The republic., 1850-12-04
TIL E RE z u Lie.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF wAF
WAR DEPARTMENT,

WAR DEPARTMENT.
WAsHIsGToN, November 80 1850.
Sm: beg leave to submit the following report of
the operations OF this Department during the last
year:
The aggregate strength Of the army, at pres
ent established by law, and supposiDg every COM
pany to have its complement, Is twelve thousand
nine hundred and twenty seven, ne, ,927 officers
and men, Including all the staff corps 1t rarely
happens, however that a company ia complete;
for while, ON the one hand, the enlistments
never exceed the limit 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 in
gard to troops stationed ut the frontier posts; for
all enlisted in the older States consid-
cradle time must always intervene between the
happening OF vacancy and its being filed. 1t 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 ttJor duty usually falls short Of the le-
gal organization on an average OF from thirty to
sorty per cent
The report of the Adjutant General, hereto ap.
pended, will show how this force is distributed. BY
that document it will be seen that out of the twelve
thousand nine hundred and twenty seven [l2, ,927l
officers and men composing the army, seven thou
sand seven hundred and ninety-six, f7,796,l or
more than one half stationed arc under or
ders for Texas, New Mexico, California and Ore
gon.
When it is recollected what large accessions have
within lew years past been made to our territory
tons, and an enlarged inland frontier needs pro-
lection against the Indians it will appear manifest
that the present military establishment of tc coun
try is entirely inadequate to it's wants Allow me
to call your attention to the remarks this sub
Jcct contained in the report of the General Chief
The most important duty which at present de-
wolves on the Department ID the protection OF Texas
and New Mexico against the Indian tribes in their
vicinity. This object has engaged the anxious at
tention Of the Department, and all the means its
disposal have been employed to effect it.
The recruiting service has been actively prose
cuted, with view to bringing the companies sta
toaed on that frontier to their complement of
eniy four men, as fixed by the act of the l7th Of
June last. Prompt measures have also been taken
to carry into effect the provisions OF the act
which authorizes the mounting of portion of the
infantry stationed in Texas.
Early in August last the seventh regiment of in
tantry was ordered TO Santa Fe, and had proceeded
on It's destination some distance beyond Fort Lea
venworth, when a steamboat laden with supplies
Tor the expedition was sunk on her way from ST.
Louis to that post. In consequence of this acci-
dent, and the advanced state OF the season, it
ordered to return and take its winter quarters
Jefferson Barracks from which point it will resume
lts march as early as practicable in the spring
From the reports OF the officers in command in Tex
as and New Mexico, as well as from other reliable
sources of information, the Department is fully
ished, however, that the force stationed on that
frontier, with all the reinforcements will be able
to send there in the spring, will be entirely insult
hcient for its protection.
In order TO make the troops aiable as posi-
bic for the protection of the settlements they have
been separated into small dctachments stationed at
various posts along the frontier. But as the from
tier is many hundred miles in extent, these posts
are necessarily at considerable distance apart and
the utmost vigilance and activity the part of the
ofhcers IN command cannot prevent small bands of
Indians from passing between them and commit
ting depredations on interior settlements.
The only description nf troops that efeotu
those of their 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 expeditions, whether for for the chase,
are invariably mounted, and are well skilled in the
management of the horse. In their incursions in
TO the white settlements they prompted, not so
much by feeling of hostility as by love of plum.
der, and consequently seldom move in large num-
bcrs prepared 10 encounter armed force, but sep
arating into small parties watch a favorable op-
portunity, make sudden and rapid inroads into the
settlements, drive off whole herds Of cattle and oc-
casionally commit acts Of shocking barbarity.
EInboldened by the impunity with which these
incursions have been heretofore too often attended
and encouraged by the success with which they
have been rewarded, these bold marauders have of
late vcnturod much further in 20 the settlements
and even within short distance Of our military
posts. All the roads leading into the country. are
infested by them, and cannot be safely travelled
without n military escort. They stand in little
awe OF troops ON FOOT but a light and active cav
airy could pursue and chastise them or recapture
their plunder, whereby their dcpredations would
bc rendered more dangerous and lees profitable.
Several OF these tribes have made progress in
civilization, having fixed habiatons and consider.
able property. By pursuing these to their homes,
and retaiiatng severely upon them they would soon
be taught that s their interest to respec. the prop
erty OF the whites. The ofkcers in command In
these departments concur in the opinion that TO
enable them TO do this larger force, particularly
in mounted men, is indispensaby necessary. As
Temporary means of supplying this deficiency
the commanding officer in Texas called out several
companies of volunteers; but the short period for
which this description OF force can be legally called
efficient than il would otherwise be. Doubts are
entertained whether the experiment Of mounting
infantry will prove successful Little, IL any thing,
"a gained by such an arrangement on the score Of
economy, and soldiers enlisted with no reference
10 their aptitude for cavalry duty will seldom be
able TO adapt themselves to a service for which
their previous habits may not at all qualify them.
IL IL therefore very much TO be desired that Con-
gress will at early period consider the propricty
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 il
is believed that in tho end economy will be promoted
by IL. The supplies necessary Tor the troops eta
TONED In that country are now nearly all taken
from the other States These supplies have TO be
carried great distance by land, and owing to the
badness OF the roads the scarcity Of provisions and
provendcr, and the erorbtant prices dcns nded for
labor, the cost OF transportation is The
following Is the actual cost Of sporting pork and
-four (the two most important items of supply 10
several of the military posts in Texas and New
Mexico, viz:
To the nearer interior post in Texas, per barrel
for pork. IS, for Hour 80 81.
10 Santa re and Las Vegas, New Mexico, for
pork S32 per barrel, for flour S2l 30.
To Taos, Socorro, Aboque, and Savoyetto, for
pork Sal 60 per barrel, for flour S27 SO.
To Psso del Nortc, Texas, and 10 San Elizario
and Dons Ana for pork SiS per barrel, for flour
SSi so.
The above sums are paid for Transporting bread
and meat to country large portion Of which il
susceptible oil producing abundant crops Of grain
and nearly all of which is well ada pied TO grazing
and these sums will continue to be paid so long ai
the incursions Of the Indians continue TO prevent
the settlement and cultivation of the country Itii
confidently believed, the other hand that if adj
quatc protection we're afforded TO the country, in :
few years its population and resources would botl
increase, n smaller number of troops would sufIic,
for its defence, and supplies might be furnished a
much lcss cost than they now
II has been suggested by persons we'll acquainte,
with the country that the Inhabitants (includine
the Pueblo Indians) might, II properly armed anS
organized into kind OF militia under the direc
ton of officers of the army, render essential aid in
protecting II against the sudden inroads Of the NOR,
savage tribes. The experiment. is well worth maxi
tr,r .,.I r..