The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-13

service and appointments In the staff which required
to be taken from the ne and in many instances their
neal rank retained, necessarily withdraw large mum.
Dor Of Officers from their appropriate commands in the
OF July with the accompany ing report of the 3lst of
that month. herewith transmitted will show the number
Of rsgmental field officers permanently disabled for &C
tive service, and the number necessarily detached on
other dnes Less than onethird of them at that
in regard to captains and subalterns the service sui
ers IN the same to considerable extent As par
sress should be asked to Suhorss ehe
OF an additional Major to each regiment nths regu-
lar establishment Such change in the present or
restoring what has been usual in time of In the
war Of 1872 each regiment had two Majors and such.
OF other countries. am quite sure the necessity for
could never be more urgent than 10 at this time
mitigation of the evil to which referred The
vice must continue 10 safer derimsn until plan is
devised to withdraw from their nominal commands
those who incapsctated to discharge their appro-
PIRATE duties and to prevent the actual commend from
being devolyed upon officers of inferior grade who have
ALSO another position appropriate duties to per-
form i is for the best interest of the public service
BILE, r performing the duties properly appertaining to
this rank Whent is seen not as unusual thing, tina
colonies are taken from their regiments to command
brgades, captains from their companies TO command
giments and companies left in charge of the lowest
grade ofcommissioned officers quite certain and
may DO said without disparagement to those put in
msnd much above their rank that state of things
exists ia the army detrscting grsay from its efficiency,
The plan suggested by the late commanding general Of
the army Major General Macomb) in his annual
port of 1891, would is believed If carried into effect
remove, to great extent the evils here presented and
az it seems 70 be which has met with favor,
and against which the fewcs have been urged
would respectfully recommend il to favorable consde
ration proposes to withdraw from command such Of
acers q: have secoms supersnua.sd or ncepacitated
those who succeed TO the command the other ao
TO which the former are now entitled by existing laws
Thusa colonel who had become ncapacitated fros age
any other would retire the full pay of his
rank without any other emolumentsj the lieutenant
ksa.Asf srr
with the rank of colonel and receive only the pay of
lieutenant colonel with tho emoluments Of the colonel
who would be Withdrawn. SO the major who would,
y promotion become lieutenant colonel, would receive
the OF major and the emoluments Of lieutenant colo
mel and the senior captain 10 Like manner would re
emoluaents OF major, and with the other grades in
succession Should this susgs ion be sdoptsdit would
be proper that the mode for the officers to be
Withdrawn from service should be regulated by law in
such manner that their disability shall be fairly and
Many offences and of them of the gravest charac
ter. may DO committed by troops and persons
nected with the army, which by express provi-
of law within the jurisdisGon of any military
tribunal Such offences, when committed within the
State courts and the offenders are turned over to them
for trial and punishment but when perpetrated in the
enemyJ country temporarily in possession of army
1t is very doubtful whether there is any mode Of
punishing the criminals There may not be any civil
tribunal to which the be referred, and the mi
tary courts declioeto take cogniz of them under
the belief that they have no legal right to do
Without some authority to punish such crimes great
Is alike pernicious in its effects upon interests
public service and upon the rights and persons of
we'll upon of The the country TEN.
porariiy occupied by our troops. In such state OF
sesn made sy hs of our ca no.
fully executed therefore recommend that courts mar.
ts some military tribunal to be organized by the
general ia command should DO vested by express pro-
vision OF Law, with authority try offences committed
beyond the limits of the United States and within tina
district oil country IN the actual occupancy of mill
tary forces where there civil or criminal courts
but those of the enemy to which the offenders
can be delivered ~ Tor trial and punishment. -nf
The act Of Congress the accordance OF the
services Of volunteers provides that they shall furnish
their clothing and receive therefor utation
money. II was determined that those first called out
entitled by Law be paid advance one years
clothing and each volunteer received fortytwo dollars
always for clothing and many Of them soon
became destitute to suffer 10 their health and
other respects TO be scarcely ft for service To this
in DO inconsderabie degree is TO be ascrbed the
great disparity Of Sickness between the volunteers and
s regular troops the latter being well clothed by the
government, and comparatively much more healthy. II
paid in advance there Ia danger that the Communication
money will not be applied to the proper object not
judiciousy applied aud If withheld until earned those
entering the win no. DC able, in many cases,
procure needfn supply, and consequently will suffer
Tor the want thereof, be obliged to pay enormous
prices 10 remedy these inconveuienccs, recommend
that the present Law in this respect should be altered and
that the appropriation for clothing should be enlarged
and the required TO prouide supply for the
voiunsers and furnish TO them at cost, In lieu Of tho
allowance in money, DOW directed TO be paid; and that
commanding officer CT the company to which the soldier
belongs shall certify that he wei supplied with proper
clothing.
With a view to bring 10 your particular notice the
transactions Of the several branches Of the public service
connected with this department during the last year,
herewith transmit the reports made to by the chief Of
6cers in charge Of them. These reports will show that
the duties Of each have been discharged with industry
fidelity and skill In most Of them suggestions made
changes which be effected only by ths acton of
Congress. have not been disposed yield with facility
TO these suggestions, but Of them deemed by
necessary to remedy existing evils, improve
the efficiency OF the service that sense of duty urges
not only 10 notice. but TO commend them to favorable
consideration II.
With proper feeling against overgrown military
establishment, efforts have been made through
a long period OF peace with which this country
blessed, reduce all the branches OF il TO the lowest
point compatible with the very moderate wants Of tran
qpl times but the Intervention OF state OF renders
not only necessary TO arrest this process Of reduction
but to provide for the greatly increased demands result
ing from this important change.
The notifications which 70 me to be required
will be briefly noticed in my remarks upon these
dinate departments the usefulness necessity for So
vera Of them stated more at large In the accompany
ng reports.
Our peaceful relations with those foreign powers who
could command the means OF asssilng US, particularly
sesboard better settled than when sub
mittsd last annual report This confederation togc
Their with the anticipation OF large exps ndures IN pro-