Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-24

aggression by that exhibition of weakness which must in
eytaby attend the great dispersion of any force The
benefits Of the proposed change will be an Improvement
in instruction and discipline greater degree Of eicen-
cy and usefulness and material dimnution of expense
The distribution of the derie Of war required for the
defence Of country the use OF its army intimately
connected with the movements and positions Of the per-
sonnet of that army, The facilities of communication be-
the depots where these supplies stored
be obtained and the points seaboard and northern
and western frontiers where they may be required
great that far these concerned change in the
present arrangement seems necessary.
The communication with New Mexico, though tedious
and expensive is liable to foreign interruption and
would not be changed by the o. The
is somewhat different with regard to Texas and
TALLY with regard TO the country bordering the Pa
cifc which, from its wealth, is the most inviting and
from its remoteness is OF all our possessions the most
posed TO the attack Of foreign enemy In view of the
possible contingency of and the difficulty of pro-
yng for il after il has occurred II becomes important TO
take, at early period possible all necessary pre-
cautions for the security of our distant territory
As the appropriation for the armament OF fortihca
tons for the last three years has either been refused
greatly reduced under the impression that II depended
upon the prosecution of the system OF permanent or
fcarons it is proper to remark that this provision is not
dependant upon the extent to which that system IS car
ried but Indispensable any system Of coast defence
that may be adopted.
The construction Of permanent Notifications and the
creation of arsena and depots is necessarily the work OF
time but the armament for the most important points
both in Texas and the Pacific coast, should at the
earliest practicable period be sent 10 the and when IN
position temporary works sufficient for defence against
any sudden attack by naval force could readily be thrown
up by the labor of the troops.
There should also be the Pacific coast and stored
suitable points the ordnance and ordnance stores need
ed for its defence and to the arsenals the Columbia
river and the bay of San Francisco the machinery and
other means needed for the construction and
repair Of all the osF sappss as are not pershabe in
their character With water transportation of sixteen
thousand miles, and land routes mpracticabe for the
transportation Of heavy supplies, it will be too late to
adopt these measures when the communication by is
liable TO interruption; and no prudent nation should trust
10 matters OF such vital Importance to the chances of
future that human sagacity foresee As many of
the supplies proposed be Texas and the Pa
clhc are in depot in the Atlantic States, great
pense or loss would be sustained by their transfer
the necessity for their should not for many
years to come. As Of prudence and economy
In the transportation of such be to the Pac
nc it IS suggested that whenever naval vessels sent
to that coast there be sent with them such they
can conveniently carry in addition their supplies
Then follow variety of details relating the recruit
ing service, in which the country is Informed of the
scarcity OF recruits the number and relative proportions
of deserters, the ndisposton Of soldiers re-enlst
&C.; all of which results asorbed principal
causes viz first the disparity between the pay of the
soldier and the value Of labor in civil life and secondly
the fact that length of service carries with reward
either in increased pay rank privilege The remedial
proposed increase of the pay of soldiers
and provision for the promotion the lowest grade of
commissioned officers of such Of the non-commissoned
officers of the army may be found qualified for and by
their character and services, entitled to such advance
ment. And, in order to provide for such noncommis
stoned officers are not qualified to become commission
ed officers is recommended that authority be granted
to appoint limited number of for-keepers barrack-
masters be employed at the permanent Notifications
not occupied By troops substitutes for the civil agents
employed by the quartermasters and engineer depart
ments, receiving compensation intermediate between
that Of the highest grade Of noncommissoned and low
est grade Of commissioned officers.
The Secretary then recommends increase in the
rank and file OF the army, by increasing the minimum
organization Of the companies to privaes and
by adding regiment of dragons and regiments Of
riAemen. We quote what he says this point:
respectfully your attention the necessity for
increase Of the army. 1t may be instructive 10 the
consideration of this subject TO refer the strength Of
our military establishment has existed at different
periods and TO the circumstances that controlled its
ganizaton.
In 1908 the legal strength Of the army was 991 which
increased early in the year 1872 for the defence
the Indian frontier" l0353. The war with England
followed after this increase and at its conclusion
the peace establishment fixed at IL, $685. officers
and men, and continued until 1921, when il was re-
duced TO 1926 This organization continued until
1882, when il increased to ,l29 In 1886 it in
creased 1853 and in 1888 to Il, l39 These last ad
dons made during the existence OF Indian HOSTILE
ties the Black Hawk and Florida wars and although
previously recommended with the view OF preventing
them not authorized until their actual occurrence
had demonstrated the wisdom Of the recommendation.
In 1872 at the close Of the Florida war; the army was
reduced to s,6l3 which number, with slight changes,
continued until in the early part of 1885, the regi-
ment Of mounted remen added for the protection Of
the emigration the Oregon route, making the aggre
gate 94lS. At the close OF the with Mexico its
ganizaton fixed at TO- 100 In 1850 il increased
by sliding scale which admitted total strength if all
the companies Of the army posted at remote sta
TONS" Of 1879 Asthey posted the authorized
strength is but which have already been
explained, the actual number is less BY 2, 326 men,
IL will be seen by the above statements that, in Pc
Rod Of foryhye years, the military peace establishment
Of the country has been augmented less than four thou
sand In the period country has increased
in population more than eighteen millions and in terri
tory million Of square miles In 1908 Indian from
tier requiring troops for its protection was less than
thousand miles in extent and there long lines Of
communication requiring defence. Now that frontier
has increased TO than three thousand miles and
communications through the Indian country-traversed
annually BIZ thousands OF citizens, and requiring
constant protection-to than four thousand
miles. Our seaboard and foreign frontier have been
greatly increased and Of the latter two thou
sand FIVE hundred miles Mexican frontier, along
which, besides the duty Of guarding and protecting
inhabitants is the superadded obligation (by
treaty. Of protecting the inhabitants Mexico from the
1 Indians living within limits. BY the annexation of
Texas and the acquisition of New Mexico and California
Indian population has been increased from 240 600
TO than 400 000 very large portion Of whom pre-
datory and warke in their habits the first time
brought into contact with people The result Of this
IS state Of continued disturbance II has been the poll
icy Of Government by grants Of land and presumption
nights TO induce the rapid settlement Of Western
wids This involves the duty Of protection The iut-
mate contact thus produced between the two races the