Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07

L. LEA, Commissioner.
Ion. A. H. H. STUART,
Secretary Of the Interior. .a
REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL SCOTT.
Report Of the General-in- Chief Of the .4rmy dc-
campaigning the Report Of the Secretary Of War.
HEADauARrERs OF ARMI,
Washington. Saturday, Nopens6er 30, isoo'
SIR The organization, actual numbers on the rolls and
distribution Of the army, will be shown by the returns from
the Adu.snt Generals office appended to this report viz
l. Organization Of the army Of the United States, as es-
tablshed BY law, marked A, a1aH.s 81
2. General return Of the srmy, b. ~
g. Position and dsrbuton Of the troops in the eastern
Divaon,'C.
A. Position and distribution Of the troops in the Western
Division ID, #.t g.sat .4
s. Position and distribuon of the troops in the third
Pacific Division, E. 5# Gh
g. Exhibit Of the number Of recruits enlisted from October
IL ls49, September 30, 1885, CD with the Adjuant
Generals report thereon. ss .
In nv last annual report to the War Department dssed
November g. ls4s, represented the urgent necessity Of the
increase Of the military establishment created mainly by the
large accession Of territory acquired by the late treaty
with Mexico, and the express stipulation, part to pro-
that Republic from the Indian tribes within limits.
Congress- by the Of June IL 1850, recognised this
cessity but the additional force authorized both made
quae in numbers and description The act empowered the
President whenever in his opinion any exgency required it.
TO increase seventy -four the number Of vaes in compa
MES serving on the Western frontier and at remote stations
and such portions Of the foot companies employ
ed he might deem necessary The great extent Of
frontiers and the pecuar character of the service devovng
on the troops render indispensable that the cavalry ele
should enter largely into the composition Of the army
Two additional regiments of horse dragons mounted
raemen deemed absolutely necessary The service is
Or NJ Az Do~c
owing the insucency of the force authorized by law
For the want regular cavalry the commanding General in
Texas has been compelled call great expense,
siderable body volunteer horse The Commander in New
also made repeated and pressing applications for
airy but not company could be spared from other
reinforce him. No other description Of roopsw answer for the
protection Of immense lines Of emigration and frontier set
elements through, and bordering Indian tribes Mount
ed infantry, substitute, is wholly inadequate and the
experiment of employing foot regiments in this way only
result in dsorganizDg them as infantry, and converting them
into extremely Indifferent horsemen Beside from their mex
peence, and the temporary character of their duties
the and tear of horses and equipments in the hands Of
infantry, would be enormous-probaby threeold greater
than with regular cavalry, dragons mounted remen)-
thus making this nondescp force the most expensive and the
least efficient ever known to our service. #.
beg, therefore, recommend, for the given in
my former report that three regiments be added to the estab
lshmen two Of light Dragons mounted remen, and one
Of infantry that two companies be added to the present for
yeght companies Of artillery, and that the fifty be organized
dTtlleIy-Oue
officers for the Pacific coast and that the President be
hozed according the exgences Of the service to
be extended by regular ensments the number pvates in
every company, old and new, throughout the army from
forytwo fifty and sixty -four, respectively, to any number
not exceeding seveny-four privates per company.
Another years experience has confirmed me in the opinion
that is only by such augmentaons the army can be en-
abled preserve Notifications along the British, the At
lantc, and Gulf Of Mexico frontiers to guard the immense
lines Of emigration the Rocky Mountains and defend
numerous settlements bordering many Unaffected
| Indian tribes.
In the same report, November s. ls4s Executive Docu
ment No. pp 9S-l03) presented the equitable claims
of the decayed sodes-regusrs and volunteers
discharged, who may be discharged, asyum and
showed that might be established out Of funds already
lodged in the Treasury by the army, and by other means
without original subsequent charge upon the country
again beg leave to commend this most interesting subject
| the attention of the higher authorities.
"A bill providing for retired list Of disabled and
officers passed the Senate the last session. and will hope,
soon be- taken up by the House and made law.
The third section of the act Of June IL $780, designed to
encourage enistmens in the vicinity Of the remote frontier
posts by giving bounty each recruit the expense Of
subsisting and transporting from the principal depot
in the East to such post has proved failure and ought to be
repealed The inducement presents not sufficient to
complish its object Indeed, the main, if the sole re-
ance, for filling the ranks Of the army, by recruiting in the
old States.
The making appropriations for the support of the army,
approved September 49, 1850, section is doubles the
proper of enlisted serving in Oregon and California.
This is just provision, and ought to be extended to Ne,c
M1co where, believed, theexpenses ofliyng nearly
great the Pacific and the service arduous.
The act limits the payment Of this additional compensation to
March, 1852 but will doubt be found necessary to pro-
long the time It is also directed that the grauiy be not paid
to the soldier till the end Of his enlistment This will
ainy serve check to assertions, but Is appehended
it may also prevent re-ensmens soldier, receiving SO
large amount Of backpay at his discharge, would not be
likely to re-ener for second term Perhaps both objects
the prevention Of desertions and encouraging enstmens
might be secured by retaining till the expiration Of service
onea instead Of the whole Of the additional pay granted by
the act referred TO- and is recommended that the law be
modified accordingly. ..s#
have the honor to remain, sir, with high respect
obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT.
Hon. G. ID. Conan, Secretary of War.