The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-17
INCREASE AND REORGANIZATION or TIKI ARMY
Military Committee Of the House Of
Representatives.
Examination Of Major General Winfield Scott,
Of the United States Army, on the
Subject Of its Reorganization.
WASHINGTON. January 9, 1854.

WASHINGTON. January Q, 1854.
QuEsHoa ny Mr.. FAULKNER, Chairuan OF the Com
mittee What in your opinion, should be the strength
OF the army OF the United States at this time, in view
our extensive seaboard ad foreign frontier present
and prospective relations with the Indian tribes Of the
West and the protection due to several routes OF
emigration
AsswR-The increase in the strength of the army
as provided for in the NIL submitted By the War De-
Partment nov under consideration by the committee,
deem highly necessary. The bill proposes that there
shall be two additional regiments o. infantry and two
Of cavalry. This IS, consider the minimum force that
is essential to he added TO the army protect the from
tiers sgaint the hostes of Indians the present force
on the frontiers being entirely nadeq uate for that pur
pose In TEXAS the Indian hostitiss have been more
desru sve than at other points, prn paly account
OF the small force stationed in that ntry The troops
are constsDty engaged in encounters with hostile In
dams and the loss of men, When successful is always
the inverse ratio of our ierior numbers Hence the
proposed increase simply in reference to Indian from
tiers seem to be dictated BY considerations both Of
Icy and humanity, in order that adequate protection
may be afforded to border Inhabitants without a
useless sacrifice ofour brave detachments.
The increase proposed OF two reg nents OF infantry
and two Of cavalry organized like the present forces
and by the like and activity would in
my opinion give reasonable protection to frontiers
and overland immigrants
QUESTION nv Mr.. FAULKsER-Is the proposed Increase
essential to the present exgences Of the country with
out any reference to the probabilities OF foreign war;
ASswER-This addition has no reference to war with
any foreign power II such event we're anticipated IL
10 presumed chat ten or fifteen times many regiments
would be called for.
QUESTION BY MR. FAULKNER-How many companies are
there at present the seacoast of the Atlantic and the
ASswER-But twelve-two of which are at Boston;
mono east Of Boston; two at New York; between
Boston and New York; two at Old Point Comfort two
at Charleston; none the Savannah; at Pensacola
one at Key West and none at New Orleans.
QUESTION By Mr.. FAUIKNKR-By the bill before me
the artillery has been reduced two regiments Is it the
idea by this reduction to con6ne that corps duties
the seab0srd?
Asswn-The Secretary Of War, after full confer.
ence, has allowed me humbly to suggest to the sommt
tee (and neither presumes than suggcstion)
that that part OF the bill contemplating reduc
arerv be az 90 ssre our Of t mat
not intended to withdraw any Of the forces from the
frontiers until the latter shall be tranqsied The orr
fonr additional regiments Of infantry. This number it
10 suggested may be reduced to two IL the artillery
QUESTION by Mr.. FAuLKSER-What number of pryates
and non commissioned officers should constitute
pany in regnents
in suggesting the advantages Of sliding scale placing it
at the discretion of the PRECEDENT to increase and dmi
nish the number of prvates in company to any num-
the varying exigences OF the service.
In the cavalry more than sixty four privates to
. company. fit for duty and actually present,
eessary aud it is not to DO presumed that the
President would authorize the Increase Of . company
for unavoidable cases Of absenae This aiding scale
might vary the number Of the rank and file little more
than So per cent.
One diic ulty which this suggestion would obvate is
this:-We can never bring the numbers per company,
<and not those Of the army up to the full
extent IT, Cor instance the Legal complement be ten
pay rolls more than eight thousand Eve hundred If
the legal establishment be limited to twelve thousand
men, ten thousand would probably be our nearest ap
proach, and so on.
