The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-12

Total 80, 1855
from Michigan, and two batsaons--one from Al
ALBANIA and one from MississPpi-which, full,
would amount to z, 200 men. But as remarked
by the Adutant General, they cannot be full; and
he estimates tina. they will probably do no more
than keep the volunteer establishment to its pre-
existing number
And am happy to have this opportunity to relieve
the socitnde so manitesly felt and avowed the
other day by the honorable senator from Kentucky
respecting the regiment of volunteers from Mich-
gan. by assuring him that have received a letter
from the colonel written upon the route, and
that he is, ere this, at Cincinnati upon the Ohio,
with six companies of his reg nent, ard trust
the others have already followed him.
The Adjutant General, agreeaby to table in my
hand, estimates the number Of fighting men, Cor,
risons at 'Tanpico and Vera Cruz, and sick and
OF this number, the Adjutant General calculates
that there arc not more fit for duty than $4,000
FORCE PROPOSED RAISED.
Ten regiments OF infantry. the legal establishment
OF each being 1000 men. But this can never be
kept full and experience shows that theremust be
deduction from it of about % per cent making
A volunteer force of 500 to supply vacancies in
the existing volunteer establishment which, sub
ject to the same deduction, would give, say $500
Making total OF bayonets fit Tor the field Al, 600
Or actual total, including the garrisons of Vera
How many of the above twelve months volunteers the
do show. Their terms must expire and
they cannot, therefore, be calculated upon in the
The provision for raising 10000 volunteers
Guided in the aboye because the measure y mere pre-,
the force Is not to be called Out but in the un
foreseen occurrence which may render it necessary
1t will thus be seen, sir that if these bills pass the force
they will enable the government to add to the troops
under General Scott will probably bring the number OF
fighting men to about Al 600, and that reasonable
calculation be made more than between 5000 and
46 900.
The error of the honorable gentleman from Kentucky
consist in this: that he assumes he din his remarks
establishment if il were FULL as the number which the
government can keep in the field Now, sir, all expert
ence shows that such result isno practicable. Large
deductions must be made and it appears from the reports
Of the Adutant General that the actual force maintained
is as have already stated about twenty-five per cent
less than the full number allowed by law. Recruiting
exertions, and the pepeualy recurring casualties Of war
occasion constant drain, which must be constantly
supplied And corsderabls deduction must be at all
times made on account Of sickness. need not enter
into any particular detail upon this subject The consd
eratons cannot escape the most casual observer,
IT, therefore, all the men raised under these two bills
have already indicated. II is obvious that the force
der General Wool can, under circumstances, be d.
mnshed for it is barely sufficient to protect the country
subjected to US upon the Rio GTande,
To now, sir, to the question asked by the hon
orabe senator from Delaware, have to say that the
government has received from General Scott estimate
Of the force he deems necessary to carry into effect the
plan of operations which recommended by the Seer
ry II War will read so much OF his projet as relates
10 this subject.
"Augment this army to $4,000 men, to enable them to
other pr nc pal citiesto drive guerilla other robbng
parties from the great highways trade-to seize into
well EXTERNAL for the support OF the occupations and
keep the central government in constant motion and
alarm, until constrained to sue for peace"
Having thus answered the question Of the honorable
senator from Delaware, yield him the floor.
Mr.. JOHNSON, OF Maryland. What is the date OF
that letter.
Mr. CASS. do not believe that ! have got the date
But the letter says that If the operations should be con-
nued till October the augmentation of the forces would
ha therefore, that The letter
written in September.
MIR WEBSTER. Is the letter to be found amongst
the documents which have been published'
MIR. CASS.. No The government did not deem it
prudent topublsh the letters but it is now thought proper
to make known the portion of it which has been read.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Understand thatthe honorable SEN
ato from Michigan endeavors TO show that in the opinion
OF General Scott the communication of the project Of
the government to him. do not ask for particulars,
reador the further military operations Of the army OF
the United States in Mexico, there will be needed an
augmentation Of that force to the amount of fifty thou
sand men,
Mr. WEBSTER. I undersand--that the force be
augmented till il amount to fifty thousand.
Mr.. CASS. That is the amount at which he estimates
the force necessary to carry the military operations
Mr. WEBSTER. In other words that is the force
which the projects OF the government will render
Mr. BADGER Will the honorable chairman OF the
Committee on Military Affairs allow me to ask what
plan OF campalgn-on what system OF the future prose-
cuon OF the war, does General Scott say that fifty thou
sand men will be necessary?
Mr. CASS. II the gentleman will pardon me, do not
believe IT to be necessary to state any thing further
have read all that has bearing the question before
the Senate.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. With the permission OF the hon
orabe senator from Delaware, who is entitled TO the
floor would now take the opportunity OF correcting
slight Misrepresentation under which labored on form
er OCCASION when stated the amount of military forces
now in the field in Mexico by making the statement as
derive from public documents and in regard TO which
am happy to find that, far as IT goes, have the
pleasure OF agreeing very much with the honorable
Tor from Michigan. There in Mexico when
the regiments from Michigan and the two baalions
on the way shall have reached the army 1890. In adj
dition to that, the Executive invested with the
power OF enlistng upwards of 1000 regulars, besides
500 volunteers supply the place Of those who have
not engaged for the war-making IN all $4,000 men If
YOU add to that upon conjectural estimate suppose
not far from the truih-fve thousand and marines
also engaged in the you will then have numerical
orce--nava and militaryamouuting to 10000 men, IT,
again. you add TO that the proposed increase of the army
by the whole amount OF these Two bills20 600 voun
eers and 10000 reguars-you will have an army of one
hundred thousand besides the numerous employees
of one character another, following the amymakng
aggregate OF at least 10000 men At this moment,
including the sailors and marines, and followers of the
army, you are paying and feeding not less than from