The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-13

statement. showipeihe operations Of
THE RECRUITING SERVICE
This important branch has been prosecuted with zeal
and the usual success Two field officers fourteen cap.
lans and ten subaterns are employ ed for the general
service OF whom six company officers engaged in
cIuting Tor The mounted corps, under the superintendent
MAJOR and bIeyel Lieut. Col Cooke Of the % DRAGONS
Eighteen captains and suhaltens under the general su
perniendent, Major and Breve COL Waite, oil the sth
infantry have been employed in recruiting Tor the foot
The receiving dspols and schools Of ina,yaion ssab
racks. Kentucky, for the artillery and infantry arms and
the one at Carlisle barracks, irssnpsyyana, ior me
perenced officers The system, heretofore, greatly
condaces economy discipline. instruction, and des-
spo me
rary transferred TO Governors island, New York, while
Fort Wood was undergoing repairs, has been re-esab-
shed the present year on Bedloes island
The accompanying statement GO exhibits in detail the
number OF recruits enlisted in the army from October
ls49 to September 80, 1850, inclusive, from which il will
be seen that the number enlisted is
For the general service . ASS
BY regiments-For, the LIST and ID dragons 7s
For the Jour regiments OF artillery 81!
For the eight Tegiments OF infantry 4Ot
For the company ofsappsrs and miners II
Total sos
Owing to the great dispersion Of the troops and their
stations distant frontiers, but few recruits be
listed in the regiments To this cause together with the
recent augmentation Of portion OF the rank and file
may be ascribed the increase in the number OF officers
anu Of the expenses for recruiting the past and
years, when compared with the state Of the service prior
According TO the present laws the number of enlisted
men OF the line is ll.52s. The term being five years
oneih Of this number, supposng the army to be full
2304 goes out every year by expiration OF enlistment
Add the loss by DEATH discharges for disability and de-
serions, the number will be increased to about one
third. 3s5o) which is required 10 be annually supplied
by new recruits.
The records show that Of the 1859 persons who have
offered themselves the current year at the recruiting sta
tons only 2ss4 were accepted By the recruiting officers
abe-bodied, and Otherwise ft TOR the servlce The
rejection OF so large proportion Of applications (more
than sixths) evnces due observance OF the law and
regulations the part Of the recruiting officers and in
no one particulars Perhaps is greater attention bestowed
upon the observance OF either than in respect to the
lismenl of In amending the provisions OF the
act Of March 10, 1902. section II, by the new law APP
proved September 49, 1885, section s. directing the dis.
charge OF minors the public interest have been
overlooked in the omission to prescribe adequate
penalty or punishment IN cases OF minors Especially
those OF nineteen or twenty years OF age) who fire.
qlenty impose themselves upon the recruiting officer by
falsely affirming themselves 10 be twentyone years Of
age and frequently more In many instances i i'm.
not; and although in all where minors affirm that
they have neither parent master, guardian, the
ciGng oosr required % cssy inas ne mas made
appear to be true yet all these precautions fail in many
cases to guard against the fraudulent enlistment OF mi
,ss ssage demanded s under
September 3d. $780, less than 1854 applicants have
been refused the rendezvous account Of their beng
Under the present circumstances OF the service
therefore, very clear that unless the new law above
cited be so amended provide penalty for this de-
scrlption Of frauds upon the public, the loss, expense
and other injurious results to the service seriously
felt, will continue without remedy.
With view 10 the more advantageous management OF
the recruiting service touching lis hscal concerns, and
the speedy examination OF accounts, il has been found
necessary TO TO the former practice OF making
military scrutiny and examination OF all recruiting ac-
counts in this Office before their lransmtal 10 the proper
accounting officers OF the Treasury Department. The
I. Circular OF June 8, 1850, issued by authority OF
the Secretary OF War; requires that such accounts be
sent direct 10 the Adnlant General OF the army,
which date they have been analysed and carefully
ined; and feel well assured that much benefit w result
from such inspection here, especially in eHectng better
economy, &c, well in greatly expedilins the settle
ment OF accounts.
II will be readily perceived that conduct this import
branch OF the in the best requires all
the time and attention OF experienced officer OF the
general staff The details OF this division OF the duties
OF the Aduant Generals Office have for years past been
specially assigned the senior Assistant Aduiant Cen
eIal here on duty, The returns, correspondence, and
records pertaining TO the recruiting business. give
ployment generally TO three clerks.
Respectfully submitted:
r. JONES, Adjt General.
To Major General WINFIELD ScoTT,
Commanding -in-chef the army OF the United States,
Washington, ID. c.