Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-25

vice in February last in compliance with call by the COM
mandng officer at Camargo, under what he deemed to be
pressing emergency The regiment, after being mustered
proceeded the Rio Grande where was discharged purs
ant order Of Major General Taylor As this call was
made without authority from either this Department the
Commanding General appropriation will be necessary
pay the volunteers for the time they in service.
respectfully repeat the Recommendation in my last annual
report the subject of clothing in kind for volunteers lieu
the money which at present paid them commuta
ton The experience of the past year has shown the
sy for this change The clothing provided by the volunteers
themselves, both kind and quality il generally unsued for
The service and often proves TO be deficient quantity Sery
ing in an enemy country and at distance from the ordinary
sources supply seldom be replaced when lost
out and always exhorbtant price, Much of the suffer
ing which has been experienced by these troops may be a
buted to the want Of proper clothing If authority given
supply the volunteers the m9Rhe provided for the rcgu
lar troops is believed be better clothed and at
less cost to themselves and to the Government than by the
present mode II is understood that such provision is made
the arrangements of the Quaermases Department such
IN relation to providing clothing that it readily furnish
supply TO the volunteers
also repeat the recommendations in my last report, in
gard to retired list Of officers Of the army who by age
inhrmites have become unable perform active duties The
experience OF the past year has added force the consdera
tons IN favor of such For the details of the pan
as well as Tor reasons IN favor of it invite your attention to
the report of the Adjutant General
Besides the reports of the Adjuan General and the Quar-
temaster General before particularly referred TO- also here
with submit for your consideration others from the Commits
sary General the Paymaste General the Chief Engineer
charge of the Ordnance Department the Surgeon General
the Commissioner Of Pensions and the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs These several reports presented in the full
confidence TINT their examination will afford most crafty
ing proofs that the public duties devoved upon EACH though
unusually arduous have been throughout the past
faithfully and ably discharged
The report of the Chief Engineer exhibits the condition of
the permanent deences under construction and repair along
our seaboard and northern frontier. Owing the small
of placed within the control OF the Department
for this purpose but little progress during the last year has
been made in these works preceding years. the system
defence has been prosecuted with considerable success I'm
poan points have been placed in comparative security but
there Others having strong claims protection that yet
remain in defenceless state II is not deemed wise, under
present circumstances to withdraw all attention from
tenn of exterior defence.
The estimate which has been submitted for expenditure
upon those works moderate II is below that OF last year.
and much less than the average grants in former years
Congress having provided for Board of Vsiters attend
the general examination of the Military Academy West
Point number Of eminent citizens from various States
invited to form such board, with a view inquire into the
state of discipline of that institution instruction. police
administration, financial affairs and other concerns, and
report thereon for the information of Congress Their report
will be found among the papers herewith from the Engineer
Department presents the institution in all respects in
very favorable light and trust that besides the appopra-
tons required for its maintenance and efficiency provision
will be made for an annual Board of Visiters.
The company of engineer soldiers authorized BY the act of
Congress Of May Is, 1885, has been than year on
active duty in Mexico, and has rendered efficient
again submit With approval the proposition OF the Chief En-
gneer for increase Of this description force required
to meet the wants Of our armies in the field.
The surgeons and assistant surgeons constituting the me-
dca staff Of the army, all required for the troops the
held and Is asceraned by experience that they
sufficient for the exgences of the service The wants the
service have rendered necessary TO employ physicians in
civil life 10 assist IN the duties of the medical staff This de-
cency OF medical assistance has owing Part 10 the
number surgeons and assistants who have been detached
from the troops to take charge of the hospitals which
the proper care and treatment of the sick and wounded have
AnnDl
comfort OF the officers and soldiers, suffering by wounds
disease is demanded by justice humanity therefore
earnestly commend to your approval the proposition for
thory appoint six hospital surgeons, be continued in
office only to the end Of the present
do not doubt, however much it is to be lamented that
many soldiers who have faithfully served their country in the
army will retire from it out in service, disabled by
wounds permanently impaired health by exposure and
hardhips without the Of comfortable support the
ability to it, In this situation they will look with rea
sonable expectation TO their country for provision better
suited to their condition than that which made by
pension laws This would be afforded to them by army
asylum retreat The comforts Of such public Institution
due to this unfortunate and merorou class of fe
ow-cizens from grateful and paternal Government.
in the acting Surgeon Generals recommendation of
such an establishment and submit il 10 your favorable
sideration.
The number of pensioners of all classes the rolls of the
Pension Office wenythre thousand and nineteen the
namber paid during the half year ending the s Of July
last was only fifteen thousand and nnety-two The Office
has not the means OF asccrtanng the deaths among hem
but the number OF has been by that
deraby reduced during the last year The reduction that
period is estimated to be at least ten per centum.
The law allowing bounty in lands 10 the soldiers who
have served in the with Mexico, has thrown pressure
OF duties upon the Pension Office requiring large increase
OF labor. In order to furnish these soldiers with scrip and
certificates Of location eay practicable several persons
have been employed under promise present then claims
for compensation to Congress Without their assistance
much delay would have unavodaby resulted in this branch
OF the public business attended with injury and ncon
venience to the mertonous claimants and with this
assistance, there yet acted although
all practicable dispatch has been used The applications for
certificates otocaon and for scrip previous to the 18th Of No
vember he date of the Commissioner report bad amount
ed to eighteen thousand three hundred and sixty. Seven
thousand three hundred and fourteen certificates for land, and
nine hundred and ninety Of scrip had been issued. Two
thousand two hundred and ten applications had been rejected
suspended, and thousand eight hundred and forty
six then remained to be examined.
It is respectfully urged that recommendation should be
submitted to Congress 10 make provision, not only pay
those who have already rendered service but for such adj
donal number OF clerks may be required for the dispatch
of this business
Officers Of the line and staff have been required TO perform
duties several places where destroying epidemic has pre-
vailed. Several have fallen victims TO il. Their position
perilou OF the officers who have mingled in
open conflict with the enemy. The families of those who
have been stricken down by this insdious foe have in my
opinion us claim 10 the and aid Of the Government
the families Of such have fallen in battle, or died Of
wounds received while in the discharge Of their duty and
recommend that Congress should be requested 10 make the
same provision for them
fully in the suggestion Of tho Adu,ant General