The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-28
Repor. OF the secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINGToN. November 30, 1919.


WASHINGTON, November 80, lS49.
Sin have the honor to present the following
report of the operations of this Department during
the past year
The returns and statements of the Adjutant Gen
era, herewith, exhibit the strength and dIstribu-
ton of the military force. Agreeably 10 these re-
turns, the present strength of the army is less than
the organization provided by law. The deficiency
arises from the discharges, deaths and desertlons
which have taken place, and the difficulty OF I'M
mediately supplying the want by new enlstnents
The assertions have been most numerous in Cali
fornia, where the temptations to embark IN more
lucrative pursuits and the facilities for the sudden
acquisition of wealth greatly multiplied. Out
of force of twelve hundred regular troops in that
territory since the st of January, the assertions
within the first eight months have equaled two
fifths of that number. The policy adopted by the
commanding officer of granting short furloughs to
the troops in small numbers, for the purpose OF
enabling them to work for their individual benefit
the pldcers had the effect to check assertions TO
degree, but the emergencies OF the service and
the limited number Of troops for duty prevented
the measure from being carried out to the extent
desired, and the evil OF assertions consequently
continues to exist.
The recruiting of the army is regulated by the
casualties in the service, SO that the enlstments
can at time exceed the total fixed by law The
delays in receiving these returns OF casualties VIII
always keep the actual force considerably below
the legal standard. According to the practice
which has long prevailed, the great majority of en-
listments is made in the northern Atlantic cities
and the adjacent interior towns, whence the re-
cruits sent to the general depot for instruction.
and finally distributed to the southern and western
posts according to the wants of the service. 1t ne
cessarily follows that considerable time ntervencs
between the enlistment of the recruit and his pre-
sence with his company. Independently OF this
loss Of time and service, and the fatal influence
which change of climate not unusually produces
on the health of the recruit, his transportation and
subsistence constitute a heavy expenditure. To
remedy these disadvantages, and to encourage en-
listments, in the vicinity OF troops serving ron
tier and remote stations, especially IN California,
Oregon, and New Mexico, 1t Is recommended that
a bounty be allowed to each recruit enlisted at or
such stations equal TO the cost OF transporting
and subsisting a recruit from the general depot TO
the place Of such enlistment. To guard against
assertions and promote good conduct, it is proposed
that the bounty should be divided into instruments,
SO that their several amounts would be increasing
| annually according TO length OF service and the
| largest amount be paid TO the soldier his dis
charge. This bounty would also be strong in
ducement TO old soldiers to re-enlist IN their re-
spective coppanies-an object always deemed OF
importance to the service.
IL has been found lmpracucable TO carry INTO ei-
feet the provisions of the act Of l4th of August lS4S
which authorizes an increase OF the rank and he OF
certain regiments by transfers from others OF the
same arm; the present organization being too linn
tied, and the difficulty of keeping the several COM
panes up To their legal complement too great, to
hazard further reduction, with due regard 10 the
discipline and efficiency of the several corps. The
protection oil our frontier lines previous W the ldte
war with Mexico was then deemed task equal to
the capacity of the army. The additions recently
made TO impose the necessity OF increasing the
military force in order that its strength may be ad
equate 10 the wants which the vast extension OF our
territorial limits requires. One territory, New Mex
ico is almost surrounded by numerous tribes of
predatory Indians, and open at all points to their
incursons The pers which are thus presented
etard the growth of frontier settlements, which, In
their infancy, are attended with severe privatons
demanding the exercise of the highest courage and
energy of the pioneer. Exposure 10 the rapine of
| the savage should not be superadded evil The
duty Of the Government is to afford protection. To
enable il 10 do this eectuay, II IL submitted that
the numerical strength of each company Mt the
eral military posts on our western frontier be in
creased to seventy four privates and that part of
the infantry be mounted as emergencies arise This
plan for increasing the defence OF our frontiers Is
respectfully presented combining the greatest
economy and security. Without larger regular
force the Executive will find the occasions frequent
and necessary 10 make acquisitions ON the militia
of the States, who called into service for short
periods, with injurious interruptions in their ordi
| nary avocations well az great expense 10 them
and the Government Experience has shown that
for the preservation Of peace and public tranquility
on our borders, the presence OF strong military
force rcstrains the warike inclinations Of the In
dans whilst its absence has sometimes involved the
| Government in protracted and costly wars.
Great embarrassment has heretofore arisen from
the supposed actual rank which brcvct commissions
confer. Their recent multiplication will increase
/ the difficulties and Inconvenience To which the
military service has been exposed. Apart from the
conflicting claims OF officers holding brcvet com
missions, il may be affirmed that Instances FREE
| quently occur when pay is paramount to rank, and
when the brcvct rank itself cannot, in legal con-
temptation, take effect In the Of staff officers
who have no command, and who can exercise none
except by special ASST gnment, these brcvet commits
| sions only honorary distinctions; and, exam
/ ned closely this Is the basis which rest all bro
vets The presumption il reasonable aud Just that
every officer performs his required duty, aud he
who does more IL entitled TO honorable reward. Il
| Is then respectfully submitted whether the object,
/ in authorizing this class Of commissions, IL not
cOmplished by retaining them as honorary distinc-
tons, and restricting the officers holding them 20
their lincal rank and pay, according 70 the com
missions by which they are mustered in their
| spcctive regiments and corps. n any exceptions
be made 10 the rule here proposed, II IL believed
that in view Of the efficient discipline and ser
vice Of the troops, brevct rank aud pay should exist
only when volunteers and militia arc united with
/ the regular aunyj or when the officers having brc.
4 vel commissions are detailed for duty by special
assignment with difficult expensive commands
| in remote departments or divisions. According Ia
law, brevet rank takes effect in detschncnts com
posed Of different corps but from the liberal con-
struction which has heretofore been given 10 the
articles Of war, II wGuld that every garrison
at each Of our numerous aud widely posts
| IL considered detachment from the army, without
any definite conception Of the locality where its
| main body s concentrated
Another incopyonionce resulting 10 the service is
the anomalous position Of officers holding staff com
missions which confer rank These officers are not
considered by established usage az eligible to the
command OF troops unless specially assigned, whilst
at the same time they claim exemption from the
orders Of their juniors in the line who succeed Co
| such commands. This state of things is calculated
20 injurc the service by suspension, tor the time
being, OF the functions of the htah officers In cases
/ where junior Inc officer exercises the command;
Ia Obyate which 1T is suggested that Law be enact
ed requiring officers ofthe general staff serving with
troops 70 execute according 10 their respective do
tics all orders emanating from the senior officer Of
the hne which may relate 20 the discipline police
aud good grder Of his command aud for which I've
/ alone ~ responsible.
The necessity Of adopting some rule for retiring
/ disabled officers FROM the army is more apparent
az THE time than al any former period Of its history
The injurious effects Of foreign war prosecuted in
a climate uniavorable 10 health and the casualties
inseparable from contest remarkable for the dis
parity OF the opposing forces, have added to the hst
\ OF those disabled from age, OF other cause, and
greatly increased the number Of Ineffective officers
To retain thom would but impede that activity and
efficiency which the protection Of our recently ex
/ tended frontiers necessarily demands from the
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