The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-08


them better protection than their and thus by our
presence and our torbearance they have within certain
limits hitherto escaped exaciions from either But our
successes have now opened the way upon and in
fuence those who probably il they WILL put end
to hoshiites BY making them suffer the usual calami-
lies OF war, they must be made 10 desire peace.
In addition 10 the troops required to garrison places to
be retained il is proposed have in the field competent
force for aggressive operatons--to strike the enemy
whenever he may present vulnerable point; 10 open
avenues from the ports in possession nio the enemys
country and and subject TO control OF
his rich mining districts and productive agricultural
regions 1t is not deemed proper to point out IN more
detail the movements and objects contemplated in the
further prosecution of the war upon this plan.
proceed to present my views in relation TO the troops
considered necessary for this purpose The twenty five
regiments OF the regular army distinguished from the
volunteer force when filled up TO the limit fixed by law,
would be twenty eight thousand eight hundred and four
teen, exclusive OF officers but the actual strength,
as can be ascerained is now tweny-one thousand five
hundred and thirty three; it will therefore require
thousand three hundred and eighty enlisted men TO
complete the regular military establishment
During the last year, the recruiting service for the regu
lar army has been attended with considerable success
he recruits enlisted for the fifteen old regiments
to eleven Thousand and eghtyone and those for the ten
regiments raised under the act OF the last session oil Con-
gress eleven thousand one hundred and sytytwo.
BY the operations OF the recruiting service it is be-
eyed that the present strength Of these regular regiments
will be fully sustained, and probably increased.
me accompanying tables from the Adjuant Generals
office show tina, there are now in service. engaged
Tor the twentythree regiments of volunteers,
battaons and hitythee companies not organized into
regiments or battalions; but the rank and file of all
| these do not probably exceed twenty thousand
Most of the volunteer forces have borne conspicuous
part in the present arduous campaign and particularly in
the series Of severe conflicts with the enemy. The
casualties OF the service have therefore, fallen heavily
upon them They have become considerably reduced.
To give those serving for the their complete organ
zaon, will 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 to
detached from their commands for that purpose. These
efforts have not been successful only eight hundred and
twenty have been procured One OF the disadvan.
tages attending these attempts has been the want of
authority TO place them the same footing in respect
to compensation as recruits for the regular army AS
the volunteers engage for the term the recruits
for the ten regiments there be no reason for not
holding out TO them the inducements to enter the
public service 1t is, therefore. respectfully recommend
ed that Congress be asked 10 authorize like bounty
to volunteer recruits
also suggest that those raised in the State be
consolidated temporarily and the supernumerary officers
sent home obtain recruits for their respective compa-
MES. Should this attempt prove unsuccessful, then |
recommend that the consolidation be made permanent.
and that entire companies Of volunteers be accepted to
take the place OF the regiments and battal
ions which may be occasioned by the consolidation.
The forces now in service, augmented by recruits to
the extent which it is reasonable to expect viii not. in
my opinion be sufficient Tor contemplated military
operations. therefore submit for your consideration
and approval the proposition to raise ten additional reg
mens of regular forces for the 1t is important that
authority should be given for this purpose at an early
period IN the approaching session OF Congress delay,
even Of few months. would be very injurious, as
would give time to the enemy to reoganze his shattered
forces and recruit his exhausted strength II such
thorty be at once given the new regiments might be
raised and sent to the seat of to pass the
unhealthy district along the coast of the Gulf before the
return OF the epidemic, and to participate in the next
campaign 1t is desirable that Congress should be i'm
pressed with the importance of providing at for this
increase OF our troops.
The increase Of the regular force to the proposed
tent much preferred to further call for vounteersnot
however, because the former preferable the latter
for courage, endurance gallant deeds of daring; for,
IN these high attributes the regular troops and the voun
teers have been alike emneny distinguished, and have,
every trying OCCASION noby contended for excellence
but Judging from past experience, 1t IS believed that In
this way the army be expedtousy reinforced,
and the regiments effectively recruited and kept up,
and in some respects better adapted to the services likely
to be required of them
The exigencies of the may require larger force
than can be brought into the field, including the proposed
new regiments. 1t is therefore urged that authority
should also be given to cept the services Of vol
unteers 1t should not be restricted to number less than
twenty thousand With the increase of our present
force BY the ten new regiments it is not prebable that
there will be occasion to exercise this authority yet
emergency may arise when to it would be OF
great Importance to the public interest
The department has presented estimates for consdera-
Bile deficiencies in of the appropriations for the
current fiscal year. Provision made in these appro-
pnaons Tor continuing in service. besides the regular
troops ten thousand volunteers but it was subsequently
deemed important greatly to augment this volunteers force
The excess OF volunteers called out beyond that number
is over fifteen thousand for which appropriation
them to the seat of war, together with their pay subsst
ence, andallowance for clothing have produced
Siderable oil these uehcenCIcS Inc unforeseen and
extraordinary in the price of articles of subsistence,
has also caused much larger expenditure in the Com
mssary's Department than expected when the est
mates for subsistence presented to the last Con-
gress The largest amount of disbursements has been
IN the Quartermasters Department For statement of
this amount, well the necessity for it, respectfully
refer 10 the report of the Quartcrmaster General The
duties OF that branch of the public service
and difficult at all times; in war-and particularly in
foreign war, carried at great distance from
binary of suppiesthese duties vastly multi
piled and complicated The difficulties under which that
department has labored from the commencement OF the
war, suddenly called on, it then was, unpepared
state to provide for several armies destined for different
and distant fields of action and subsequently in fitting
out the important expedition against Vera Cruz, and
curing transportation by and land in spread
operations, and the in which these difficulties
have been met and often under the most unto
ward circumstances well presented in the
panying report OF the Quartermaster General
As measure for reducing expenses in one important
branch of duties of the Quartermasers Department and
at the same time giving II greater efficiency invite spe-
cial attention to his recommendation in regard TO the
mode OF employing eamsters, mechanics and ether la
borers These amount to several thousands; and the
difficulty procuring them sufficient numbers, and re-
tanning them in service places where they wanted,
has forced upon that department the necessity OF paying
extravagant wages and other respects mourning large
expenses, which might, to considerable extent be
avoided in the manner suggested
If authority given 70 enlist the required in
the Quartermaster's Department with all the advantages
to which troops OF the line entitled, and sublecto
similar obligations, the public expenses this account
would be much diminished, and the Quarermasters De-
partment relieved to considerable extent from serious
nhar,,