Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-18
prpnnr on rHE sEoRErARY OF war.

50 l-otiicerS and meIl--Dut the actual strength
is only IO4l7 OF this number 1878 employed !
on the frontiers, or are the route to them. The
Indian tepredations have been comparatively I'M I
freouens and except in California and Oregon, have
not attained mere local importance. In the Indian
country Immediately west of the Mississippi, but |
two or three collisions have occurred: and arrange
ments in progress for the establishment OF
new posts in more important positions, which VIII
enable the Department to dispense with many I'M
important posts and give additional security. In
Texas, the Indian depredations have diminished in
frequency and in importance; and in majority OF
cfses as the Department has been informed, the
depredations have been committed by Indians from
Mexican territory. On the Rio Grande, the pro-
lection of the inhabitants and the enforcement of
the ful6lment of treaty stpulatons on the part of
the Mexican Government, have made it necessary
to strengthen our positions and increase the num-
Der of men. Although peace has been obtained
on that frontier there assurance that 1t will be
observed unless strong force be kept stationed
there and consequently tits the intenonof the De-
partment to send an addt onal force. 1t is the
opinion of the Secretary that with an army three
times as great ours, 1t would be imprachcaoe SO
TO guard all points of our extended frontier as en-
tirely to prevent Indian depredations. It's there
fore the intention to post the troops in large bodies
on important points, and reduce the number OF
small detachments. f t..L. i ...rslet4
The appropriations for the erection and improve
nent of permanent Publications for three years
past have either been refused greatly reduced,
under the impression that they depended upon the
prosecution of a system of Notifications. This the
Secretary suggests is not the case and remarks
that however it may be henceforth viewed the ar
lnanent for important posts in Texas and on the Pa
cific coast should be sent at the earliest period posi-
! BILE After speaking at length concerning increased
requirements for the transportation of stores, it is
estimated that GOO recruits will be required for
the service of the ensuing year. Its thought that
at the present rate of pay, it will be difficult while
other improvements offer higher rewards, to secure
the requisite number Of men, although it is of the
utmost Importance that they should be had and that
the full number of rank and file should be main
| tanned. 1t is shown by an examination Of the STA
| tisticS of the army from 1926 to the commence
ment of the war with Mexico, that the average ex-
cess of the legal over the actual strength of the
army was 10 per cent of the latter; that the ave-
rage loss by desertion has been 124 per cent. by
discharges for debility and other causes per cent
| and by deaths only 4 per cent-or that the total
loss independent of discharges by expiration ofser
vices has been 233 percent of the actual strength
| of the army. Since the termination of the war
| with Mexico, the excess of the legal the ac-
tual strength has been l9per cent? the average loss
by desertion, l6 per cent; by discharges tor de-
bility and other causes, per cent; by death per
cent, or total loss, independent of discharges by
| expiration Of services of % per cent A part of
the deserton is due to the discovery of gold in CAL
| fornia. The same cause influenced the number of
re-enlistments The proportion during the last FIVE
wears was II per cent while during the three years
Immediately preceding the war with Mexico, it was
25 per cent. of the number of discharges by expi-
ration of service These results the Secretary ira
| ces to two principal causes:
l. The disparity between the pay of the soldier
and the value of labor in civil life.
g. The fact that length of service carries with it
| ri 9th in
lege.
! Both these causes are the fruitful source of dis
satisfaction and desertion, and they prevent the
/ enlistment of the most valuable men. Thus in an
army of 10000 men, which is about the actual
strength of military establishment, as at present
organized there will be annually under existing
circumstances Of pay and service 1920 discharges
by expiration of enEstment 726 discharges for dis
ability &c; $50 deaths; and ,465 desertions; g.
81 vacancies annually, of which only 2l9 are filed
by re-enlistments. The actual annual loss to the
| army to be supplied by the enlistment of new men
will therefore be 1882. Or, in other words, more
than one third Of the army must every year be re-
cruted and transferred from the depos to their reg
| iments In view of these experiences the Secre-
tary recommends the adoption of such measures as
will prevent assertions and keep the ranks full
Among such, he suggests ... ...-....... o. .
I. An increase of ! per cent of the present pay
of the soldier ..'-
| 2. An additional increase for each successive pc
Rod of five years 50 long he shall remain in the
! army. 20 -.r.r.-.. ...... .....
8 Provision for the promotion TO the lowest
grade of commissioned officers of such of the non
commissioned officers of the army as may be found
qualified for, and, by their conduct character and
| services, entitled to such advancement
It is also suggested that the soldier, honorably
discharged who shall re-enlist within one month
thereafter, shall be entitled to 81 per month in ad
dton to the ordinary pay of his grace, for the rst
period Of FIVE years and further increase of 81
per month for each successive period and that
those now in the army who have served more than
period Of five years shall be entitled to the pro-
visions named above; and also, that those who re-
ceved certificate of merit for services in Mexico
shall have the additional 81 per month. ..
! With a number of Other recomm endations calcu-
| lated to render the army more efficient and capa-
bic of enduring the hardshps of active service, the
Secretary proceeds to speak of the necessity of en-
couraging regularity and uniformity in the militia
and in connection with this subject, ne recommends
providing the militia with the proper books for tao
tical instructions. The condition of the Military
Academy is faVorably spoken of and the academic
term is, by the board recommended to be increased
to five years.