The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-16
The Army, tho Necessity OF an Inerease of
Fay, and Retired List.


The Army, tho Necessity OF Increase of
Fay, and a Retired List.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
very erroneous and unjust impressions have been
entertained by many Of the people of the United States In
reference to the present condition and efficiency
Lite army, And - cur eizsas generally have but little
IDEA CT the life OF soldier upon Western frontier IL
Las occurred to me that few remarks upon this subsss
mig not De out Of place at period when bills are before
Congress- for improving the condition this branah Of
our national defence.
without spunerAting all the CAUSES which have given
rise to the impressions have alluded to- may Dor.
haps, be permitted to mention one which regard a.
having more effect than all others.
lS found in the fact that csrtan persons have (or
reasons beat known to tnemssges disseminate
s.a,smtIn ia regard to the army which wholly ct
variance with well established facts
For instance they have said thai the :srs OF the
army Of idle and dissoluts habits who spend
their line about the Cities receiving large salaries with
out rendering equivalent service in return that they
arc Injurious droues who only 10 dsplste the
natit nal sasury-in word that the country would BE-
pncn better without an army than with it.
Sach Sta sHepts ~ These, whether induced by MALICE
Ignorance tcal motives, most ust; and II
has bssn matter Of astoshment to tina. ,ms oosr
place the subject before ,hs pu bic in its true rht Tbe
may perhaps think that such TO thsm) 70 pAbs mis-
satemerts require no notice, bat of entirely DIFF
fsrspt opinion; asd OF she OF this uuui
ostion will b. 10 show that there class Of our people
Who labor more are subject to hsrdships, prva
toD vcisstudes OF climate anc NOR tatv
nor any csss that II poorly esmpsnsAted for their
services as the sfcsa and enlisted men in the army.
VA, 81 .ms.nno H ~ .sn qosns ufsn me
Of Indian territory to such degree that many more
troops are required % defend It than before
gary, particularly IS the propsnaty Of Western 70
sstsle TO ths possible and thereby
invite d.prsdaucns and attacks from the IndAn;,
thee people that troops should Be- posted il the
,ldlan country. i psrs.csly well known to me.
wouia utterly possible 70 extend the area Of civ.
aop IN The direction Of those formidable And hostile
we.tsrs and Nav Mexico and tn, sisrras Of OAor
sa The Indians there have for many yssrs prsvioas
tos advent Of orr troops oDg them, in
They have been lords Of the SOIL and they upon oa
peoph - ntrudsrs, vhs are destined to CONG then
ase ultimately drive them from their hunting group
and homes. This naturally sngsnders teslrs Of bit
Ter haared towards the whites, and creates mo.t i'm
Other ouiras.s which have been psrperssd within the
| lat few years clearly svincs
This can up.n the government for troops to
proot ur frontier settlers hes made II necessary
nearly ths whols army into the Indian country, far
yond the limits Of civilization, AID in INST eases
can be imagined, whsrs the u.produo dvsssss Of
The soil and the droughts Of summer prsoluis
soa p.s OF .v.y a.sepoa which III e s..s.
sary to sustain life and health have to BE- transported
hundrsds OF miles 10 wagons, ~ expense, In in
stspces equivalent to several times the original cost
ibis results in ysry severe tax upos the oesrs esps
ciay those with families Who under the rigid sxsr
siss OF economy, have great difficulty In oonaAog
expenses within the limits Of their pay At many Of the
posts where the troops stationed there very
sr.s, scarcity Of SuitDg material particularly timber,
quatsrs ano the exposure TO which tbs troops sub
cted in cossequepos of this results 10 nling
b apparent by glance At the Hts Of casualties In tAs
army for the hast three years II will be that
o.nd any locsy IN the United States, not
New orieen tn The rAvases producsi BY the terrible
Mary Of the troops have been in tents almost CON.
can war; Others. posed in the Iadi.n country,
established BY former administration, they have Ssss
1e e. .ss nails ssSh asa
rss - windows, floors, 30, could not be Afforded By
few quarters when tn. troops have BEEN enabled
TO build in the intervals OF thsir arduous military duties
are nsesssarily with such limited placed
at their disposal OF the most inferior description and
such most In civissd country would actually be
ashamed to keep their horses in.
Perhaps eescripuon Of ofthsss military establish
meats which win serve - specimsn OF many others,
will conway correct idea OF the true situstoA OF
the troops in garrison 1han anything else that could BE-
sAid.
Five companies OF infantry oreersd to establish
military post In the western part Of Texas during the
summer mo nths Of 1882 At time whom the thsrmoms.
TER ranged at for maAy days from l03 to liz segess
In the shade The spot selected far beyond set
tsusDts 1.-TWO hundred miles from the Last house ia
the nidst Of drsary ndy desert prairie whore nothing
could be seen for miles around to relieve the dead
tony Of the prospect.
Here the troops were ordered 70 pitch their tents and
prepare TO erect permanent barracks
esreful reconnoi'Anoe Of he surrounding country
o-uld he obtained thirty miles distant This vas Of
such inferior quality that vas impossible TO get sticks
greater length than ten feet and these crooked
AND Only about six inchss Ia diameter. All the
wAssr In the vciEy wn brAckish, and that for the
Of the garrison had to be Transported four lilies,
through an atmcephers heated to the temperature that
have mentioned and 1t may be imagined that 1t
from being cold pslatAbs Its arrival at the snoAmp
msnt
The coustry around infested ny hostile bands Of
Camanches Who only wanted opportunity 70 commit
ouirsSs which thsy did up, erAi different occasions
Notwithstanding ell these difcutss the efcsrs and
vent 70 work with the most ind ,itabe p.rssvsr
ascs and industry In procuring poles, (sor they
these s.Is COVERED with tSsteh.a roof Of Sras
and door made OF email piles covered With old barrel
',Av (as bsards vsrs on, Of the susson) hung upon
| wooden hinges, completed the structure.
Esmtsr Of these alta cosstitu ted the barracks and
the troops considered themselves very fotuaats In
having this shsltsr from the bleak norhsr and the
During the progress Of this work the men subsiss.d
almost exclusively upon animal food which caused the
ssurvy to make Its appearance among them but no anti
soorbu,cs could be had, as under the same system O:
nomy bsfore alluded TO- order had been pro
hitting the gatuious issue OF these uries troops
even when recommended BY the surgeons ~ essential 10
the Preservation OF their bealh and the poor soldier
sh opHksu W TOT MS mediofns by submitting TO
corresponding deduction from the amount OF his rstions
vhsh At bstt not su Client for that labors ha 3D.
Our indian frontier 10 OF such vast sltent and dsprs
daosS upon citizens OF such frequent urrsnes
HAT eHsenoes are continually arising which demand
shanses in the position Of the troops This subjects
the cfi~rs TO great expense, and the men
TO continued repetition Of all the labor
pos ore and privatons, that have been mentioned.
Officers With families at these dtant stations undsr
III. necessity OF paying exobitsnt prices for the fe~
uses OF furniture that indispensable, and II often
happen. that As soon as thsy get few domestic cOmors