The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-09
SECRETARY oF WARS REPORT.

SECRETARY OF WARS REPORT.
In publishing to-day the Secretary OF Wars report we
should feel as if had not fully discharged our duty as
pubc journalist IL failed TO invite IA urgent terms
h earliest attention Of Congress TO its important recon-
sndations The necessity of prompt compliance with the
reasonable suggestions of this carefully and ably
written report are so srikngy and eonvncngy set forth
bt II would be useless to attempt to strengthen them by
any arguments which might bring to their support
Tho observations and recommendations of the Secretary,
bd as they upon years of experience in the frontier
..ree of the army and long familiarity with the hard
h and pe Of border life entitled to peculiar weight
and consideration.
We have repeatedly responded to the voice that has
come from our western and southwestern frontiers for iede
cal protecon The borders during the past
wear and the waste of life and property TO our few troops
Al their enceess posts and TO the emgrants ON our long
nnrotece lines of travel have already aroused the pub
lie mind to the necessity of increase of the army With
he facts and the report of Secretary Davis before Con-
ess we confidently indulge the hope that further delay
will not occur in the consideration of the pressing necessi
ties of the army and the unguarded lines of frontier travel
The life of the ronterman of unceasing toll hardship
and per that of the skeleton army standing between the
emgran and their savage foe is equally hard ana not
less exposed danger The soldiers toll never ends their
tasks and wachng do with the day but the night
Guard and the sentinel follow the daily round of labor OF
these accomplishing No class Of citizens renders to
the country and mankind disnteested and response
BILE service than the frontier who brush away the him
ORANGES TO civilization and the skeleton army whose posts
are beyond the bounds of society and whose daily fare is
exposure to hardship and privaton and yet too often
their services are thankessly considered and grudgmgy
and parsimonousy paid
According the report the actual strength Of the army is
only ten thousand hundred and oryfve The whole
authorized strength fourteen thousand two hundred and
sixteen The deficiency is fast decreasing by more rapid
enlstments statement of the changes made in the dis
ribution of the army during the last year is given
The removal from Florida of the remnant of the Semi
nOes has received the attention of the department but its
efforts have not been very successful Better fortune
peced year through the nsrumentality Of the
plan of operations The Indian difficulties elsewhere are
alluded to- The of Lieutenant Grafton and
by the Sioux is narrated and the fact stated that the army
force is quite inadequate to the protection of frontiers
and TO punish Indian aggressions Our entire loss in In
dian actions during the year four officers and
men killed and four officers and orty-two men wounded
The the frontier furnish deplorable proofs
Of the nsuciency of military force and of the abso
lutte necessity for its increase which urged by the Sec
rotary last year.
The necessity of revision of military legislation
important particulars is pointed out order pre-
vent conflicting claims in regard to rank and command
which give rise to much inconvenience and trouble
One great of difficulty is the double rank recognised
by laws To remedy this it is proposed to give effect
brevet rank only when the President may fit and
forbid the exercise of bevet commissions in the regiment
crate suggestions for reorganization Of the staff corps
presented and compared with European systems. 1t is
proposed that there be nine brgader generals for
each department. for the Quartemastcr General for
the Aduant General and two for the Inspectors General
being addition of three those who now by brevet or
Other marked changes in staff appointments rank and
duty, proposed.
Reforms in the organization of regiments are also sug-
ged The expedicncy of general promotion by senior
y instead of merit is doubted by the Secretary and the
establishment of retired lis, again urged Professor
ships ethics and of English studies the Military Acad
envy recommended.
AT some future time may consider in their order and
in DETAIL the various propositions and recommendations
mbodied in this report At present have not the
space do than express convictions that the
weconsidered suggestions of Secretary Davis will re-
Ceive the approval of Congress
THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT..