Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-18
ReDort Of the Secretary Of war.

The authorized strength of the army
is 1857 its actual strength is 1882.
The recruiting service is actively pro-
crossing, and the deficiency will soon be
met. Nearly ten thousand applicants for
enlistment had been refused, on account
of minority or unftness.
The general distribution of the troops
remains for the most part as indicated in
the last annual report.
Efforts are still in progress for the re-
moval of the remnant of the Seminole
tribe from Florida. The troops there
have been actively employed in explor-
ing the country by land and water, and
in opening roads. BY these means much
important information respecting the ter
ritory in possession of the Indians has
been gained, which will greatly facilitate
future operations. All intercourse with
these Indians has been strictly prohibit
ed, and it is believed that they have not
in any instance passed the line of obser-
walton occupied by the troops.
, In the Department of the West, Tex
as, New Mexico, and the Pacific, Indian
hostilities have been of frequent occur
) renee. For the purpose of chastising
the Sioux Indians, implicated in the mas
sacre of detachment of United States
troops in August of last year, a military
i. force was sent into the country inhabited
: by the Sioux, late in the summer, under
the command of Brevet Brigadier Gen
? eral Harvey. On the Sd of September,
: that officer with portion of his COM
l mand, engaged party of the Brule band
r of the Sioux nation, and after a short
conflict completely routed them. The
t papers and property captured, leave no
: doubt that this band was concerned in the
massacre of the detachment above refer
: red to.
In the Departments of Texas, New
Mexico and the Pacific, military expedi-
tons have been sent against the Indians
t guilty Of outrages upon the persons and
property of the frontier inhabitants.
Indian hostilities of much more Sc
rious character than there had been rea-
son to apprehend, have occurred in the
2 Territories of Oregon and Washington.
To meet the emergency, the Governor
has ordered out a mounted volunteer
force of seventeen companies, or about
twelve hundred men.
The unusual extent of the operations
above detailed has necessarily caused
large expenditures, which must exceed
the appropriations made for ordinary
wants of the military service.
The Secretary recommends an in
crease in the compensation of army Off
: GERS, and revision of the laws respect
ing their allowance. He also renews the
recommendation that the provisions of the
act of August 4, 1854, increasing the
pay of the rank and file of the army, be
extended to all enlisted men, some few
of whom are, by the military signifca-
J, ton of the words used in that statute ex-
!: Guided from the benefits that were prob
r ably intended for all who come under
a military obligations by inlistment, and
: commends to consideration the represent
/ alton of the Surgeon General respecting
e the necessity for an Increase of the med
: ical corps.
L The sea coast defences have, during
the past year, been steadily pressed to-
: wards completion to the extent of means
granted by Congress for that purpose
In no part of our military system is the
e exercise of the wise foresight more nee
: essary than in the prosecution of these
: works, and recommend to favorable con.
sideration the remarks of the Chief En-.
:; gineer upon the subject.
: The preparation of the armament fol
d these works is in advance of the con.
: struction.
t The works upon the military roads il
y the territory of Minnesota, has generally
a made satisfactory progress. Those ii
It Utah, Washington, Oregon and New
Mexico, have not been put under con-
n struction. No report has yet been re
a ceived of the completion of the necessa
d ry preliminary surveys.
The survey of the Northwestern lake
o has been prosecuted with similar energy
+; The several parties employed on tn,
l. work, have been almost exclusively en-
e gagged during the past season in Lake
e Michigan and Superior, and the St. Ma
st RVS river. A large area has been sur
l. veyed; more than a thousand buoys hav,
been located to mark dangerous reefs an,
shoals, and materials have been gathere,
for the minute and relieble charts so nee
l. essary to the navigation of those milan,
Is seas