Washington telegraph., 1854-01-11
REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

|
The following is condensed view of the
prominent statements contained in the annu.
al report of Col. JEFF. Davis, Secretary Of
War:
The authorized strength of the United
States army is 1882 men and officers
but the actual strength, according to the
latest returns, is only 1I,417, Of which
number S,37S are employed in the frontier
departments, or are now on their way to
them. 1t is stated, further, that the mea-
sures taken for the protection of our from
tiers have been successful; that the troops
everywhere have been actively and constant
ly employed that Indian depredations have
been comparatively unfrequent, and. except
in California and Oregon have not obtained
more than local Importance
New posts are to be established in the In
dian country west of the Mississippi. in
more favorable positions, to enable the de-
partment to dispense with number of the
smaller and less important posts A great
er force is also to be employed for the pro-
lection of enigrants crossing the plains.
a majority of the cases of Indian depre-
dations in Texas which have come to the
knowledge of the department. have been
by Indians from Mexican territory Mai
Gen. Smith, aided by an experienced Off
Ger OF engineers, is selecting sites for. per-
nanent fortifcations on the Rio Grande-
one of which will be opposite Ell Paso and
another at the Camanche crossing.
1t is the intention of the department
that. as soon as possible, a considerable
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 to effect the remc-
val of the Indians. Coercive measures are
to be used if necessary. Two of the regi-
ments of artillery are to be arranged on the
Canadian frontier and the Atlantic and gulf
coast third on the RIO Grande boundary,
and a fourth ON the Pacific coast. Of the
cavalry regiments one will be required in
Texas, one in New Mexico, and the remain
ing are for the western frontier A fourth
cavalry regiment is asked of Congress by
the Secretary. Three regiments of infant
the frontier west of the Mississippi, one in
the Indian country of the Pacific 1t is the
purpose of the department to post the troops
in large bodies at commanding positions,
instead of dispensing them among numer-
Gus small posts.
In consequence of the difficulty of keep
ing the ranks full, the Secretary proposes
lst an increase of the present pay of the
common soldier ID an additional increase
for each successive period of FIVE wears so
long as he shall remain in the army Sd,
provision for the promotion to the lowest
grades of commissioned officers of such of
the non-commissioned officers of the army as
may be found qualified for and by their
character and services entitled to such ad-
Yancement. HE
Also, that every soldier who, having been
honorably discharged from the service of
the United States, shall within one month
| thereafter re-enlist. shall be entitled to two
dollars per month in addition to the ordina-
ry pay of his grade for the first period 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 be may remain continuous
ly in the army. ~
The Secretary argues elaborately in favor
of the increase of the army, showing the
actual necessity for such measure He
recommends that the minimum organization
of all companies be fixed, as in the mounted
riAemen, at 81 privates, and that there be
added to the present military establishment
one regiment of dragons and two regiments
of rifemen, which may be expanded, if the
4 limit fixed by law of june 7, 1850, be con-
tinued to II ia. and on a war establish
ment, of l2S privates per company. to 81.
| SIS. thus providing for state of war an
/ effective increase of from 10000 to 10000
! men without the creation of new regiments
/ Gen. Scott recommends large increase
! The Secretary recommends. also. that an
other company of sappers and miners be
added to the engineer corps.
With a number of other recommenda-
tions calculated to render the army more ef-
fcient and capable of enduring the hard
/ ships of the active service, the Secretary
proceeds to speak of the necessity of encour-
aging regularity and uniformity in the mill
4 tia ; and in connection with this subject, be
recommends providing the militia with the
proper books for tactical instructions. The
condition of the military academy is favora-
bly, spoken of, and the academic term is, by
the board, recommended to be increased to
five years. -
1 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTE-
RIoR.
L The report of Mr.. McClelland is a long
and interesting document. We give brief
abstract:
During the year the survey of the public
lands has been steadily prosecuted, large
4 bodies of the new lands brought into mar
y ket. the wants of the emrprants fully met,