New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-08
Report Of the secretnry Of War.

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Report Of the secretnry Of War.
/ We condensc NJ. Marcys farewell repor.. Ii
opens with history Of the close Of the war in Mexico
nrncpaly under Gen Lane At Tehuscsn scqua.tcplsn,
tc-in California At san Jose la Pa. &c and the clos
ns battle Of the war Al santa Cruz de Rosaos under
| Gen Price
Our Military Peace establishment If full, would mum
Der -- officers and soldiers exclusive of the enlisted
men OF ordnance-but Il e not full The great eNten
sion Of our territorial limits required new arrange
nent of our military divisions and departments The
eastern, irsi division 10 not changed Texas and
New Mexico have been added 10 the western. Sc
cOnd End California and Oregon constitutes the third
I ur the division of the Pacific.
/ The Mounted Ride Regiment II hoped be sent
% Oregon early Spring IL has been delayed by the
/ loss of men by discharge
small force detached ss An escort for the Governor.
II the way 20 Oregon, and will probably arrive
there IN the OF tins month. With view 10 an
earlier relief than could be afforded by sending troops
from the United states orders have been issued from
the Navy Department TO the Commander OF our Squad
Ia the Pacific dispatch part Of MS force 10 ore
-on, with arms, ammunition and supplies and In case
i should be necessary TO land the marines and sailors
aid the inhabitants until the troops destined for that
/ Territory should have arrived
The other regiments greatly reduced At the
close Of the war They had been hilod up by recruits
enlisted only during its continuance Owing 20
the ate period OF their return from Mexico and the uu
avoldabe delay in recruiting organizing such az were
destined distant service could not be prepared q pro
coed by land 10 Oregon. California or New Mexico un
OIL the so lar advanced A. 10 render march
across the country impractcable. forseeins the ne
necessity for troops In these Territories and the delay
of sending them from the United states orders IN
ucpaton OF peace, given 10 the general IN chiet
command 10 send regiment from the headquarters in
Mexico to California but the Mexican Government re-
fused 10 permit its passage 70 the Pacific coast
Orders we're also given to Gen. Wool then in com
mand Of the forces at satllo Monterey, and on the
Rio Grsnde frontier 70 send part Of the regular
troops with him directly 10 California and New Mexico
Pursuant this direction two companies 0 lot and
% Dragons proceeded up the right bank OF the Rio
Grande 10 Chihuahus, crossed over TO the ella, and
down that river 20 California By this time, u Is pro
bable they have reached their ultimate destination
one company OF dragons and one Of light artillery
were also sent from the Rio Grsnde and proceeded on
the Mexican side of up to santa Re These have Al
ready arrived in New Mexico.
some troops have been sent from New York % Ore
gon others will be sent in spring.
Troops TO guard the Rio Grande frontier and keep IN
check the Indians in that qusrer have been ordered TO
Texas and have arrived Al, or their way TO- their
respective stations
The remainder OF the army is distributed on the In
dian and Northern frontiers, and on the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts
The war with Mexico caused some delay in estab-
fishing posts the Oregon route The mounted rife
regiment diverted from that duty for which Il was
Origina designed, 20 with the Army 10 Mexico
and it not intended 10 employ any part OF ies.t
OF tse Rocky Mountains
the establishment Of two of these posts-One near
Grand Island where the road to Oregon encounters the
Platte River ana the other at Fort Laramie /
During that season some progress made IN con |
.tructng the work a. the former place but IL was
pended the approach Of Winter Preparations were
made 70 resume II IN the Spring and Il has been IN /
the Of construction during the past season but
the department Is unable 10 state how far Il has pro
crossed
The amour, Of contributions and avsls Of captured |
property received By officers OF army Ia Mexico, can
ulfa fffug of fI h.
asceTtalncd The amount thus FAR reported 10 - rif
313 a. which will BE- somewhat increased BY amounts
collected in New Mexico and California OF this
amount co. 2 80 have been retained tor expenses OF
collections s3i6j69 80 paid into the Treasury OF the
nited States -3267 $40 = turned . dsbursing
officers. s497l2 = credited by the Mexican Govern.
the Unted States Ia payment Of the hrst install
under the Treaty and the remaining : 10 80 O2
charged aesinst the collecting eicers OF the amount
turned over 20 disoursng officers SOP $50 were sp
piled toward the payment OF the nrsi nstameni under
the Treaty with Mexico and the greater prrt OF the
balance has been dsoursed for regular and ordinary
purposes.
gainst the balances remaining charged o. collecting
officers they may be entitled farther credits the
several above stated the Of about
$1,000. The remainder 10 claimed by them com
pensauon Tor extra services or as having been paid 20
other army Ohcsrs for similar services In making the
collections These claims have been suspended IN
der existing laws such allowances be made. but
the claims this account considered % some |
extent Just urged In my ast annual report and sub
sequenuy IN communication to the Committee OF
Ways ana Means that provision should be made for
reasonable allowance in such and the sub ect
again recommended for favorable consideration.
The moneys paid over to Disturbing officers have
been mingled with the fund. drawn from the treasury
snd placed In their hands for disbursement This has
complicated their accounts and embarrassed the settle
lent OF them The laws and regulations securing and
enforcing the settlement Of the accounts Of dis5ursng
officers are considered applicable only the public
moneys received IRON tue treasury IL Is recommended
that these laws should be extended 20 apply
accounts Tor moneys received from contributions and
al ether sources Without some such provision sm
satisfied thsi much Gelsy and many difhcu.te. viii
attend the al justm.ni Of these accounts
There are also other accounts which cannot b. I'd
lusied without farther legislation No iund was placed
- special appropriation a. TIE disposal OF the kNecr
1--WE or the commanding generals. 10 meet expenses
Tor secret services for extraordinary objects Dis
oufsemens OF this character are not only usual bat In
dsptnssoie n the prosecution % war and Psricu
y foreign The coll scti0ns In Mexico have been
rcsoEed u for these purposes II not reasonable 70
expect that regular vouchers Of payment Tor secret
services should b. produced, and the accounts EN-
orseins such items must remain unad justed, unless
congress should deem Il proper % provide sumo mode
for settling them.
TIE allowance If three months extra pay 70 al wac
served IN that has rendered inispensabiy
sfy - retain 10 seryiee the temporary Psymasters
pointed under the act OF the 5in Of July, l-5- To pre-
vent delay and 10 subscrve the convenience u the vol
uasoers PsynAsters have been sent into the several
sections % The coultry here these troops raised
All organized u estimated that from - 90 o. 100
~ Persoas became entitled b three months pay
lnfer the sct Of the 10Th Of July asst the part
OF this number had le the service before hs provision
% 49, AS adopted Inc VISIT increase In the extent Of
our territory zu1 IN TIE number OF military posts has
induced the fsymsstcr General 70 asa tina; the adj
tionsl faymssters appointed for the and whose
services were continued By act Of Congress passed
- ne ast session until the fih Of Mach next may Be
retained permanently IN ihs public service.
he number Of military poets VII probably exceed !
ne nun Of medical officers authorized By lsw
no1d tnAt Dc the case the emp menf oi physicians
a eifA life VII become necessary. Beside the dii- :
saiy o. procuring sueh physician. the points
ney A-e wanted The expenses Oen exceed the regular
pay Ano efe.anents OF army surgsons and assistant
'-is-on. WIZ view both to economy and 10 the il
interest OF the service an Induced the
recommendation Of the surgeon Genera IA favor Of o
re rePeA OF ne Prcvso OF the 81 section Of the act
y Ie ~ oii JAY sss IA ~ relates 70 ne Two