The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-17
. l company LIST dragons,

o Inis D de- los Angeles company Is, dragons
ment No 10 2cos "a drag CO. Sd art
DEPARTMENT No. Il.-OREGoSt
Near mouth Of Columbia river and Regiment OF mounted
art. tEn route)
VH-1he recruiting service.
This important branch of the public service is pTosecu-
field officers twelve captains, and thirteen subaltens
employed for the general service The regiment OF mount
ed rifemen is being recruited by its officers,
The depots and schools of instruction established at
Fort Columbus, New York, and Newport barracks Ken
lucky, for the artillery and infantry arms, and the at
Carlisle barracks, Pennsylvania, for the Dragons, are
duces to economy, discipline, and despatch in forward
ing recruits to the several regiments.
VIII beg leave respectfully and earnestly TO request
early attention the subject Of better organization of
the peace establishment, with respect TO the rank and
file of the several regiments, which the whole army be-
leve should not be less than $40 prvaes EACH that is,
81 per company. There be no doubt that efficiency
and true economy require that the authorized strength
should never be less anywhere, while the companies
the Pacific stations, in New Mexico, and the Texan
frontiers, ought TO be at least 80 and 100 men.
II the provisions of the act entitled "An act TO autho
rlze increase of the rank and file OF the army OF the
United Sates, approved May 49, 1916, and which fixes
the minimum number at Ga prlyates per company could
be re enacted, the requisite amei Iteration would be thus
easily obtained II should be understood that the sliding
scale which would authorize any increase above 64,
would apply only TO companies and regiments on remote
frontier stations, in Missouri, Texas, New Mexico,
&c beg leave to refer you to my report OF July 18th,
upon this subject, of which annex an extract, 90
TX. The following subjects recommended on former
occasions for favorable consideration and legislative
ton, have lost nothing in Importance since the resora-
ton Of the peaceful relations of the country:
l. A retired list for disabled officers
q Asylum for wounded and disabled soldiers
g. Legal provision for the widows and orphans of
officers and men who may fall de of disease contracted
in the military service,
ask leave respectfully to refer to my last annual re-
port for view in detail of these subjects and again to
urge their favorable notice.
am, sir with great respect, your obedent servant,
To the SECRETARY OF War
ADrUrANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, July 10, lSiS
Report to The Hon. w. L. Marcy. Secretary Of War
tExtractl
By the act entitled Gan act to authorize
increase of the rank and file of the army of the United
States" approved May 10, 1916, the President is EN-
powered to increase the number OF prvates each Of the
companies OF the several regiments of the old army "o
any number not exceeding hundred, whenever, in
his opinion, the exigencics Of the public service may re
qlire the same and TO reduce the TO sirty.for
whenever the exgences requiring the present increase
shall cease This is the basis therefore, recognised by
the President. and recommended by him "as sufficient
force to be retained in the service during period of peace
Inc minimum standard OF sixty four Prvates al the
time intended 10 be permanent and fixed number, be-
ng in accordance with former recommendations of the
department srenuousy urged for years previously by
all experienced and practical in the service who
had upon many occasions in the field, tested, and
wouly tested, as the annals of the War Department
show, the utter nsuticiency and unreliable number OF
the skeleton system OF foy-two prlvates to company
When General Atkinson advanced with SIT companies
OF infantry from Jefferson Barracks, to suppress the frs
rising OF Black Hawk in 1892, his spirit deridcd
the meagre force of two hundred and forty men, when
he saw the sketeon companies consisting of rtytco
prtcdtes each. Agdin: in the battle of Withlacoochie
December 81, 1885, General Clnchs battalion of
panies of artillery was no stronger the total being only
two hundred and forty and the two skeleton" compa-
MES which met their fate under the gallant Dade De-
cember rs, 1885, had altogether but sItyfUe for duty
Sonly iory-nine prigates in both y though the day
they marched from Tampa Bay their number in.
creased to ninety by transfers from other "skee
tom companies which, as the sequel showed, near
proving fatal to the remaining garrison, threatened,
subsequently was by large Indian force, &c. &c. The
Ike evil OF this extremely reduced system was seriously
fell In the first operations of General Taylos army In
the battles of Palo Alto and Reseca de la Palma May
1916, his companies did not average thlrty-s for
duty; and this viii ever be the case with reduced
standard as forytwo These facts had occasion Of
ten to repeat in person to members OF Congress and friends
members of Committees Military Affairs, when respect
fully urging the ameoraton of the system; which being
duly appreciated was eventually effected by the act above
cited which adopted the standard provided for the peace
establishment under the act of March 2, 1902 to wl sir
tyyour PfDaes lot me infantry and artillery companies
being an aggregate of eighty officers and men TO each
company From 1902 to 1921 the authorized number OF
Pnvates in company was never below sxty-fonr; and
for five years after the reduction of the establishment
in 1885, the number for the infantry srty-eg, and
for the artillery hundred priuoes trust shall be
excused Tor the foregoing remarks aud the mention OF the
facts stated, which not TO be out of place At all
events, am conscious that in submitting them, have nc
other purpose than consideration for what believe to be
due me public service
have the honor to be, &c,
X. JONES, Adutant General
Norris The following remarks find in my handwr