New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-04

Ranors Of xseneral-ln- Chief referred TO, and
accompanying Report of Secretary of War.
Headquarters Of the Army:
WAsHs6ToN, Saturday, Nov 50, 1880
sIR: The organization, actual numbers on the
poIa and distribution of the Army, will be shown
by the returna from the Adjutant Generals Office
appended to this report, viz;
l. Organization of the Army Of the ohiseo
States, as established by law marked a.
.. General Return OF the Army b, 80
3. Position and Distribution of the Troops ~ VIZ
Eastern Division. c. IS tho Troops in the
4. Position and Distribution Oh 'i'e AiOf
Western Division. ID. IN ~ the Troops in the
= Position and Distibutl0noi 'n0
Thlfd, 0, ~ tho Number Of Recruits ENLISTED
o. ne. ~ Isl9. to Sept. 80 1850 =. Win inc
So sas 80 Generals Report thereon
In my last annual TeP0rto 10 In ssnresentsd the
art necessity OF the increase OF the Military
TtSsabj;sbment created mainly by the large &C.
san"ion of Territory acquired by the late Treaty OF
peace with Mexico, and the express stlpuiation'
on our part, to protect that hepuolic from Ine In
dian tribes within our limits congress- oy Inc
OCT of June II, 1850, recognized this necessity,
INT the additional force authorized was both IN
ADEQUATE in numbers and description. The act
empoyeYed the President, whenever In ms OPINION
aay exigency required it, to increase 10 seventy
four the number Of privates IN companies serving
an the Western frontier and at remote statlos @nu
IN mount such portions of the foot companies 30
enployed SIS he might deem necessary. Inc sfeat
axtent of our frontiers and the peculiar chaiacse.
of the service deyolving on the troops, rehqer IL
;adispensable that the Caodtry element snouid
enter largely into the composition OF the fAEmy'
Two additional regiments OF morse yui $780, s6oono
p,ounted rifemen) are deemed absolutely neces'
Gary. The service is suffering greatly IN Ie&as'
New Mexico and on the Pacific, owing TO the III
sufciency of the force now authorised ny law
For the want Of regular cavalry, the commanding
General in Texas has been compelled TO eau OUT
at great expense, a considerable body OF voun-
teer horse. The Commander IN New Mexico mas
also made repeated aud pressing applications lor
cavalry but net company could De spared from
other quarters to reinforce him. No other descrlp-
tion Of troops will answer tor the protection OF our
Immense lines of emigration and frontier setCle'
nents through, and bordering on, Indian trloes.
Mounted infantry, as a substitute, IS Whoiiy IN
ADEQUATE aud the experiment OF employing 1901
regiments in this way can only result IN dsorSdu'
iZing them as infantry and converting eilenu my
extremely different horsemen beslce' lTolu tneit
inexpericnce and the temporary character o1
their new duties the wear ana s9ai -. ,1a ha
equipments, in the hands OF infantry, would be
ENTHUSIASTICALLY three.fod greater than with
regular cayary-(dragOons or mounted flhemeh)
thus making this nondescript force the most ex-
peasive and the least ethclent ever known u our
service. c,
eiven in my former report, that three regiments
be added to the establishment, two OF light dra
goons or mounted rtemen, ana one OF infantry
that two companies be added to the present iorty
eight companies of artillery, and that the nifty be
organized into five regiments OF artillery-one
with its field and staff officers, for the Pacific
coast; and that the President be authorized &C
cording to the exigences of the service, to cause
to be extended by regular enlistments, the num-
Der of privates in every company, Old and new,
throughout the army, from fortytwo, htty and six
tyfour, respectively, to any number not exceeding
seventy -four privates per company.
Another years experience has confirmed me
in the opinion that it is only by such augmenta-
tions the army can be enabled to preserve our
Notifications along the British, the Atlantic ana
Gulf of Mexico frontiers ito guard the immense
lines of emigration across the Rocky mountains,
and defend our numerous settlements DorderihS
on as many Unaffected Indian tribes
In the same report, Nov 3, l849-(Executlve
Document No 5, PIP. 98-lO3-) presented the
equitable claims OF the decayed or worn out sol
diers-regulars and volunteers-dlscnar8ed, or
yyho NAV be discharged, to ON Asylum and showed
that one might be established out offunds already
lodged in the Treasury by the Army, and by other
means, without original or subsequent charge
upon the country. | again beg leave to commend
this most interesting subject to the ATTENTION OF
the higher authorities.
A hi providing for retired list Of disabled and
worn out officers, passed the Senate at the last
session, and will, hope, soon be taken up by the
House and made law.
The Sd section of the act OF June II, 1851, dc.
signed to encourage enlistments IN the vicinity OF
the remote frontier posts by giving as bounty to
each recruit the expense of subsisting and trans
nortine one from the principal depot in the East,
10 such post, has proved failure. and ought to be
repeaed The inducement it presents is not suit
Hcient to accomplish its object. Indeed, the main,
If not the sole reliance for filling the ranks of the
army is by recruiting in the old States.
The Act making appropriations ior the support
of the Army approved Sept %, 1850, Sec lst
doubles the pay proper OF enlisted men serving IN
Oregon and California This is Just provision
and ought to be extended to Netc- Me.ctco, where
il is believed the expenses oflving are nearly as
great as on the Pacific, and the service more ar
duous The Act limits the payment OF this ad.
ditional compensation to March, 1852 but 1t will
no doubt be found necessary to proong the time
1t is also directed that the gratuty be not paid to
the soldier till the end Of his enlistment. inns
will certainly serve as check to desertlons, but
it is apprehended it may also prevent reenIlst.
ments. A soldierreceiving SO large an amount OF
back-pay at his discharge, would not be likely to
reenter for second term. Perhaps both objects
the prevention of assertions and encouraging
enstments-mght be secured by retaining till
the expiration Of service one-hGIf instead OF the
whole of the additional pay, granted by the Act
referred to, and it is recommended that the law
be modified accordingly.
have hehonor 10 remain, Sir,
with high respect WHISTLES 9qS SPF ie5v SCOTT.
Hon. c. N. Conrad, Seey Of lVar.
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