Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-12-25

Duhs tue a year. the recruiting service for the regular
army has been attended with considerable The
crus enlisted for the fifteen old regiments amount eleven
thousand and elghyone and those for the regiments
under the act OF the last session of Congress eleven
thousand one hundred and sixty two.
by the operations of the recruiting service is believed
that the present strength Of these regular regiments will be
fully sustained, and probably increased
The accompanying tables from the Adiuan Generals office
show that there in SERVICE engaged for the war,
twenty-five regiments Of volunteers, battaons and
thirty three companies organized regiments baa-
but the rank and file Of all these do probably exceed
twenty thousand men, Most of the volunteer forces have
borne conspicuous part IN the present aduous campaign,
and particularly in the series of conflicts with the
my The casualties of the service have therefore, fallen
heavily upon them They have become considerably reduced
10 give those serving for the their complete organization
VIII require an addition of about twelve thousand five hundred
men.
Attempts have been made under the act passed at the last
session OF Congress- to engage volunteers fill up the
panes IN service and officers have detached from their
commands for that purpose These efforts have not been sue
cessu only eight hundred and twenty have been pro-
cured One OF the disadvantages attending these attempts
mas oeen the want OF authority 10 place them The same
footing IN respect TO compensation recruits for the regular
army As The volunteers engage for the the
recruits Tor the ten regiments there be for
holding out TO them the inducements TO enter the public
service is therefore, respectfully recommended that Con-
be asked to authorize like bounty volunteer recruits
also suggest that those raised in the same State be
daed temporarily, and the supenumeary officers home
to obtain recruits for their respective companies Should this
soidaton be made permanent and that entire companies
volunteers be accepted to take the place Of the
regiments and batons which may be occasoned by the
| solidaton
The forces service augmented by recruits to the
extent which is reasonable to expect will not in my opn-
ion be sufficient for contemplated military operations
therefore submit Tor your consideration and approval the
position TO raise ten additional regiments regular
the 1t is important that authority should be given for
this purpose early period the approaching session of
Congress delay even OF few months would be very
injurious as 1t would give time to the enemy to eorganize
his shattered forces and recruit his exhausted strength IL
such authority be at given, the regiments might be
raised and sent to the of season to pass the un
healthy district along the coast of the Gulf before the return
the epidemic, and to participate in the campaign Ii is
desirable that Congress should be impressed with the impor
Of providing for this increase of our troops
The increase OF the regular force to the proposed
much preferred to further call for vouneers-not however,
because the former preferable the latter courage
durance, gallant deeds of daring fol- in these high atr
butes the regular troops and the volunteers have been alike
emnenty distinguished, and have every irving OCCASION
noby contended for excellence but Judging from past
rence it is believed that in this way the army can be more
expedousy reinforced and the regiments effectively
cuted and kept and in respects better adapted the
| services likely to be required of them
The exgencies of the require larger force than
be brought into the field Including the proposed new re-
gments, therefore urged that authority should also be
given accept the of volunteers Il should not
be restricted to number less than twenty thousand With
the increase oil present force by the regiments
probable that there will I've occasion TO exercise this
thoy yet emergency may arise when to would
| be of great importance TO the public interest
The Department has presented estimates for considerable
Deficiencies IN some OF the appropriations for the current
fiscal year. Provision made in these appropriations for
continuing in service besides the regular troops ten thousand
vountees but subsequently deemed important greatly
augment this volunteer force. The excess of volunteers
called out beyond that number is fifteen thousand for
which appropriation made The expenses of organ
zng and transporting them to the war; together with
their pay, subsistence and allowance for clothing have pro-
alaaa lia e al. l,E.. sp
and extraordinary rise in the price articles subss
tence has also caused much larger expenditure in the Com
mssarys Department than expected when the estimates
for subsistence were presented TO the last Congress The
largest amount OF disbursements has been in the uarermas
ters Department For Of this amount as well as
the necessity for IL respectfully refer the report Of the
Quarermaser General The duties of that branch Of the
public service and difficult all times-in war,
and particularly in foreign war; carried great dis,
lance from ordinary Of supplies these duties
vastly multiplied and complicated The difficulties under
which that department has aboed from the commencement
OF the war; suddenly called il then was in unpre-
pared provide several armies destined for different
and distant fields Of action, and subsequently in fitting the
important expedition against Vera Cruz and procuring trans
poraton by and land in widespread operations and
the manner IN which these difficulties have been and
come, often under the most untoward circumstances well
presented in the accompanying report Of the Quaremaser
General
As for reducing expenses in one important
branch Of duties If the uarermasers Department and at
the time giving greater efficiency, invite special al
enon to his recommendation in regard the mode Of en-
ploying teamscrs mechanics and other aborers. These
amount 10 several thousands and the difficulty in procuring
them in sufficient numbers, and retaining them in service at
Places where they wanted has forced upon that depart
ment the necessity Of paying exayagant wages and in other
respects ncurng large expenses which might consider
able extent be avoided in The manner suggested
II authority given TO enlist the required in the
Quartermastes Department. with all the advantages which
troops Of the line entitled and subject similar obligations
the public expenses this would be much diminish
ed and the Quartermasters Department relieved to cons
dersble extent from serious embarrassment
In the estimates for the fiscal year. deductions have
not been made for the contributions which may be collected at
the Mexican pos levied in the interior the country nor
for the supplies which may be there obtained. From these
II is reasonable expect such assistance will light
the burdens Of the but there means Of esmat
ing the amount which the enemy be forced contribute
towards deaying expenses, in the Of furnishing
troops with supplies The orders and instructions issued
10 the officers Of the army levy contributions the Mex
ports garsoned by troops hereto annexed The
total received by the officers the army as Exhibited by
the returns S630Sl0i6 Ofhis 722 SO have been
paid the dsbursng officers Of the army and navy see
table annexed 10 the orders respecting military contributions
Though forces have occupied the principal Mexican ports
the Gull! the trade with them has been considersbe be-
the introduction Of merchandise into the country has
been almost entirely obstructed The guerrilla bands have
had possession Of the leading the Interior and all
articles wherever found which have passed through ports in
our occupation, have been regarded land, believe by the
express order Of the Mexican Government plumber.
very different state OF things in this respect WILL il believed
hereafter exist the difficulties of bringing imports within
the reach Of will be removed In thai event. the