Under the Law, we never can recruit up to the maxi
mum, from the fear that we may exceed it. On any
given day the government must always be months be-
hind in it's knowledge OF the deaths and desertions
which have occurred ut all the distant posts
and with detachments of recruits 10 route to
iOiu tleae DOsts. "A cannot
number OF casualties in advance for they vary exceed
iDgy obliged to fall considerably below in order
not to exceed the law by single man. Hence, under
the proposed augmentation and the discretion given
the President the establishment might be set down at
asoyv psvstss yet ,o she s ~ % We
than 1880, AMI present, at for duty, IA, 800.
sliding scale, from "a to 100 prvates 10 company,
has sted since the beginning OF General Tayors ad
mnistrstion. We, army officers, srs fully persuaded
eonay needed and cannot foresse danger Of
from the graut Of the power.
QUESTION ny Mr.. FAuLKSEa-Does the increase OF reg
ments as Proposed make any improper increase in the
ANswR-The bill takes twenty -eigat captains from
jutant Generals department, and eight from the
Subsistence department 1t reduces all tbs captains
and eutensns the ordnance and Typographical corps
which makes it necessary to transfer these officers to
other regiments, which would make increase Of the
personnel, but would merely change designations.
QUETIos ny Mn. FAULKSER--what policy dictates the
corps stately
AsswR-In the army list, under the head Of Quarter
masters Department, twenty-eght captains aud under
the he I'D OF Aduutant Generals Department eight cap
tains and in the Subsistence Department eight other
captains are permanently designated - assistants
Many these Off peculiarly adapted for the du
ties appertanpg to their positions respectively but
few not Those untitled for their present positions
be admirably adapted to other duties ~hllst other Off
belonging to regiments may be Just the persons In
point Of peculiar adaptation, to ill stat positions The
bin therefore by destroying the permaneBcy Of such
l-..- - he -tAtA
for selections and nterchangss according to the deve
lopement Of peculiar talents and accomplishments
These changes Of officers meet generally with the APP
probation OF the army. There many typographical
engineers who would under the bill be transferred to
the corps OF engineers and these IL is presumed would
be content whilst there captains and lieuenants Of
ordnance well of typographical engineers, who
would dislike very much transfer 10 the artillery or in
faniry. Some would abhor II. do not however, par
tculary blame them for accidental preferences but
reform be effected without offending interests
well prejrdices. do admit that transfer, In
any case eoaa % esea snce hs !. 4.
but the corps OF engineer rhe for creating the
typographical corps was we wanted additional officers
for surveys, for river and harbor improvements NO
which they have been employed with great
benefit TO the country. The engineers proper were
then all employed the OF permanent for
tifcatons Now, the engineers proper, like the topo
graphical engineers alike employed these civil
works There Is. then, 40 necessity for two corps.
do not think there 10 any particular hardship in trans
ferrDg captains and heutenans from branch OF the
service into another, according 70 adaptation All corps
IN the alike respectable. Juniors oil the artl
Iery may among themselves imagine that the artillery
Is respectable than the infantry for example, or
Tire ordnance oicers that they better than their
bro theirs OF the artillery &C but seniors always paren
tally rebutc all disparsgemsrts Of corps and arms Of
service Hence we say all are alike useful respectable,
and honorable and that there no violation Of hoaor or
right in transfers called for by the good Of the service
Some staff officers may be AFRAID they may be sent 20
distant ard posts heuce they dislike the
templscd reorgazation. The power should
exist TO send any Officer snyw here required by the good
Of the service We should have the OF selecting
the who best qualified for particular duties from
the whole army All power DOUBT is liable 10 abuse
and this power little any. This grounds small
for appreherdng mischief The army, generally, will
be glad of the change, and hope II may be made.
QUESTION ny Mn. FAuLKSKR.-wty DO you propose TO
conne the details for ordnance officers TO the artillery
AsswR-At West Point the graduates who have the
highest d tnction generally pa ed 10 the engineers,
the next In the ordnance the next in the Geographical
engineers snd the next In the artillery. None but high