The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1846-01-10
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.
This document occupies five columns Of the
Union, but the following synopsis from that
paper tells the whole Of long story:
Il exhibits, in the first instance, the organi
zation, strength, and co; sii uiion OF the regu.
lar army. Tie rank and f'e-embracng eve.
" arm of the service--does moi exceed 6,5OC
men. AT this time, there is stationed but a
single regiment on the whole northern frontier,
froTi, nj .ine 10 Lake Superior; an extent of two
thou sand MES and on the whole line from The
Falls Of s.. Anthony to New Orleans, (iaeen
hundred me',) only one regiment Of dragons
and two Of infantry. The artillery regiments
--reduteI BY Getacliments of four companies
from each-nnw garrison the Notifications of tho
sea. board from Newport to New Orleans -
The remaining and larger proportion of the ar
my is nnw stationed in Texas. The report
gives an interesting account OF the reasons
which have induced government 70 give them
this destination. The Secretary does not think
il prudent to romove the troops from this posi-.
,ioa until our relations with Mxeico have assn.
med more decidedly amicable character. In
the event OF there being any necessity 10 in
crease the army, he proposes TO BULL upon the
hasis of the regiments, by adding to the rank
new regiments. This necessity may be found
in the course of Mexico, or the conduct Of the
Cumanches, or of the Indians that are fonnd in
Oregon, or that may interrupt the increasing
current of emigration to the Rocky Mountains
-rt,y-uhc proposed arrangement OF filing up the
infantry companies to slx'y-cight men, and the
dragons to sixty, the privates are increased
without a corresponding augmentation OF the
officers.
The report suggests that besides this increase
Of the number OF privates in the two existing
regiments Of Dragons. another regiment OF
,rayoons or mounted riff men may be necessa-
~, in tho event If extending our posts 10 the
Rocky Mountains.
II states that though the concentration Ct
20 large a proportion of The army on the from
tier of Texas may have, IN some me sure, en-
larged tie expenditures, Certainly in the ari.
Gle Of transpor,a,Iur,) yet it has, in some meas
ure, been compensated by the improvement
which has taken place in the discipline Of the
troops. |, rcncws the recommendation for es
tabl,shing a corps of sappers, miners, and pom.
TONERS. to assist. among other things, in con
s.ructng bridges, in consequence OF the military
occupation Of Texas. One hundred men will
be sufficient for the purpose.
The report gives a rapid but interesting &C.
count Of Lol. Kearney's expedition, during the
las, summer, TO the South Pass of the Rocky
Mountain The impre ssions il made upon the
Indians, the number of emigrants whom It met
on their way 10 Oregon TO the number Of 2 1926
men, women and children, with 1000 head Of
cattle, 400 horses aud niue s, and 46U wagons.
THIS report of Col Kearney accompanies the
communication Of the commanding general, and
will furnish no doubt, an interesting store Of ex.
tracts, at season of greater leisure. II also
q, ody ~ thae AIT ahr ocs
of the dragons, under the command of Captain
Sumner, nearly TO the northern line of the Uni.
ted States, between Lake Superior and the
Lake Of the WOODS. Among the Indians
whom they met with on their route, and upon
VII. m they made due impression with their
military array, was q numerous band of the
half breeds Of the Red river of the North, who
had come from the region of the Hudson Bay
Company, into our lines, 10 hunt buffalo. They
had even solicited permission 10 reside in the
United States.
Tho Secretary refers to the considerations
which have prompted General Gaines to dee.
patch the volunteers Of Louisiana to the camp
Of General Taylor. Ample justice is done "a
their gailantry, and Congress is invited to make
appropriations for their compensation. Gener.
al Taylor had also accepted the services Of
fur Texan companies Of mounted men fol
three months.
The estimates for the ensuing year do not
vary greatly from those Of former years. The
o,mo icr arming the Notifications s increased
,,s ovW. The attention Congress is directed
~ sne Sste OF the fortificalione--so the srmo.
s.ss ~ SPRINGFIELD aud Harper's Ferry--.o the
e',so,,snment OF national foundery for cannon
;,s 'ns preservation Of the gunpowder belong.
ng Vot INC eovernment---to the condition Of the
'neIa' lands in the North wet, which the
oecIetaIy proposes 10 transfer from the man.
s@sn. OF the ordnance department 70 some
land ofice.) '-ssss' = -
nca!s the attention OF Congress to the for
"'e'ent 'orts IN process Of construction, and ID