The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-09
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Dec. A. 1854.
Sir have the honor submit the following report of
the operations Of the for the past year and lay
fore you the reports of the commanding general and of
the heads of the several bureaus of the War Department
The authorized strength of the army las posted is
l42l6 officers and but the pan yine tables pre-
pared mt the Adutnnt Generals office show that the
date OF the last returns the actual strength only
745. This difference however between the authorized and
actual strength of the army is fast disappearing under the
operation of the law of the 4h of August last
the pay OF the rank and file OF the army and encourage
enstments' thHf .ef. t.H
The general distribution of the army is nearly the same
shown in my last report The important changes
viii be briefly noticed The Sd artillery has been reor-
ganzed since the wreck of the San Francisco and
six companies sent to the Pacific via the sthmus of Pana-
ma Two OF the companies of that regiment and n de-
tachment of recruits fer companies dragons serving
the department of the Pacific have been by the
land route for the Of exercising sautary nhu
euce the Indians Inhabng the country through
which they will pass and holding the tribe i'm
picnied in the of Capt Gunnisons party They
will winter in the Great Salt Lake valley and proceed
their destination in the spring Six companies of the I'd
infantry have been reorganized, and posted in
the department of the West The remaining companies of
that regiment will be sent to the department
their organization is completed The 9th infantry has
been ordered to the department Of the Pacific Six
companies of the regiment concentrated at Jefer-
Barracks preparatory to sailing for the Pacific
by way OF the Isthmus, and two others, which
also under orders for Jefferson Barracks have been sent
Fort Laramie in consequence of the difficulties that recent
ly occurred in that vicinity The remaining companies
at Forts kearney and Laramie will be their
destination next spring by the overland routes if
tnuation of the Indian difficulties in that quarter should
not interfere with this intention. The headquarters and
two companies of the st dragons have been transferred
the department of New Mexico and replaced the de-
parment of the West by four companies of the I'd dra
goons from New Mexico The troops the Indian from
tier of Florida have recently been reinforced by
panes of artillery drawn from the Atlantic coast Some
other changes of minor Importance have also been made
with view OF ehecting greater concentration OF the
troops.
The removal from Florida of the remnant of the Semi
mole tribe who in violation of the treaty, have continued
to occupy the southern part of that State has received the
constant attention of the Department. but from peculiar
circumstances the efforts directed to this object have been
attended with but little 1t s however, believed
that better results may be anticipated the ensuing
The troops have taken line of observation which greatly
contracts the limits of the territory occupied by the In
dans and it s proposed to make expeditions through the
region where they have hitherto remained securely
cealed By opening roads and by the use Of adapted
to the navigation OF the lakes swamps and bayons which
have heretofore enabled them eude pursuit ncnding
small steamer, recommended by the Quartermaster
General the department expects to acquire accurate
knowledge of the country and impress them with the
conviction of their inability escape from resist the
power of the United States Measures have been taken
cut off their trade and to make them feel the great incon
veneoe which will attend attitude Of defiance their
part towards this government BY these means it is hoped
the Indians may be peaceaby removed to the home prov
ded for them west of the Mississippi and the claim of
Florida to be relieved from their presence be speedily
swered Should this hope not be fulfilled the
above referred the proper and the efficient steps
preliminary to active operations for their removal By
force ,-l .s-..-,...-.s .-gs.4.--..a -
In the other military departments the Indians have
peatedly come into collision with troops Depreda
tons upon frontier inhabitants and upon emigrants
passing through the Indian country have been and
STILL of frequent In the department of the
West, besides the depredations committed by smaller
tribes hosities have occurred with the Sioux Indians
the powerful and warlike tribe of the Northwest
In Texas they have been frequent and of threatening
character that it was considered necessary TO authorize
the commander of that department TO call upon the gov
of the State from time to time exgencies might
arise for such volunteer force might be required to repe
Indian ncursons In New Mexico serous hostlities
repressed by the prompt and energetic action Of the troops
employed there but depredaons upon the inhabitants
still OF occasional and in the department OF the
Pacific outrages of the revolving character have
Gently been perpetraed parties of engrants their
way California and Oregon To repress such disorders
the troops have been actively and constantly employed
and in the arduous and harassing duties that have de-
volved them have exhibited galantry, ZEAL and de-
votion that merit the favorable notice Of the government
The details of these operations will be found in the reports
transmitted herewith
During the past year the Sioux Indians have committed
depredatons upon the property of the enigrants
passing Fort Laramie their route to Oregon and Utah
On the 10th of August Lieutenant Grattan, of the sixth
infantry sent by the commander of that post with
thirty men, offender This entire detachment
massacred by the Indians with the exception of one
man. who escaped severely wounded, and subsequently
died The circumstances Of this affair were at hrst in
voved in much obscuy but authentic details have since
proved that the the result of deliberately
formed pan prompted knowledge of the weakness
garrison Fort Laramie and by the temptation to plunde
the large quantity of public and private stores accumulated
this affair between 500 and 1000
regret that it has been in the power of the depart
the troops in sufficient force prevent
and in all punish, these disorders. The circum
of the service have been SUCH and the want OF
troops in all sections of the country great that the
centration would exposed portions of the frontier
Indian hostties without any protection whatever Every
favorable opportunity will be taken to post the troops IN
commanding positions from which they exercise SUI
pervon Of the Indian country and operate to the best
advantage The events of the past year have furnished
many examples of the inefcency of small posts Our en-
loss m the several actions with the Indians during the
year has been four officers and sxyhree killed aud
four officers and forty-two men wounded.
While the occurrences frontier, and In the Indian
territory CRAFTY evidences Of the zeal and devo
of the roops they also furnish deplorabe proofs of
the nsuccncy of military force and the absolute
my last annual report again solicit attention to this
subject and in doing must repeat to some extent what
then urged
For military purposes the territory of the United States
! is divided into five geographical commands
l. The Department of The Eaa embracing all the coun-
try of the Mississippi river. This department has
$500 miles of board 1900 miles of foreign and about
200 miles Of Indian frontier OF the fifty permanent fot
fcatons and barracks the Lake, Atlantic and Gulf
completed nearly and requiring garrl-
protect the posts cities and national establishments
which they only eleven garsoned leaving
the remainder exposed to sudden or unexpeced attack
from any naval power The total force in this department
the date of the last returns only 574 officers and
men, and of this number 500 employed the Indian
frontier of Florida.
q The Department Of he Ucs includes the country be
the Mississippi river and the Rocky mountains ex-
cept the departments of Texas and New Mexico ~ has
seaboard foreign and Indian frontier Of 240o miles 1000
miles Of routes through the Indian country constantly
traversed by emigran their way tab New Mexico,
and possessions the Pacific and an Indian popua-