Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-01-04
Secretary Of War, report.

The annual report of Col Jefferson Davis,
Secretary Of War, is an interesting business
! like document, and makes many important
recommendations, in order 10 give increased
! efficiency TO The branch OF the public seryoe e
| over which he presideS. We annexa brief ab-
Slfaet:
The actual strength of The army is only ten
! thousand seven hundIed aud foTtyfiy The
whole authorized strength is fourteen thousand
two hundred and sixteen. Tue deficiency is
fast decreasing by more rapid enliStments, a
statement: Of the changes msdein the 'llSlrlbu-
tiCn Of the army during the last year is given.
| The removal from Florida Of the remnant Of
| the Seminoles has received the attention o.
the department, but its efforts have not been
very successful. Better fortune is expected
next year, through the instrumentality Of the
new plan ofoperations. The Indian dificui.
ties elsewhere are alluded 10. The mass ere
OF Lieutenant Grafton and men by the Sioux
| is narrated, and the fact stated mat the army
force is quite inadequate to the protection oi
our frontiers, and to punish Indian aggreSSlons
Our entire loss in Indian actions during the
year is four officers and sixty three men kile
| and our office RS and iorty-twO men wounded
The occurrences on the frontier furnishes de-
plorabe proofs Of the insuflciency OF our mil
itaTy force, and the absolute necessity for lis
increase, which was urged by the Secretar,
last year.
Our effective force does not exceed clever
thousand men, which is entirely inadequate
for the purposes for which we maintain {
standing army. lis immediate increase il
Iurged, OF q cost suflicIeD 10 give some degree
Of security to the Indian frontiers, for which
services the regular force is the most efficient
cheap, proper and constitutional means. The
increased pay 10 enlisted men, induced the
enlistment OF ,005 ne in October and Sep
tember last, nyainst 309 men during the cor
responding months last year. The number oi
recruits required lUr The service OF the ensu n.
year will probably not be less than 5000. liz
recommends the use Of cameS and dromedariet
for military purposes again, and asks an ap
! preparation to test their usefulness. An in
creased pay for officers is urged as an act oI
Justice and necessity. Additional Legislation
Is asked 10 place the widows and orphans o
the officers and soldiers of the army on al
equality with the widows and orphanS Of tn,
officers Of the navy.
The necessity of revision of our militar,
Iegislatio4E in some important particulars i
pointed out, in order 10 prevent conflicting
claims in regard to rank and command, which
now give rise 10 much inconvenience ant
trouble. One great source Of difficulty is tht
double rank recognized by our la wS; TO rene
dy this it is proposed TO give effect 10 the bre
vet rank only where the President may Sc,
| fl, and forbid the exercise of brevet commits
Sions in the regiment, troop, or company wher,
officers are mustered. Elaborate suggestions
for reorganization of the s,alf corps are present
ed, and compared with European systems. /
is proposed that there be nine Brgadler Gen
erals; one for each deparim Mt, one for thu
QuartermaSier General, one for AdjUtant Gen
era, and two for Inspectors General; being al
addition OF three TO those who now, by brevet
or otherwise, have rank and command as Brig
adler Generals. Other marked changes il
stalTGppointments rank and duty are proposed
Reforms in the organization Of It tglIaents art
also suggested. The expediency of genera
promotions by seniority, instead Of merit, il
doubted by the Secretary; aud the establish
ment of retired list again urged. Professor
ships of ethics, and Of English studies, at The
military academy, are recommended.
Many other subjects are Treated of at con
siderable length.