Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-22
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
Report of the Secretary of War.


me recapilulaiion of the closing achievements
of The American arms in Mexico, and recounis
the skirmisheS and engagements under General
Lane in the vicinity OF the Mexican capital and
the like proceedings in California up TO The close
OF The var. On the ratification oil the treaty OF
peace, which went iDio operation on the SUN OF
May last, The movements Tor Withdrawing our
forces commenced, and before the end o. he'monih
OF July they had evacuated the Republic OF MeSl-
CO. Inc volunteers, and tina, Part OF The regular
army whose term OF service was limited 10 the
do alion OF the war, were disbanded. The report
proceeds:
Our military peace establishment is now near
" The same IN numcrit al strength "a il was a.
The commencement Of the war with Mexico
Filled up TO the is, limit allowed ty law, u
would BE- nine thousand eight hundred aud seven.
,y-eight officers and soldiers, exclusive ot he en-
lsl.d men OF the ordnance; but lis actual nu-
mercal slreng h will generally tall cons derably
below this number Tne great extension OF ouf
territorial hints required new arrangement oi
our military divisions aud departments. Tn
eastern, or lrst division, IS no changed Tex
and ne v Mexico have been addei 10 The western,
or second and California and Oregon constitute
the ,hlId-or the division Of The Pacific.
Asno miiary iorce had been sa ioned in Ore
gon before or during the war, The Departments
TOOK he earliest measures 10 send troops mo mat
Territory. Orders were issued 10 the mounted
rife regiment even before is return irom Next
CO. 10 proceed, as soon a. practicable, 10 oregon;
and hopes were entertained That It might be abr
TO pass across the coGnuy during tne last season.
I'M ms arrangement was frustrated by The .:
Congress passed a, nr close q Inc last session,
which gave pelni>sioD 10 the enlisted IN n, oil the
regiment VINO had been 10 service ~ Mexico Ia
"r.ceive, on application, an honorable discharge
from the serve. OF the United States, and stand
as ii lney nal served out their respective terms.
Ii could not De expected that even those who were
willing 10 remain in the service, would foreso the
advantages offered 10 them by this aci. On re-
ceivIug discharge, they would al once DC EMU
leo 10 three months extra pay, and To bounty
land By the operation OF this act, the regiment.
as 10 the rank and fife was in efieci disbanded-
Promp, measures we're AIKEN TO recruit i; and
nodoubt is entertained tut thai early in The Spring
IL will be ia condition 10 leave Tor lis destlna-
ton.
The Illustration oil The at;em7l TO send troops
into Oregon CuriD9 The pas, season, Is the more
10 be regretted because appears thai, a. me Gatc
OF Inc last accounis from ,nai Territory, Indian
di>tuibances stil coOlnu, an. ihs inhabitants
are anxlolsl, expecting as ,tdGce ron lbe Uu!-
ted ), au, ! snail toice ter chcd As m esc"r.
-
and will probably arrive there IN the course u
This month. Win view 10 an earlier relief
:bap cuulo De at fded hy sending troops IRON the
Unied SAFES urGeis 5dre been issued from me
Navy Department, ~ the commanded Of GU;
squadron IN tnt Pacific, 10 despatch par OF his
force 10 Oregon, win arms, Ammunition, arc
suppies, ant in case il should b. necessary, l.
land the mariues and sailors 70 aid the inhaei-
tant., until ne troops destined for that leftloiy
should have arrived.
The o,her regiments OF rhe permanent military
establishment were greatly reduced al the closs
OF the war. Tney had oeeD, 10 considerable
extent fitted up By recruits enlisted 10 serve only
during Is cun;iUuanc. Owing 10 tac late
period OF their retuln from Mexico ans Inc una
voidabie delay IN recruiting or organizing snch
as were destined Tor 1isant service could mol be
prepared 10 proceed BY land 10 O.rson, CaliioI-
MIA or New Mexico, Intii the sses"n waSso ar
advanced as 10 render 4 mach a''u.> N" c"Gh-
try ,mprac,caole. Fofeseeine ~ necessity Tor
lroovs N these Territories, AMI the delay OF send
ing them from the Uri!ed States orders, IN an.
lic,patian ~ peace, were given To The general ~
cnlet command 10 send 4 regiment from inc
headquarters in Mexico 10 CALIFORNIA;; but the
NexIcan government refused 10 permit lis PAS
sage 10 the Pacihc coast.
Orders were also gwen 10 Gen. Woo. then IN
command OF the forces al SaltIllo, Monterey, and
On The Rio Grande frontiers, 10 send part oil the
regular troops with him directly 10 California
and New Mexico. Pursuant 70 Ibis direction,
Two companies OF Isl ana Two o! the End dra-
goons, proceeded W the right bank OF The Lilo
Graude 10 Chihuahua, crossed over 10 the CHA,
and down that river 10 California. BY this time,
j, is probable that they have reached their u!li.
ma,e destination.
One company OF dragons aud one OF light
artillery were also sent rom he Rio G,ande, ana
proceeded on the Mexican side OF il up 10 san.
Ia Fe. They have already arrived IN New Mex
leo.
Two companies Of the first regiment OF arlil-
lery have embarked a, New YORK, 10 go around
Cape Horn TO Oregon, and Inc q regiment 81 IN
tanry has also left To proceed, ov the same route
70 California As early in ihe spring as pas
sage can BE- made across IN. country, other troops
will be sent to Oregon IN numbers sufficient 10
hold and project thai territory.
Troops 10 guard The Rio GraGde frontier and
keep in check The indians in that quarter have
been ordered TO Texas and have arrived al, or are
on their way 10, their respective stations.
Tn. remainder ui the army is distributed on
the Indian and northern frontiers, and on the At
lantc and Cult coasts.
Measures were taken as early as March, lS47,
10 select proper locations, and establish posts on
the eastern section OF The route 10 Oregon, and
during the summer ol lSiT, some progress WAS
made in constructing a work near Grand Island,
where the road 10 Oregon encounters the Plate
river The work has been continued during The
past season bu. no repor, has yet been received.
The amount OF contributions and avails OF car
,uted properly received by officers Of the army in
Mexico cannon al This time, Tor wan, OF full ie-
turns be accurately ascetained. The amount
thus far reported is So s4i373 II, which will I've
somewhat Increased b. amounts collected in New
Mexico and Ca lorna. Ofthis amount SCI, 492
80 have en- retained Tor expenses Of collections;
s346, 1863 80 paid in'o The treasury OF The United
States; S., ,67 $40 "a turned over 10 disbursins
officers; Si9,7l22S credited by The Mexican 60
vernmenl 10 The Unied States in payment OF The
I'D Tia