The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-12-22
RepoFt 0f the Secretary of War

Report Of the Secretary of War.
This document, states the authorized
strength of the U. S. Army to be 1881
men and officers; but the actual strength,
according to the latest returns, is only
10,417, of which number s,31S are en-
ployed in the frontier departments, or
are now on their way to them. He says,
further that the measures taken for the
protection Of our frontiers have been sue
cessful; that the troops everywhere have
been actively and constantly Employed;
that Indian depredations have been COM
paratively unfrequent, and, except in
California and Oregon, have not attained
more than local Importance. New posts
are to be established in the Indian coun-
try west of the Mississippi, in more favor
able positions, to enable the Department
to dispense with number of the smaller
and less importunt posts. a greater
force is also to be employed for the pro-
lection of the enigrants crossing the
plains. A majority of the cases of Indian
depradations in Texas which have come
to the knowledge of the Department, have
been by Indians from Mexican territory.
Maj. General Smith, aided by an expert
enced officer of engineers, is selecting sites
for permanent Notifications on the Rio
Grande, one of which will be opposite El
Paso and another at the Camanche cros-
sing. 1t is the intention of the Depart
ment that, as soon as possible, consid-
cradle force shall be sent to the Pacific
coast, and one of the Brigadier Generals
of the Army ordered to the Command
Nine Companies of artillery are posted in
Florida to aid the effort now in progress
there to effect the removal of the Indians.
Coercive measures are to be used if found
necessary. Two of the regiments of ar
tillery are to be arranged on the Canadi-
an frontier and the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts, third on the Rio Grande bound
airy, and fourth on the Pacific coast
Of the cavalry regiments, one will be re-
quired in Texas, one in New Mexico, and
the. remaining are for the Western from
tier. A fourth regiment of cavalry is ask
ed of Congress by the Secretary. Three
regiments ofinfantry are required in Tex
as, besides two On the frontier west ofthe
Mississippi, one in n. Mexico, and one in
the Indian country of the Pacific. 1t is
the purpose of the Department to post the
troops in large bodies at commanding po-
sitiOns, instead of dispensing them among
numerous small posts. In consequence
of the difficulty of keeping the ranks full,
the Secretary proposes-lst an increase
of the present pay Of the common soldier;
I'd, an additional increase for each sue
cessive period of five years, so long as he
shall remain in the Army; Sd, provision
for the promotion to the lowest grades
Of commissioned officers of such sof the
army as may be found qualified for, and
by their character and services entitled to,
such advancement. Also, that every
soldier who, having been honorahly dis
charged from the service Of the United
States, shall, within one month thereaf-
ter, re-enlist shall be entitled to two
dollars per month in addition to the or
dinary pay of his grade for the first per-
iod of five years after the expiration of
his first enlistment, and further sum Of
one dollar per month for each successive
period of five years, so long as he shall
remain continuously in the Army. The
Secretary argues elaborately in favor of
the increase Of the Army. showing the act
ual necessity for such a measure. He
recommends that the minimum organi-
cation of all companies be fixed, as in the
mounted rifemen, at Cd priyates, and
that there be added to the present mill
tary establishment one regiment of drag
oons and two regiments of riAemen, which
would give minimum organization Of
1888 officers and men, which may be
expanded, if the limit fixed by the law
Of June 7th, 1850, be continued, to IL
All, and on war establishment, of l26
privates per company, to 27,slS, thus
providing for state of war an effective
Increase of from 10000 to $4,000 men
without the creation of new regiments
Gen. Scott recommends larger increase.
The Secretary recommends, also, that an
other company of sappcrs and miners be
added to the engineers corps.