Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER,
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

The RE,oRT Of the SECRETARY of WAR, which,
IL given entire would occupy more than ten OF our
columns, IS necessarily abridged to accommodate It
Co the space Mt our command.
The report commences by stating that the au-
thorired strength of the army Gas now posted) Is
1881. officers and men; but that the actual
strength is only l0,4l7, of which number S,3iS
are employed in the frontier departments, or are
now on the route to them. The Secretary then
proceeds to speak of the employment OF the troops
dEring the past year, as follows
1t gives me pleasure say that the measures taken for
the otecton the inhabitants Of frontiers have
under the direction of able and Jealous commanders,
been more than usually successful The troops have
every where been actively and constantly employed In
dian depredatons have been comparatively unirequent
and except in California and Oregon have not attained
more than a local Importance
In the Indian country Immediately west OF the Mssis
.ppi but three instances of collisions have occur
ed Arrangements now in progress which, by the
Establishment Of posts in favorable positions
vi enable the Department TO dispense with number OF
IN smaller anu less important posts; 70 give increased
seerity to that frontier; to employ greater force for
herotection Of the emigration crossing the great plains
o. IL West, and at the same time materially diminish
Iae exensss OF the military establishment 10 that part
of the c,unhy
In Texas indian hostilities have diminished in fire.
quehcy and Importance and in majority OF the cases
rnat have been brought to the notice of the Depart
ent the deprsiatons have been committed by Indians
om Mexican territory As the Rio Grande is the boun
ary between this country and Mexico and the positions
be occupied nit for the protection of that frontier
and the fulhment Of treaty stpulaons with the Re-
public of Mexico WILL in all probability, be permanent
the force that river has been considerably increased
AID arrangements are now being made undar - uieo
ton of Major General Smith -isoI py an experienced
oer of enaineers 10 select the suitable positions
far the attainment of these Objects and for the consruc
ton of field works their defence As part of this
system orders have been given for the establishment for
strong post the Rio Grande, opposite the Mexican
faun IF paso in neiohbOrhOOd
hostes and collisions between the frontier inhabitants
Of the two countries have occurred is also in
plaon establish large post at the point where the
great trail of the Cumanche Indians crosses the Rio
rande Other dispositions for the control of the Indians
on the northern frontier of Texas also in progress
and when they are completed the Department hopes
with confidence to give very great degree Of security
20 both the Mexican and Indian frontiers of that State
New Mexico has been comparatively exempt from In
dian disturbances during the past year The few that
have occurred have generally been traced to marauders
and outlaws for whose actions Of the tribes of that
country can Justly be held responsible Those to which
they noainay belong have given assurances which, it is
believed they ndeavorng in good faith carry out
of their intention apprehend and deliver up these
RAIDERS and restore the property pundered by them.
The Indians Of California and Oregon numerous
and warlike but, as they were divided into small nde
pendent bands, having general head and were, in
great measure destitute of firearms their hostlties in
previous years were important Now, however that
the rapdextendng settlements of those countries are
driving the Indians from their accustomed haunts and
crowdng them into narrower Units they are forced into
combinations both formidable and frequent Within the
past three years their hostiitesthe result in many in
stances Of the intrusion and aggressions OF the whites
have been almost uninterrupted and it is officially known
that in Northern California and Southern Oregon alone
within this period, the lives of than hundred
whites and several hundred Indians have been sacrificed
IN collisions between the two The force in that
country IS not now, and never has been, sufficient and
Impressed with the idea Of its entire nadequacy the De-
pament time since ordered regiment of artillery
20 the Pacific and it designed send there ad
huona regiment Of infantry but it found that the
state of the service would then does it yet admit
Of it. The FIRST mail from the Pacific subsequent to the
issue of this order brought intelligence Of renewed hos
ttes, in which more than forty lives were lost. BY the
and activity of General Lane delegate from Oregon
Territory in command Of volunteer force aided by
the few regular troops that were in the neghborhood
Aostites were suppressed and the Indians compelled TO
sue for peace These operations appear to have been
Conducted with great energy and Judgment and in the
final conflict Gen. Lane and Capt Alden 1.-THE latter in
,mmand Of the regular troops we're both severely wound
ed while calamity leading charge against the Indians
There IL however that peace be main
tanned unless force adequate to the control Of the In
dams stationed in their midst 1t is the intention Of
the Department that this shall be done, and
possible considerable additional force will be sent to the
Pacific and Of the brgader generals Of the army
ordered there TO command.
The vast territories between the Rocky mountains and
the Sierra Nevada inhabited by and warke
bands Of Indians. Hostlities existing between
them and the inhabitants of Utah Territory and they
constantly occurring the emigration through
that country from the Western States possessions
the Pacific 1t is due TO citizens who settled
IN pass through those remote regions that their lives
and property should be protected but the Department
without the offulhlling this duty.
The measures adopted by the Department Of the Int
ror under the last Administration for the removal Of the
few Semnoes remaining in Florida having failed, it
considered advisable transfer the control Of these In
dams this Department for the purpose Of emgratng
them TO the country Of the Arkansas. An e1pe-
renced officer Of the army, who is well acquainted with
their character and possesses their confidence has been
entrusted with this duty and, with view TO strengthen
his Efforts and at the time be prepared to
Give If such should be necessary, force
sistng Of nine companies Of artillery is posted in the
peninsula Of Florida II is hoped that the measures thus
taken viii be attended with favorable results
The appropriation Of March 3d. 1853, for remounting
the four additional light batteries authorized by the act
OF March 3D. lS47 has been found sufficient to remount
but three Of them. is recommended that in the APP
preparations for the support Of the army for the
fiscal year. provision be made for mounting and equip
ping the remaining company.
For the details Of the of troops during the
past year. and their present disposition reference
spectfuly made to the report or the commanding general
The disposition and employment Of the army must de-
pend upon the necessities Of the service but if nothing
unforeseen should il Is proposed to arrange two Of
the regiments OF artillery to the Canada frontier and to
the Atlantic and gulf coasts the third TO the Rio Grande
boundary and the fourth to the Pacific The
the seabord will be concentrated much as possible
and each Of the posts occupied by them will be proyd
ed the means necessary for the instruction u officers AM
men in all the duties Of their profession The
will be adopted far practicable, at the posts the
Mexican frontier and Pacific coast occupied by the ar
lery and generally wherever it be done consistently
with proper degree Of economy OF the three cavalry
regiments one will be required in Texas, in New
Mexico and the remaining for the Western frontier
for service the plains and for the protection Of emf
grants fourth is needed for the Pacific and the coun
49, "A thoG IL