Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-01-17
ABSTRACTS OF OFFICIAL REPORTS
Report Of the Secretary ofWar.

1867. The recruiting service is progress
ING satisfactorily, and it is believed that in
few months the disparity will be over
come. Enlistments to the number of lO,-
$40 were made during the year ending
Sept. 80, but this was not the whole num-
Der who desired to win glory, fighting I'M
der the banner of Uncle Sam--for there
were upwards of 10000 persons who offer
ed to enlist, and were refused in conse-
quence of minority and general untitness
| for service. Casualties amounted to s.
500.
1t Is lamentcd, as a growing evil, that
applications for the discharge of minors are
subject the government to serious bill of
expense. The Secretary recommends that
the contract should be made binding in
every case where deception has been en-
ployed and a modification of the existing
law is called for.
The troops retain the same general dis
trlbution; four additional regiments have
been organized. The cavalry companies
which were sent against the Sioux have
gone into winter quarters at Fort Leaven-
worth, and will be in position for operations
in the spring. The 9th infantry checks the
Indians on the Oregon route.
All intercourse with the Florida Semi
noles has been strictly prohibited. Efforts
are in progress for their removal from the
Florida country. The troops have explor-
ed the region, have opened roads, and have
respecting the territory now in possession
of the Indians, so that future operations
will be greatly facilitated, The propriety
of levying volunteer reinforcements in the
Pacific Department, for the purpose Of
chastising the savages on that coast, is a
question which the Secretary declines 10
decide, preferring to leave it to the militia
ry commander in the Department. The
gallantry of the troops in the Indian cam
paigns of the year is spoken of in terms of
high praise but the unusual extent of oper-
ations has caused large expenditures, which
have exceeded the appropriations.
In order to preserve the efficiency of
the army, several measures are suggested
viz:
/. 1t is essential that here be a revision
of the laws regulating rank and command.
The right of command should follow rank
by one certain rule: officers holding gener-
III commissions should not be placed at once
upon the staff, bu. have opportunity to ac
quirc practical military knowledge; troops
equipped for the same service should not
be divided, nor should foot be subdiyided
into artillery and infantry, or mounted men
into Dragons and cavalry.
9. Officers no longer capable of perform
ing active duty should be retired from the
sery ce, but the rates of compensation
should be increased and the laws respect
ing allowance undergo revision.
3. The provisions of the act Of August
4, 1854, increasing pay of rank and file,
should be extended to all enlisted men.
H. An increase of the Medical Corps is
recommended.
8. Five more military storekeepcrs are
needed iii the Quartcrmaster Generals De-
partment.
s. The prohibition of the purchase of
lands for military posts causes cmbarrass-
ment, and should be removed. Useless sites
require to be sold.
The Secretary enlarges upon these points,
and presses them earnestly. \ consider
able proportion of them are his recommen-
datons of last year.
The an;icipations entertained, at the
time of the establishment of the Military
1sylun, have not been fulfilled. The aver
age cost of maintaining each inmate is $500
1t is too much and a reduction is necessa-
ry. The number of men received in four
years is 287; cost, so far, 1871 ,497. The
new buildings near Washington will accom-
modate $50 men. The branch of the Asy-
lum at East Pascagoula, Miss, is discon-
tinued, and similar action is recommended
i'll reference to the branch at Harrodsburg
The camels and dromedaries which were
ordered from the East will arrive in Februa-
nv. These animals have been found use
full in the Crimea, and will be employed in
military service here.
A new Professorship of Ethics, and sun
dry other Improvements at West Point,
are recommended.
Proper attention to the coast defenccs is
very important, particularly the fortifca
ton of Ship Island, as connected with the
defence of the approaches to New Orleans,
and the command of the inner channel of
communication between the Mississippi
River and Mobile Harbor. The entrance
Of the Columbia River should also be forti
fled. Appropriations are asked for the
erection of arsenals in Texas, New Mexico,
and on the North Pacific coast. New mod