The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-20
r. j. WALKER.
Secretary Of the Treasur,
To the PRESIDENT.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, June IL. 1916. {

washington, June l3, 1916.
SIR: have the honor herewith to submit 10
you the estimates which have been made at this
department, TO enable you To answer tho resolu
ton Of the Senate. Of the Sd instant requesting TO
he furnished with an estimate Of the amount Of
money required during the present and next fiscal
year tor such prosecution of the existing war
with Mexico as will most likely result in its spee.
dy and honorable termination.
These estimates are made upon the ASSUMPTION
that the regular army will soon be filled IN to its
maximum. which will amonntto Is 500 men, and
that volunteer force Of 10000 foot, and 5000
mounted men, is to be at once organized. received
into service, and kept therein until the end of the
next fiscal year-to wit: 10 the 30th of June,
io4|. The estimates are made for an army of
over 4OOOO men. most by operating in the field, in
an enemy's country, deriving their supplies prin-
cipally from the United States.
How long it will be before the regular army
can be filled up to the extent authorized by law
VIII depend upon success in recruiting. Its num-
bers as yet do not much exceed one half its maxi
mum. 1t is hoped that in few months the ranks
will be nearly filed; its average total number
through the next fiscal year will not probably ex-
coed 1850.
The number of volunteers actually called for
Immediate service, by virtue of your orders under
the act of 18th of May last, will amour. to abou,
$4,000, and whether greater number will or will
not be required for the ensuing campaign cannot
now be determined. Should the number already
called for be deemed sufficient for the successful
prosecution OF the war; the estimates being made
on basis exceeding that number by seven thou
sand, will be found proportionably too large.
Should these views to the extent of the req
ular and volunteer force be realized, the army will
not exceed $4,000 men and all or nearly all the
estimates presented herewith might be reduced
one fourth in amount; yet it is impossible TO fore
see the exigencies of the service /, NAV require
the full amount OF the force on which the esi-
mates have been made. and even more; and I
have not therefore felt at liberty to make any
reduction of the estimates presented by the sew
eral branches of this department.
take the liberty to direct your particular at
tention to the estimates of the quartermaster gen
eral. You will perceive that they are large, Sery
large, and hope much exceed the expenditures
which may be required. They are made on the
superstition that cur army will penetrate far into
the interior OF the ehemy's country, and that all
supplies, and the munitions of war will necessa-
rily be transported on long lines and those far
IRON being easily traversed. Should the enemy's
country abound in forage, the expense of Trans
portaton Will be greatly reduced; but the uncer-
talnty as to the country to be invaded, and the
still greater uncertainty as to its resources do not
warrant deductions to be made on the estimated
items for supplies and the trapsporta ton of them
" '"o PoCeS ""oie sney may De needed. Should
the navigation of the Rio Grande be- found prac
ticabe for steam boats of light draught to Camar-
go, or above, much will be saved probably by the
use of that river, yet considerable sums must be
expended in the purchase of boats, &c.
1t is further to be observed that no nconsider.
able amount of the expenses which will fall on
the quartermaster's department, is in the nature
of an outfit, and would not be required to be re-
peated. should the war be protracied beyond the
next fiscal year. The estimates in the quarter
masters department are made without much re-
gard to the chances favorable to diminish ex-
penses Provision had not been made (for the
restricted appropriations in past years would not
permit it to be made) for the sudden augmenta-
ton of our force to four times its usual amount.
The necessity of makeing such provision on the
shortest notice will greatly increase the cost of it.
and this falls mainly the quartermaster's de-
partment. 1t is hoped that the actual expenses
Of this branch of the services will fall some two
or three millions short of the full estimates hero
presented, yet this 10 not 80 certain as to author
ize the department TO cut them down in that
amount.
am, with great respect,
Your obedient servant,