The New York herald., 1850-12-06
The Army.
THE REPORT OF THE GENERAI-Ia.CHTEF, ACCOMPANY
ING THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, !

THE REPORT OF THE eENEKAL-is. CHIEF, ACCOMPANY
ING THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, !
WASHINGTON, Saturday, Nov. so, 1850.
SIR-The organization, actual numbers the
rolls, and distribution of the army, will be shown
by the returns from the Adjutant-Generals office,
appended TO this report, VIZ
i. Organization Of the army of the United States,
as established by law, marked A.
2. General return of the army. B.
3. Position and distribution Of the troops in the
Eastern division O..
4 Position and distribution of the troops in the
Western Division. ID.
.. Position and distribution of the troops in the
third or Pacific division. l..
q. Exhibit of the number of recruits enlisted
from Oct. IA, lsi9. to Sept 80, 1850, +, with the
Adjutant Generals report thereon.
la my last annual report to the War Department,
dated November 3, 1919, represented the urgent
necessity Of the increase of the military establish
mt mt, created mainly by the large accession of
territory acquired by the late treaty of peace with
Mexico, and the express stipulation, on our part,
TO protect that republic from the Indian tribes with
in our limits. Congress, by the act of June IL,
1850, tcognized this necessity; but the additional
force authorized was both inadequate in nu nbers
and description. The act empowered the Presi.
dent, whenever, in his opinion, any exigency
qured II, TO increase 10 seventy four the number of
prrvates in companies serving on the Western from
tier and at remote stations, and 10 mount such por
Mons OF the foot companies SO employed ashe might
deem necessary. The great extent of our frontiers,
and the peculiar character OF the service devolvlng
the troops, render IL Indispensable that the
airy element should enter largely into the compo-
sitIon OF the army.
Two additional regiments of horse (dragoon or
mounted rIilemen) are deemed absolutely neces-
sary. The service is suffering greatly in Texas,
New Mexico, and on the Pacific, owing to the in
suiiiciency of the force now authorized by law.
Fer the want of regular cavalry, the commanding
General IN Texas has been compelled to call out,
al great expense, cons derabe body OF volunteer
horse. The commander In New Mexico has also
de Tlfda n ar ga val
but not company could be spared from other quar-
iers TO reinforce sm: No other description of
troops will answer for the protection of immense
lines of emigration and frontier settlements through
and bordering on, Indian tribes. Mounted Infantry,
as substitute, Is wholly Inadequate; and the ex-
pertinent Of employing foot regiments in this way
can only result IN disorgan'zlng them, as infantry,
ard converting the IN into extremely different horse
men. Besides, from iheu inexperience, and the
temporary character OF their new duties, the
and tear Of horses and equipments in the hands of
infantry, would be enoTmous-prob baby three. fold
greater Than with regular cavalry (dragoons or
mounted rifiemen)-thus making this nondescript
force the most expensive and the least efficient
known 10 our service.
beg, therefore, to recommend, for the reasons
given In my former report, that three regiments be
added TO the establishment, two of ligat dragoons
or mounted rilemen, and one of inflhtry; that two
companies be added 10 the presen fory.eilht COM
ponies Of artillery, and that the fifty be organized
into hive regiments Of artiery-one with It's field
and fisif officers, for the Pacific coast; and that
the tTttdtnt De according To the ext-
geneies Of the service TO cause to be extended by
regular enlismenis, the number Of prlvaiss ia every
company, old and new, throughout the army, from
forty two, fifty and sixtyiour, respectively, to any
number not exceeding seyenty'iour privates per
ctmpany.
Another years experience he's confirmed me in
the opinion that II - only by such augmentatons
the army can be enabled TO preserve our iornfca-
lions along the British, the Atlantic, and the Gulf
OF Mexico frontiers ito guard the immense lines
Of emigration across the Rocky Mountains, and
defend our numerous settlements bordering on as
many illailt cied Indian tribes.
In the same report, Nov 3, 1si9- (Executive
Document No. 3, pp 95-l03)-I presented the
equitable claims of the oscsyed or worn out sod-
trs-regulars aud yolunteers-discharged, or who
msy be disc harged, TO an Asylum, aud showed
that one might be established out of funds already
lodged by the treasury Of the army. aud by other
meane, without original or subsequent charge upon
the county sgain beg leave TO commend this
most interesting subject to the attention of the
her auihoniIes
a bill providing for a retired list ef disabled and
won out officers, passed the Senate al the last
House an made Law.
The Sd ssciion OF the act OF June II. 1850. de-
sighed to encourage enlismen,s in the vclnty of
the remote irontisr posts, by gving as a bounty to
each recruit the expense of suosisting and trans
porting one from the principal depot IN the East, to
tuCh poet, has proved a failure, and esght 10 he
repealed. The mducemeni It presents is not sufli-
cit nj 10 accomplish its object Indeed, the main,
II not the sole reliance, for filling the ranks of the
amy Is by recruiting IN the old States
The act making appropriations for the support Of
the army, approved sept 3, 1860. sec LIST, doubles
the pay proper OF enlisted men serving m Oregon
and California. This Is just provision and ought
10 be extended to New Mexico, where, Il Is belies-
ed, the expenses Of living nearly as great as on
the Pacihc, and the service more arduOus. The
act limits The payment OF this additional compeu-
saon 10 March, 1852, out 1t will no doubt be found
necessary to proong the time IL is also directed
that he gratuity be not PAID 10 the soldier t the
end Of his enlistment. This will certainly serve as
check 10 destftIons. but IL 10 apprehended il may
also prevent r. TtenlIstments soldier receiving so
large on amount of back psy at his discharge,
would not he likely TO rC.entrr tor a second term
Perhaps both Obiects-thc prevention Of desertions
and encoarusntn nt Of enllsiments--mipht be se.
cured ny retaining till the expiration of service
one half instead Of the whole at the al litnnal
psy granted nv the act referred to- aud IL is fecon-
ntndt q that the law he modified accordingly
have The honor to remain. sir.
Wrh high respect, your ob't scrv't,