The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-05
the ARMY or THE UNITED STATES.
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Annual Report Of the Secretary Of War.

Annual Report Of the Secretary Of War.
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War DEPARTMENT, Dec. /, 1866.
sR have the honor 10 submit the following report OF
the operations Of the army for The past year. and TO lay
before you the reports OF the several bureaus Of the War
Department and communications nom other officers Of
the army.
The authorized strength OF the army a. now posted, ID
1884 The actual strength at the date Of the consoida-
ton Of the returns July 1855, was 5562 The mum.
Der Of ensments made during the twelve months ending
september &c. 1865, a44o. The number Of persons
Offering 70 enlist but who refused on account OF
norty and untness for SERVICE 559a. The num-
Der Of casualties the army by Deaths discharges and
assertions during the year ending June 3d. 1885, WAS
090 Of which 3, 223 by desertion.
TIE accompanying tables exhibit the distribution OF the
troops in the several military departments. During tho
past the department. Of the Pacific has been REIN
forced by three companies Of the First dragons and the
Ninth regiment OF Infantry. post has been established
at Tucson New Mexico tor protection Of the valley Of
the Santa Cruz the Of the Indians north Of
tho ella and is at gsrrsoned by four companies
OF the First dragons The regiment OF mounted rtnenen
consequence OF threatened hosies with the Navajo
Indians in New Mexico, ordered in June last to that
departn from Texas Two npanee OF the Sec bod
Dragons and the Second regiment Of infantry occupy
the pos located the Upper Missouri Ut the close OF the
late campaign against the Sioux Indians
An eypedion has been sent TO the northern boundary
OF hsnesota Territory for the purpose or cluir ng Ia
formation respecting that region of country and tho In
dams residing there, upon whom Il supposed the ap
pearance Of body Of troops amoag them would
cise beneficial influence The knowledge thus gaiaed
WI deter mine the most eligible sise for military post IN
that quarer should hereafter be deemed advisable 70
establish one
Tho ipcian difficulties the Western plains have b,en
successfully termnated except those with the Che.
yennes The troops designated and held in readiness
during the past summer for campaign agalns. them II
wa. hoped and believed would not only have reduced
Nee 10 insure ucn OF peace and security u transient
persons all the pans north OF Red river and ses Of
The Missouri as Is compatible with the contr there
Of wandering uncivihz9d tribes.
In Texas though the amount Of militia force nss esen
reduced within The past year. have had reas,a q con
graduate ourselves upon frequert diltnr hia
excited for years past but owing o the IA that
the State OF Texas owns oil the land with the exception
the two small reservations recently made the Iadans Of
that state without permanc home ana the con
troll which be exercised over them under those cir
cumstancss, never be sufficient either 10 give SO
curty tho whites In any material degree to amelo
rate the condition of the Indians Could the frsgmensry
tribes in Texas be removed 70 lands owned by the
United States north Of the Red river, . great re
now required in Texas Tor the maintenance
useless whilst great service would DO adered TO the
development Of the Of that State; and surely
better prospects would be offered tor the Improvement Of
The Indians within the limits Of the department Of New
Mexico have generally observed their treaty spaations
Occasional depredatons have been committed oy them,
but none 10 believed OF serious nature, indicating
any settled hostility on their part
The Indian hostilites existing In Oregon and Washing
ton Territories date OF the last annual report from
this department. which hresteDei TO be OF very form
dabe character have been generally suppressed coon
bination embracing OF the tribes inhs biting those
Territories entered into aud the OF the
whites med 10 be their purT but the military expe
energy and Rave been 50 Tar successful that with
exceptions their hostile dem onstratious have ceased
mo disturbances on Pugets Sound, and In the Rogue
river valley are reported terminated. and II 10 hoped
that the tribes In and about the Wata Walk valley, be
tween whom and the troops collision recently took
place. viii speedily be brought 70 terms.
