Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL SCOTT.
HrApouARrERs on THE ARmY,

NE ri or Nj Al IL u GENERAL SCOTT.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY,
i WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER %, 1852.
Hon. c. NJ CONRAD, Secretary of War.
SIR The following returns from the Adjutant Generals
Office accompany this annual report
!. Organization of the army as established by law,
marked A.
?. General return of the army, showing the actual
numbers borne the rolls, Is.
Distribution of the troops in the Eastern DIVISION c.
A. Distribution Of the troops in the Western division d.
B. Distribution Of the troops in the third or Pacific
division, f.
8. Statement of the number of recruits enlisted from
October l, 1851, to September 80, 1862, F.
During the past twelve months the troops the from
tiers have been actively employed and have had several
sharp combats with parties of Indians in Texas, New
Mexico, and California. All, however, is quiet and
is hoped the udicious distribution of the forces made
by the commanders in those quarters may any
further outbreaks. Eight companies Of the rifle regi
ment, withdrawn from Oregon last year. having been
cruted and re-monnted were ordered to Texas where
an additional mounted force was much needed For the
defence of the frontiers of that State there now
der the orders of Brevet Major Gen. Smith, fourteen
panies OF cavalry two companies of artillery with three
regiments and two companies of infantryin ALL forty
eight companies The three infantry regiments are dis
AADN'Sa
the white settlements and stretching from Eagle Pass
on the Rio Grande, to Preston the Red river The
remainder Of the force is posted the Rio Grande
low Eagle Pass and along second line interior the
BY this arrangement the troops are forag
ed more economically and with greater facility and
IN position to move promptly any assaed point of the
first line.
The force in New Mexico consists of nine companies
of dragons, two of artillery and regiment item COM
panes of infantry Several new posts have been recent
y established in this Territory the of the In
dian country and appear to have had the effect of awning
the warlike tribes into quietness.
The hostile disposition manifested by the Indians in
California and Oregon requiring that troops in that
quarter should be reinforced the fourth regiment of in
fntry Withdrawn from the Northern and ordered
thiher. The force under Breyet Brig. Gen. Hitchcock
who commands the Pacific division will soon consist of
three companies of Dragons five companies of artillery
and two regiments twenty companies) Of nfantry-n
tons OF the troops within this division have been made
during the year The post at the mouth of the ella has
been re-occupied with garrison of three companies
Inns post VIII exercise salutary check the Yuma
Indians the most warke tribe in California and who have
hitherto greatly harassed the emgans passing through
their country by the southern route to the Pacific The
whole OF the fourth infantry eight companies of which
have already arrived out is to be stationed Oregon
and Northern Californa-the headquarters with four
companies, at Vancouver company at the Daes of
the Columbia river and the remainder of the regiment
tons between Oregon and California.
The other movements of troops, of less importance
may be thus briefly stated portion of the Fourth Ar
tery from the board to replace the Fourth In
tanry on the Northern lakes and two companies of the
Second Artillery sent from Charleston harbor Florida
to meet the possibility of difficulties in that quarter grow
ing out of the contemplated removal thence of
OF Seminoles to the country assigned them Of the
Arkansas.
The Recruiting Seroice.
The recruiting service has been conducted with the
usual success the number of enlisted being La
The officers engaged in this branch of the service have
shown commendable zeal in the performance of their
duties Their accounts have in general been promptly
rendered and the expenditures judiciousy made.
The attention of recruiting officers has been repeatedly
called to the subject OF minors in order to guard against
the enlistment of any except in strict accordance with
law. The general regulations in conformity Herewith
prohibit such enisments without the written
the parent master guardian of the minor if he have
any, and he affirm that he has neither he is required
before acceptance TO have guardian appointed accord
ing to law give the written consent With all the care
and scrutiny thus exercised many minors whose appear
indicate full age but who turn out to be less by ten
fifteen and twenty months impose themselves upon
the recruiting officers. This almost daily shown by APP
pcatons from parents and guardians to the Secretary of
War; who, proof of minority is compelled untdis
charges under the 9th section Of the act making appro
priaons for the support of the army &c. approved Sep
TENDER 81 1850 To guard the public interest against
the vexatons and great pecuniay loss attending such
Frauds additional legislation would be necessary
1t accordingly suggested that the minor who thus seeks
to make money by imposing himself the service should
either be compelled to out the term of enlistment
or the offence be made punishable before a civil court
The third secten Of the act Of june IL, 1850 in
the rank and file of the army and to encourage
hsments haying almost entirely failed to effect its pur
poses may adyantageousy be repealed Very few
the service for the first time more distant sta
tons and ample bounty is provided for the soldier
who reents, by the twenty section Of the act to
increase the present military establishment, &c., approx
ed July 5, 1888.
Farm Culture.
general order No l. January g. 1851, Ia copy Of which
was appended to my last annual report,) has not
fulfilled the desired objects In Texas California, and
Oregon nothing has been attempted in consequence of
the troops in those departments being constantly employ
cd either in the pursuit Of maraudng Indians the
establishment of posts hold them in check and pro-
tec the frontier settlements In New Mexico but little
accomplished during the past year. and the outlay
far exceeded the receipts Better results doubtless may
hereafter be expected there particularly it has been
found necessary to employ farmers hired citizens At
the distant posts the Western plains cultivation failed
entirely. II will perhaps be expedent looking to the
enlargement Of population in the neighborhood military
posts to discontinue the system Besides the protection
gained main nducement with emigrants to settle near
military station is to find ready market for their
plus produce which nducement would be taken away If
the public farms were successful II is found moreover
that troops cannot be kept actively engaged in military
duties and maintain discipline If required to engage in
cultivation beyond kitchen gardens.
Revision of The Rules and articles Of Var.
Congress September 90 1776) borrowed entire from the
mother country the statutory code for revolutionary
my which stood without material change down to April 10
1906 when the present rules and articles enacted
upon revision made in of the military committees Of
Congress This revision gave cast and form entirely
new to the previous code and embraces matera changes
Inr tloa lp,a e. -