The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-17
Report of the Adjutant General.
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASuINf, TON Nov 90 JSI(

ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHING Ton, Nov. 80, 1850.
GENERAL: | respectfully lay before you the
following statement showing the operations OF
TIE Recruiting Serrice.
This important branch has been prosecuted
with zeal and the usual success. Two t,l l.
officers, fourteen captains and tea subalterns are
employed for the general service, of whom six
company officers arc engaged in recruiting for
the mounted corps under the superintendent,
Major aud Brevet Colonel Cooke, of the second
dragons. Eighteen captains and subalterls,
under the general superintendent, Major and
| Brevet Colonel Waite, Of the 9Th infantry, have
been employed in recruiting for the foot regi-
| ments.
The receiving dcpolS and schools of instruc-
ton, established in the Ilarbor of New York and
at Newport barracks, Kentucky, for the artillery
and Infantry arms; and the one at Carlisle bar.
racks, Pennsylvania, for the mounted regiments.
are commanded by zcalous and experienced Off
GERS. The system, as heretofore, greatly condu-
ces to the economy, discipline, instruction, and
despatch in forwarding recruits to the several
regiments. The principal depot having been
some years since temporarily transferred to Gov
| crnor's Island, New York, while Fort Wood
was undergoing repairs, has been re-establshel
the present year on Bedlow's Island.
The accompanying atcnent 60 exhibits in
detail the number of recruits enlisted in the army
from October |, 1910, to September 80, 1850,
inclusive, from which it will be seen that the
number enlisted is
For the general service 1881
BY regiments:
For the lst and I'd Dragons 70
For the four reg iments Of artillery 3l4
For the eight rrgi ents of infantry 4O5
For the company Of sappers and miners 10
Total 36o5
Owing to the treat dispersion of the troops
and their stations on the distant frontiers, but
few recruits can be enlisted in the regiments
To this cause, together with the recent augmen-
t"ti"n OF portion Of the rank ana file, may be
ascribed the increase in the number Of officers
and Of the expenses for recruiting the past and
current year, when compared with the state of
the service prior to the late war with Mexico.
According to the present laws, the number Of
enlisted men "t the line is 1928. The term
being five years, one fifth Of this number, sup.
posing the army to b" fall, (23O) goes ont
every year by expiration of enlistment. Add
the loss, by death, discharges for disability, and
assertions, the number will be increased to abou,
onc-third, g 500 which is required to be an
nually supplied by new recruits
The records show that, of the 10 800 persons
who have offered themselves the current year
at the recruiting stations, only 1854 were &C
ccpted by the recruiting officers as able. bodied
and othermise fiji for the serricc. The rejection of
so large proportion of applicants (nore than
hve-slXths,) evinces due observance of the Jaw
and regulations, on the part of the recruiting
otilcers and IN no one particular perhaps is
greater attention bestowed. upon the observance
OF either, than in respect to the cnlisting of
minors. In amending the provisions of the act
of March lG, 1902, section IL, by the new law,
approved September %, 1850, section 5, direct
ing the discharge of minors, the public interest
seems TO have been overlooked IN the omission
to prescribe some adequate penalty or punish
ment in cases Of minors, Especially those Of 10
or 20 years of age) who so frequently impose
themselves upon the recruiting officer by falsely
affirming themselves to be 81 years of age and
frequently more
In many instances it is impossible to know
whether the minor tells his true age or not and
although, in all cases where minors affirm that
they have neither parent master nor guardian,
the recruiting officer is required to certify that
he has made Giligent inquiry, and that the afir
NATIONS OF the recruit, appear to be true ; yet.
all these precautions fail, in many cases, to
guard against the fraudulent enlistment of
minors, whose discharge is subsequently de-
mandcd 10y law. The records show that, during
the year ending September 80, 1850, no less
than 1854 applicants have been refused at the
rendezvous on account Of their being minors. -
Under the present circumstances Of the service,
therefore, it is very clear that, unless the new
law above cited be so amended as to provide .
penalty for this description Of frauds, upon the