The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-19

l.
ApyurAnr GENERAL's OFFICE,
Washington, July ID, lS4S.
to the Hon. W. L. Marcy Secretary Of War. |
(EXrRAcT
By the act entitled San act to authorize !
of the nd file ef the army Of the nj
ted Stater approved May IS 1s46 the President is
to increase the number OF prvates In each OF
The companies of the several regiments OF the old army
to any number not ceedng one hundred, Whenever
In his opinion, the exigeDciss OF the public service
fouy xbenev. the exasncies recurring the in
crease shall cease" This s the basis, therefore recog
mixed by the President, and recommended by him as
sufficient force be retained in the service during
period of peace.n The minimum standard Of sixty
four privates at the time intended to be a perma
ent and bxed number being IN acooraance with Tor
urged for years previously by all experienced and
practical in the service, who had upon so many
occasions In the field tested and wouy tested as the
ann ais of the war department show, the utter INSULT
cheney and unreliable number OF the skeleton system
of forty. two prvates to a company. When General
Atkinson advanced with six companies of infantry
from Jefferson Barracks to suppress the first rising
of Black Hawk, in 1882, his war spirit derided
the mesgre force of two hundred and forty when
he the skeleton companies consisting of thirtytw
privates each Again in the battle OF Withlacooche,
December 81 1888 Gen Clinohs battalion OF SIX com
papes artillery nger the total being only
two hundred and forty; and the two skeleton compa
MES which met their fate under the gallant Dads De-
cember g. 1885 had altogether but sixty five for duty
(oniy forty nine privates in both) though the day
they cbed from Tampa Bay, their number was in
creased to nnetyseven, by transfer from other skee
ton companies, which, as the sequel showed
proving fatal to the remaining garrison, threatened as
It ptly was by large indian force &c SC fhe
felt in the fret operations of Gen. Tayors army. In
the battles of Patio Alto and Resaca de la Palma May
1916 his companies did not thirty six men for
duty; and this will be the with reduced
standard forty two These facts had occasion
often to repeat in person to members Of CONGRESS
and friends, members of Committees Military
AGairs when respectfully uripg the amelioration
of the sy.tem which being duly appreciated, was
eventually effected BY the act above cited, which
"a attn ndo rA thph fho
tabshment under the act of March 2 1902, to
wit sixty. four prvates for the infantry and artillery
compa MES being az yregate Of eighty officers and
men to each company From 1902 to 1871 the author
lied nun Der of privaes in company was never below
sixty four and for FIVE years after the reduction of
the war ahlishment in 1915 the number for the in
fantry sixty and for the artillery hun
dred privates trust shall be excused for the fore
going re maj ks the mention Of the facts stated
which seem not to be out of place. At all events,
conscious that, in submitting them hove other
purpose than consideration for what believe to be
due the public service.
have the honor to be, Sc,
r. JONES, Adj ut ant General
Norrs.-1 The following remarks find in my hand.
writing on Gen. Tayors field returns of the army
of occupation" dated Camp near Matamoras. March
30 1916 $50 The skeleton company system will
do y-two privates too few for profound
state of peace. Here we have army consisting of
FIVE o of snS y
fsvepty three companies of two thousand six hundred
and atty bsyonets and sabres, for ddty including
or twenty six piivates, for an army IN the Geld.
2 1.-THE average number of privates for duty on the
four memorable occasions referred but thirty to
company, the standard being forty two being de.
hciency Of twelve men, or nearly twenty-five per cent
Assuming this as basis with the standards Of sixty
four eighty. and hundred privates, the average
would be five, fifty. ssven, and seventy one pr
Yates for duty S IN each company,&c. RI, A. G.
Marine Affairs.
INTERESTING SHIP OwNERs.-We have been ia.
vored with the following extracts from letter
tainipg account Of the late disastrous gale the
shed describing the effects of the gale and the
destruction of life and property, the letter goes To
r,rtsnsteIy Ehsr, were but few A.ssssaa ships in
'pcrt=tbs Eagle. wrecked at Cunspgmoon. viii most
probably be conference.-the has been towed to Canton
for the brig Charles Wirgmsn (of Sslem)
is completely wrecked The ships Helena and General
Harrison Of Mo- FORK both rode out the gale In safety
:: ais gale has impressed upon me, circumstances
which long since, should have been brought to your
tic- and received your attention 1t the great de-
fc.ncy Of all American vessels coming this way, in
ground taSsss Will VII venture to say nsa ten Anne
on shore. Formerly, when the old hsnd.pke- ndlass
used, with our light crews, 1t was impossible to
hesve up heavy anchor when the present windlass
came into fashion. addition made to the weight
of anchors There scarcely vessel comes here, with
anchors sufficiently large to hold them IN one Of our
gales-without taking q typhoon into consideration.
Two bower anchors not sufficient. All other
tontI carry third, called the sheet anchor; this is
rather than the best bower, with chain OF the
same size would euggest for . 600 ton ship small
bower chain Ia with anchor Of - cwt best bower
chain IL with anchor Is to 20 cwt vessel Is always
liable to lose apchor-should typhoon come on
before mother could be procured she would be certain
drive shore. The stresm and kedgs anchor Of
little service except for where they river
work Very many heavy risks have been paid for
which might have been avoided, had sufficient atten
ton been paid to anchors and chains.
" Another Circumstance demands your attention.
All vesses in this trade should be coppered to what
she will draw when deeply laden, and not to light
water mark Frequently cargo Is taken In which
sinks the vessel two feet below light water mark
the vessel 10 detained rome two weeks and becomes
wormed have anchor stock ruined In three
weeks Many vessels trading in the Eastern have
put into ports leaking been paid by the underwriters
as peris Of the sea- few sheets Of copper would
have saved all. ~ Commercial.