Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-12-31
Report of the Secretary Of
WAR.

WAR.
This Document has not yet been
printed. A brief synopsis, made from
the original Report. has been furnish
cd us. The Secretary gives full his
tory of the commencement and pro-
qress of our Mexican war operations;
the battles OF Paio Alto, Resaca de la
Palma and Monterey are narrated;
then we have the termination OF the
armistice; the conquest of Santa Fe
and the CALIFORNIA;, and accounts OF
the various movements OF the armies.
Satisfactory, though not official IN
formation has been received OF the ia
king of Monclova, but not Chihuahua.
Gen. Kearney's detachment was ex-
pccted to reach the Pacific about No
vember last. The operations Of Colo
mel Fremont and Commodore Stock
ton West Of the Rocky Mountains, are
referred to with commentator. Au-
thentic information but no official re-
port has been received of their opera
tions.
The military force of the U. S. has
been augmented from 7640 men to 80
900 men. The duties of the War De-
partment have been arduous and en-
barrassing The Department of Tam
aulipas, and the right bank of the Rio
Grande for several hundred miles from
its mouth, New Leon, Coahuila and
Chihuahua, have all in effect been
wrcsted from the enemy; and the Mex
lean authority, civil and military, dis
placed in New Mexico and the Cali
fornias-all in the short space oil seven
months.
The regular army. under the law of
last session, when filed up would a.
mount to l9,99S, officers and men, but
does not now exceed 10000. Our
success in the field is attributable prob
ably to the large number of volunteers
called out stree 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
justified the expectations formed Of
this description of troops: but it is no
disparagemcnt to them TO say that reg
ular force. would be preferred in war
to be prosecuted in a foreign country.
Considerations of economy are also de-
cidedly in favor of troops engaged to
serve during the war. The Secretary
should receive the attention Of Con-
gress, and that body of troops should
be raised to take the place Of those
volunteers who will claim a discharge
at the end of their term Of service.
The plan suggested by General Ma
comb in his report in 1856, is recon-
mended now in reference to the regi-
mental field officers. Provision should
be made for offences committed by our
troops and by persons connected with
the army. An increase ofthe regular
army is recommended. The estima-
ted appropriations for Publications for
next year amount to S 1915, $50. The
report then goes on 10 speak of our ma
tional dcfences, ofsappers. miners and
Typographical engineers and their pre-
sent organization; Of the ordinance bu-
reau being inadequate; deficiency in
the medical staff of the army; history
of operations in mineral lands the past
year; number Of pension agencies, A,
exclusive of Navy pensions, and num-
Der of pensioners about 10000.
The Sub-Treasury art contemnlates
the employment of officers therein
named as pension agents, and renders
it doubtful whether those hitherto en-
p!oyed are not suspended. He recon-
mends that authority be given to con-
tinue the present agents at reasona-
BILE compensation. Three thousand
four hundred and tbirty-four Indians
have been removed West of the Mis-
sissippi River since last annual report
New treaties with Indians are referred
to, and the solicitude Of Government to
promote the welfare of the Indian
tribes is feelingly expressed.