The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-03
R.pors OF In. ssesss.ry Of War.
War DEPARTMENT,
Washington. November 30. 1850

washington November 5O, 1900
Sin: beg leave to submit the following report Of the
osralions oi this department during the last year,
he aggregate strength OF the army present estab-
ue BY law, and supposlpg every company to have lis
complement Is twelve thousand nine hundred and uwen.
- .eyen (i2g27) officers Bnd men, including all the
d corps Ii rarely happens, however, that company
compete; for while. The one hand, the eislments
an never exceed ie limit prescribed by law deaths, ds.
1stss and deserons must always cause the number Of
sn actually enrolled and in pay TO fall lar short OF IT,
TSs Is particularly the case ~ regard TO troops stationed
" lhe frontier posts for ~ the men are all enlisted IN
Il. older States considerable time must always intervene
ss,ween the happening vacancy and It's being hlled
estimated by competent Judges that owing to these
auses combined with sickness and other Casualties oi
~ service, the number o men actually ~ service and
Il for dty usually falls short OF the legal organization
an an average OF from thirty to forty per cent t
The report OF the Adutant General, hereto appended,
iii show how this force distributed. BY that docu-
nan, Il will be SEEN thai of the twelve thousand nine
hundred and twenty seven U2.927) officers and men
tomposng the army, seven thousand seven hundred and
.inpiy six a. 796 than onehaf, are stationed
or are under orders for Texas, New Mexico, Caior-
When il Is recol!ected what large accessons have
within few years pas, been made 10 our territory, ihat
an extensive sea,oatd will require fotiicatons and
enlarged inland frontier needs protection against the In
ane il will appear manifest that the present military
establishment oil the country s entirely Inadequate to It's
wants. Allow me 10 call your attention TO the remarks
this subject contained in the report oil the Generan-
Chief
be department is the protection Of Texas and New Mex.
c0 against the Indian tribes IN their vicinity This oh
sct has engaged the anxious attention OF The department.
and all the at us disposal have been employed TO
Effect 1t.
The recruiting service has been actively prosecuted
with view TO bringing the cSmpanes stationed on that
frontier TO their complement OF seventy-iour men, as
red by the act Of the l7Ih OF June last Prompt meas
ues have also been taken 10 carry into effect the pro-
isions of the act, which authorizes the mounting
d portion OF the infantry stationed in Texas.
EARLY in August last the seventh regiment OF Infantry
was ordered Santa Fe and had proceeded on its dest-
nation some distance beyond Fort Leavenworth. when
steamboat laden with supplies for the expedition was
auence of this accident and the advanced state OF the
season, il ordered 10 return and take up its winter
quarters al Jeeson Barracks. from which point u VIII
resume its march as early as practicable IN The spring.
From the repors OF tie officers in command in Texas and
New Mexico as well AZ from other reliable sources OF
nforma,ion. The deaf,m, nj is fully satisfied, however
hat te force now stationed that frontier, with all the
endorsements il will be BILE 10 send there in the spring.
will be entirely insufficient for It's protection +
In order to make The troops as available as possible ior
the protection OF the settlements, they have bsen sepaa-
led into small detachmenis, stationed at various posts
dong the frontier But the frontier is many hundred
niles extent these posts are necessarily considerable
distance apart and the utmost vigilance and activity
he part OF the officers in command cannot prevent small
lands of Indians from passing between them and COM
hitting depredalons interior settlements.
The only description OF troops that can enectnaiy put
stop TO these ioTays is cavalry Unlike those OF their
lace this part OF the continent the Indians that occdpy
the vast and open plains from the southern extremity o
Texas 10 Oregon, in all their expeditions whether Tor war
or for the chase, invariably mounted. and are well
skilled in the management OF the horse ln their incur
,ions into the white settlements they are prompted mol
70 much by feeling OF hostility as by love OF plumber
and consequently seldom move in large numbers, pre-
aed to armed force, but, separating into
mall parties, watch favorable opportunity, make sud-
len and rapid nroads into the settlements, drive on Whoie
Rds OF cae and occasionally commit acts oil shocking
barbarity.
Emboldened by the impuniiy with which these incur
have been heretofore too often attended, and encou
a.. haop ri
a. these bold maauders have Of late venture much fur
Der into the settlements. and even within short DIS
ance OF our military posts. All the roads leading INTO
country are n'es'sa ~ sssar, a1r bey sanS a n s
1--WE OF troops foot; but light and active cavalry
oud pursue and chasiise them, recaptnre their plum
Ter. whereby their depedatlons would be rendered more
Angerous and less profitable Several Of these tribes have
nade some progress IN cvilizaion having hxea baoila
ions and considerable property BY pursuing these to
aeiI homes, and retal,a,ng severely upoa hen. inry
he properly of the whites. The officers in command 10
hese departments concur the opinion that to enable
hem to do this larger force, particularly IN mounted
men, indspensably necessary. As temporary means
supplying this deficiency. bc commanding oicer IN
Texas called out several companies OF volunteers; but
he short period for which this description oi force can
Be legally called upon TO serve renders II more expen-
aye and less efficient than II would otherwise be- Doubts
are entertained whether the experiment o mounting m
Iaatry will prove successful Little, IL anything, rs
gned BY such arrangement the score oil economy
and sodIes enlisted with reference 10 their aptitude
or cavalry duty will seldom be able 10 adapt themselves
10 service for which their previous habits may not al
all qualify them s Therefore very much TO be desired
l, Congress will at early period, consider tLe pro-
peiy OF increasing the army, and particularly oi raising
one or more regiments OF mounted men.
This additional force will al first be attended with
Proportional addition OF expenditure; but II is believed
lha in lie end, economy will be promoted by H. Ihe
Supplies necessary for the troops stationed ~ ta county
are now neatly all taken from the other States ihese
owing the badness OF tie roads, the scarcity oil pro.
VISIONS and provender, and the exorbaDt prices de-
nandd for labor, the cost oil tmnsporlion Is enormous
The following is the actual cost Of transporting pork and
dou the two most important items OF supply 10 several
4 The military posts in Texas and New Mexico, viz;
To the nearer interior post in Texas, per barrel Tor pork
81 Tor flour @5 80.
TO Santa Fe and Las Vegas New Mexico. forpork S32
NJ barrel, for Hour s2l 30
To Taos Socorro, Abeque, and Savoyette, Tor pork
H 60 per barrel, for flour S27 SO.
10 Paso Del Nore. Texas, and 10 San Ezario and
Dona Ana, ior pork SiS per barrel Tor Hour S3l so
The above sums are paid Tor Transporting bread and
neat 10 acouny large portion OF which ~ susceptible
producing abundant crops oil grain, and neatly all OF
which is well adapted 10 grazing and these sums will
dsns continue 10 prevent the settlement and cultivation OF
The country II is confidently believed the other hand
ksi II adequate protection afforded 10 the country,
ma few years its population and would both IN
cease, smaller number Of troops would suffice for lis
dence and supplies might be furnished al much less
cost than they how are.
has beelsugg esied by persons well acquainted with
he county that the inhabitants lncluding the Pueblo
ldans) might If properly armed and organized into
Ind oi militia under the direction OF officers OF The army,
tnde essential aid in protecting Il against the sudden IN
Dads OF The more savage tribes. The experiment ~ well
worth making and IL authority were vested IN ihe de-
artrnent 10 distribute and ammunition among them
might be 80 exercised that no i'll consequences could at