Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1856-01-15
war Departnent
sEckErARY DAVIS iEpoRr.

I've Nciuui bttcTRtu " we hIUy - iO,
I 725 officers end men. The authorized force
is 1857. The recruiting service is pro.
crossing satisfactorily. and II is believed thai
In few monihs lhe disparity will be over
come Enlisimen,s 10 The number OF TO-.
$40 were made during Tho year ending
Sept 80. but this was not the whole number
who desired 10 win glory, fighting under ,he
banner Of Uncle Sam--f,r there were up.
wards OF 10000 persons offered 10 enlist.
and were refused in consequence OF minori.
" and general un6,ness for servicg. Gas.
uaiies amounted 10 $500. II G|
ltis lamenlsd as growing evil, that ap.
plica,ion. for The disch arge OF minors are 30
frequent; the infants who are released sub.
jecl the Government 70 serious bill Of ex-
pense. The Secretary recommends tha.
The contract should be made binding in ev.
cry case where deception has been employ.
ed, and modification Of The existing law Is
called for. -
The lroops retain the same general dis.
|posiiioh; four additional regiments have
been organized. The Cavalry companies
which were sen, aEains, the Sioux have
gone into Winter qunriers al Fon Lsaven.
worth. and will be in position for operations
in tho Spring. The 9Th Ininnlry checks
The Indians on The Oregon route.
All intercourse with The Florida Semin.
oles has been strictly prohibited. Efforts
are in progress for ,heir removal from the
!. Florida country. The troops have explored
!, = the region, have opened roads, and have ur-
rived a, sources oi accurate Information re-
specnng the territory now in possession o
the Indians, no thai future operations will bc
: greatly facili.a,ed. The proprieiy Of levy.
Ing volunteer Veinforcemen,s in the Pacific
. Department. for Tho purpose OF chus,isine
: tho aavages on tha, coast. 10 q question
: which the Secretary declines 10 decide
preferring 10 leave j, 10 the military com
mander OF The Department. Tic igalIan,r,
Of the troops In The Indian campaigns o
The year is spoken Of in Terms oi higl
praise; bu, the usual extent Of operations
has caused large Expenditures, which have
y exceeded ahe appropriations. iH# 8l
Z In order 10 preserve ihs efficiency Of Ih'
ARMY, several measures are suggested, viz
l. |. lis essential iba, there be revision
OF The laws regulating rank aud command
" The right of command should follow Tanl
:, by ono cerlain rule; officers holding genera
commissions should no, be placed at ono,
e upon the s,pff, bu. have opportunity TO nc
, luire practical military knowledge; troop
equipped for ,he same service should be di
yiied, nor should foot BIS subdiyided into ar
iiIury and infantry. or muun.ed men int
> ldragoons and cavulry.speU esln t...sa
g.. Offiec,s no longer capable Of per
ID forming active dWy should be retired fron
"a ,he service, but the rates Of cornpensa.io
!. should be incrcnsed., and The laws respec,
; ing allowances undergo revision. +,
II 8. The provisions OF the Act OF Aul
a 4. 1854, increasing pay Of rank and fiIt
81 ould be extended TO nli enlisted men.
=. 4. Al increase Of the Medical Corps
4. recommended. .@9 ~ 4lag
,s s. Five more siorekeepers are needle
Or in the Quar,eimasiers. Generals derarimen
>. 6. The prohibition Of toe purchase {
unds for military posts causes emburras'
10 men,, and should be removed. Usels.
a. military sites require 10 be sold.
n. The Secretary enlarges upon these point
n. and presses Them earnestly. A consider,
q, ble proportion of them are his iecomme,
m da,iony of las, yenr. The anlicipa,ions e,
10 iertoinec, Of ,be establishment Of iha Nj
,w iisry ASYLUM. are not fulfilled. The ave
s. age cos, of maintaining ench inmate
of $500. Il is too muc'i. and q reduction
n, cessary. The number 81 men receives
10 in four years. is 287; cost, 80 FAR, 1871 40
lv The new buildings near Washington wi
m m accommodate 150 men. The branch Of II
- Asylum al East Pascsgoula, Miss. is di
-. coniinuet, and similar action Is recommet
80 ded in reference TO The branch al harrod
Of hurg.
ho The camCls and dromedaries which VIZ
jyl ordered from The East will arrive in Febr
- arv. These animals have been found Us
N, lul In the CriTca. and will be employed
nm military service here.
M m A new Professo,ship of Ethics. Aand AZ
II. dry other Improvements a, Wes. Poiu, a
n. recommended. et
ri Proper atisn,ion 10 The coast defence
IN very important, particularly the lOuiica,i'
Il Of Ship Island. rs connected with the
bs fence Of the- approaches 10 New O.leun
a. and the command Of the inner channel
bc communication bd,ween the Mississippi riv
and Mobile Harbor. Tbs enWunce of II
4. Columbia river should also be fortified. A
preparations are asked for the erection
N. arsenals in Texas, New M,xco and Il
a. Norh Pacific Ccnst New models for
,uy small arms have been adopted, embrace,
,.s The late Improvements. A new pistol, wi
fnr increased length Of barrel. and capable
is instantaneous change ih,o catbine. is pa
,icularly noticed we it
vs The work upon the Military Roads Ii
Of made satisfactory progress. The survey
No The nor,h western hikes has besn prosecul
: with energy. The snag boats on ihe We
ho ern rivers have been sold. Qa 80.
hs The Pacific Railroad Expeditions ha
~. y" been successfully compIeled, ltis decid
2 that the most practicable md economic
il. route is lhut q! The SO Q parallel, II
- Colorado Dsser, Is mol unsuscep,ible Of CT
" ,ure. The Secretary is quite favorable
-, this route, selling fouh lis advantages
on glariug colors. The prncIicabilily OF sin
ya ing Arlesian wells along The roule wus leslie
~ The conltibDiiOns 70 physical, science incl