Military positions have been occupied In Abe country
recently In possession Of the Indians and move
mens Of the troops viii, believed, prevent any out
break OF . general nature hereafter.
Much Information respecting the origin and progress Of
this communicated TO Congress ats last sessio
and published In Senate documents Nos rs and 90, and
House docu nents Nos. 80 and llS.
The vHrioos reports OF subsequent events contain full
infcrm nation respectng the transactions
The possessory rights secured 70 the Hudson Bay and
Pugsts Sound Companies, leave, IN this portion OF our
territory traders and other who possess great inaeaoe
UnKsd ssaass Il VIII be readily perceived mat pre-
oedpg and during heeties such persons cannot be
pecsd 70 pursue any other Orss than ,hss Which would
and therefore that their presence cannot be otherwise
than detrimental TO the control Of the United Sats over
those tribes In this connection may mot be Ina
proprte suggest the propety Of speedily extnguish
Ing such poasessory rights.
lrees TO state that the effort. o. the department have
thus far proved unavang 70 effect INC removal Of the
Semipo Indians rsmaning In tho pecinsula OF Florida,
the home provided for them west Of tho Mlssis-
given repeated evidence Of their hostility and tho depart
ment has made the necessary TO carry
yso'ou: c.mp:n against st. them aSrns The present s0s
other quarters will permit has been concentrated la
Florida for this purpose consisting Of four companies Of
the Ynh rce nent Of infantry, and limited number Of
volunteer mihtia-all under the command OF Bfevet
me expepse ana embarrassment 70 the military verv,oc
resulting from the present policy Of ocaiing posts 10 cd
Of settlements and along euigrant routes across
the continent continues 70 be seriously felt II msat
fest In the large amounts required for nansporsioa
and In the small garrsons found 81 most Of the posts
policy .dop ed % sasserSs the purpsss Of Gves
Circumstance. When from tbs communities originally
established along the Atlantic slope OF the Uaiied a,es
psa Of the Mssssippi valley they found every hand
q fertility which invited 10 agricultural labor, and zach
settlement, ,oon became oducuve o. al the nsoosss,es
pioneer and whilst the Afforded proeoon the labor
Of tho other furnished the supplies required or Sub
sistencs The general fund OF the United statos was In
tmniHed for expenditures 10 support these advanced
military posts by the results which followed from the
no~ passsd Ss m Of eIy sua
military posn inio region where they can never be
surrounded by agricultural producing population.
then the have materially changed 10
call for revision Of the policy which foandsd Npon
different condition OF things and conncctei with results
poi,. .uS mssd BY he War pepsr,msn. within sse
last two years have given sucn general and detailed
OF the character Of the country between the hss
s,ipp river and the Pacific render here
cessay It's further geographical description Those reports
sufficiently chow that with few exceptions, We country
lying between the 100 meridian Of Longitude AMI We
coast range OF mountains overlooking the fAni9c ocean
susceptible Of cultivation without The AID OF arthL
means and that the country can probably never be 90
vered by agricultural settlements. limit has there.
FORE been reached beyond which cultivation has ceased
10 follow In the train OF advancing military posts, aud
the service and support q the military peace establsh
mept " essentially altered. new post established la
the dsser region 10 which have recrret does not be
the nucleus Of settlement from whch, IN short
time. the provisions and forage be drawn, and hs
sxnse for transportation thus reduced 10 the necessary
supply 81 clothing groceries implements and munitions
but all tho heavy articles Of subeisteuoe must be
NJ q remote marhet, and transported 10 suoh rouner
ports Nor 10 this the only difference; Tor 70 this In
rcaed amount Of transportation also 10 DO ADDED TIE
difference between the expense OF tram porting along
ygabe rivers, roads through continuous sette
mtn and that OF passing through desert region wbcrs
no supplies 0si.tapce 10 be obtained
be fount except thosc built BY the United stass
ccbustble structures OF which At oil times ka5e 10
be destroy ed By the nornadc tribes who iuhabi ths
country. witboW enteripg moro mnutey into detail