The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-05
RAPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, .Norsn.ber 80, 1850.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, .Norsn.ber 80, 1850.
SIR: beg leave to submit the following report
Of the operations OF this Department during the
last year:
The aggregate strength Of the army, as at pre-
sent established by law, and supposing every com
pany to have its complement, Is twelve thousand
nine hundred and twenty-seven, ll2,92I,l officers
and men, including all the staif corps. it rarely
happens, however, that company Is complete !;
for while, on the one hand, the enlistments can
never exceed the limits prescribed by law, deaths,
discharges, and desertions must always cause the
number Of men actually enrolled and In pay to fall
far short Of it, This is particularly the case in re-
gard to troops stationed at the frontier posts for
as the men are all enlisted in the older States con-
siderable time must always intervene between the
happening Of vacancy and its being hlled. II is
estimated by competent judges that owing to these
causes, combined with sickness and other casual
ties Of the service, the number Of men actually in
service and fit for duty, usually falls short Of the
legal organization an average Of from thirty to
forty per cent.
The report Of the Adjutant General, hereto APP
pended, will show how this force is distributed.
By that document il will be that out of the
twelve thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven
[l2 ,927l officers and men composing the army,
seven thousand seven hundred and ninety-six,
r., 1856 or than one half, are stationed IN or
under orders Tor IeXas, New MEXICO, Cal-
fornia, and Oregon
When it is recolleced what large accessions
have within a few years past been made to our
territory, that an extensive seaboard will require
Notifications, and an enlarged inland frontier needs
protection against the Indians, it will appear man
fest that the present military establishment of the
country is entirely inadequate to its wants. Allow
me to call your attention to the remarks on tins
subject contained in the report of the Genera-n-
Chief
The most important duty which at present de-
wolves the Department Is the protection or lex
AS and New Mexico against the Indian tribes IN
their vicinity. This object has engaged the anX-
ious attention Of the Department, and all the
means at its disposal have been employed to eff
feet it.
The recruiting service has been actively prose-
cuted, with view to bringing the companies sta
toned on that frontier to their complement of sew
enty-four men, as fixed by the act of the 18th OF
June last. Prompt measures have also been taken
to carry into effect the provisions of the same act,
which authorizes the mounting of portion OF the
infantry stationed in Texas.
Eallv in August last the seventh regiment OF IN
fantry was ordered to Santa Fe, and had proceeded
on its destination some distance beyond Fort Lea
yenworth when Il steamboat laden with supplies
for the expedition was sunk on her way from ST.
Ioui, to that post In consequence o: this acci-
dent and the advanced state Of the season. 1t was
ordered to return and take up its winter quarters
at Jefferson Barracks from which point 1t VIII re-
sumo it's march early as practicable III the spring
From the reports Of the officers in command IN
Texas and New Mexico, well as from other re-
liable sources Of information, the Department is
fully satisfied, however, that the force now sta
toned on that frontier, with all the reintorcements
it will be able to send there in the spring, Will be
entirely insufficient for its protection.
In order to make the troops as available as pos
sible for the protection Of the settlements, they
have beer separated into small detachments, sta
toned at various posts along the frontier. But,
as the frontier is many hundred miles in extent,
those posts are necessarily at a considerable dis
lance apart, and the utmost vigilance and activity
on the part of the officers in command cannot pre-
vent sma bands of Indians from passing between
them and committing dePredatons on interior set
Elements.
The only description of troops that can ellectu-
allv put stop to these forays is cavalry. Unlike
those of their race in this part of the continent, the
Indians that occupy the vast and open plains from
the southern extremity of Texas to Oregon, IN all
their expedtons whether for war or for the chase,
are invariably mounted, and are well skilled in the
management of the horse. In their lncursions IN
to the white settlements they are prompted, not
so much by feeling Of hostility as by a love of
plumber, and consequently seldom move IN large
numbers prepared to encounter an armed force,
but separating into small parties, watch a favor
BILE opportunity, make sud den and rapid lnroads
into the settlements, drive of whole herds of cat
tie, and occasionally commit acts Of shocking bar
barty. "
Embroidered by the IMMUNITY with which these
incursions have been heretofore too often att nd
ed, and encouraged by the success with which
they have been rewarded, these bold marauders
have Of late ventured much further into the settle
ments, and even within short distance OF our
military posts All the roads leading into the
country are infested by them, and cannot be safe
ly travelled without military escort. lhey stand
in little awe Of troops on foot; but light ana ac-
tive cavalry could pursue and chastlse them, or
recapture their plumber, whereby their depreda-
tons would be rendered more dangerous and
less profitable Several Of these tribes have made
some progress in civilization, having fixed habita-
tons and considerable property. BY pursuing
these to their homes, and retaliating seyeraly up
on lhem they would soon be taught that 1t Is their
interest to respect the property of the whites.
The officers in command in these departments
concur in the opinion that to enable them to 90
this larger force, particularly in mounted men,
is indispensaby necessary. AS temporary
means Of supplying this deficiency, the command
ing officer in Texas called out several companies
of yolunteers but the short period for which this
description of force can be legally called upon to
serve, renders it more expensive and less ethclent
than it would otherwise be. Doubts are enter
tanned whether the experiment Of mounting in
fantry will prove successful. Little, if anything
is gained by such an arr ngement on the score Of
economy, and soldiers enlisted with no reference
to their aptitude for cavalry duty, will seldom be
able to adapt themselves to a service for who h
their previous habits may not at all qualify
them Ii is therefore very much TO be desired
that Congress will at early period, consider the
proprety of increasing the army, and particularly
of raising one or more regiments OF mounted men,
This additional force will at first be attended
with proportional addition of expenditure but
it is believed that in the end economy will be pro-
NOTED by it. The supplies necessary for the
troops stationed in that country, are now nearly
all taken from the other States. These supplies
have to be carried great distance by land, and
owing 10 the badness of the roads, the scarcity
of provisions and provender, and the exorbltant
prices demanded for labor, the cost Of transporta-
lion Is enormous The following is the actual
cost of Transporting pork and -four (the two most
important items OF supply TO the several Of the
military posts in Texas and New Mexico, VIZ
To the nearer interior post in Texas, per bar
rel for pork, 80, for flour So 80
To Santa Re and Las Vegas, New Mexico, for
pork s32 per barrel, for -four S2I 80.
To Taos, Socorro, Abeque, and Savoyette, for
pork Sal 60 per barrel, for -four S27 If.
To paso del Norte, Texas, and to San ElIzaro
and Dona Ana, for pork S4s per barrel, for flour