Three thousand four hundred
and thirty-four Indians have been removed
west of the Mississippi River since the last an
nual report. New treaties with Indians are
referred to, and the solicitude Of Government
to promote the welfare Of the Indian tribes, s
feeliugly expressed.