The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-09

eagoua Mississippi has been already discontinued, ant
the deemed desirable with regard TO aa
az Harrodsburgh, Kentucky This branch was founded q
heavy charge upon the Asylum fund and Is maintained
at expense much exceeding the advantages conferred
upon the disabled soldier but it established Ia con
sequence OF the provisions OF law contained In the
appropriation acts Of August 81 1854 section 49, aud Of
March 1853 section IA, the proprety VI deelaraio
4 legislation in the case is suggested
would again call attention to the propriey OF addi
onal legislation which shall place the widows and
phars Of the officers and soldiers Of the army equa
~ with those Of the officers and sailors of the navy
also again invite attention to the necessity of legs
tive provision for the prompt settlement of the
counts OF disbnrsing officers by ntrustng single
counting officer audit OF the whole instead OF requiring
discussing officers TO render accounts to two Auditors
at present The confusion and embarrassment
quent upon the division OF duties involving injurious de-
lays IN ns settlement have heretofore been brought TO
the attentoe Of Congress and it is hoped that the evils
represented will not be suffered to exist much longer
Under the appropriation made at the las session. for the
importation OF eames officer Of the army and oi
the navy have been directed to proceed to the East to obtain
animals of the different breeds most likely be useful in
climate BY the kindness Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
soreshp destined for the Mediterranean with naval sup
plies placed at the disposal of this department. TO
bring in return cargo OF cameis and dromedares and
from the last report received from the officer charged with
the execution Of the commissions it is expected that
many OF these animals the vessel will transport will be
shipped for the United States in February next Recent
inquiries respecting the Of these animals in the Crmea
confirm in the belief that they will be found highly
1 valuable Ia the military service in country.
/ For detailed information respecting the Military Acade-
L
4 Board Of Vsers, herewith transmitted, which exhibit a
satisfactory view of the condition Of that Institution
concur IN the Of the former for the esab-
ishmen o new proiessorshp in order that the chaplain
be relieved OF the duties OF professor OF ethics and
English studies for the appointment of instructor Of
cavalry and for the allowance of ghtartllery pay TO
! the instructor of artillery.
The of March 6 1902 requires that the Corps Of En-
gneers be stationed at West Point and constitute the Mill
tay Academy and that the Principal Engineer and In his
absence the next in rank shall supennd the said Acade
my By this act the cadets made part of the corps
and the whole number Of officers and cadets limited to
twenty Under Subsequent legislation the number Of cadets
has been increased nearly thirtyiold and owing TO this
extension of the Academy and to the demand for the
vices Of engineers in the field aud permanen, works
the affairs OF the Academy mainly administered by pro-
issors holding military commissions and officers detail
ed from the army generally Thus the post has long ceased
TO be exclusively engineer station originally contem
plated and the Chief Engineer himself under the act esab
fishing Engineer Bureau in this department. has been
stationed at Washington. therefore, recommend such
revision OF the act in question will render its provisions
consistent with the changes introduced by subsequent eg
lation and the necessities of the service.
The desnces have during the past year been
steadily pressed towards completion the extent Of the
granted by Congress for that purpose In part
of our military system is the exercise of wise foresight
necessary than in the prosecution of these works and
recommend to favorable consideration the remarks Of the
Chief Engineer upon this subject
The preparation Of the armament for thcse works is in
advance OF the construction.
The recommendation heretofore made for appropria-
ton the fertilization of Ship island s
newed. The importarlce Of this work connected with
/
command OF the inner channel Of communication between
the Mississippi river and Mobile harbor has been aug
mened both by the increased value Of that navigation IN
time OF peace aud by the introduction of ghtdAught
steamers which would render this approach still more
available for the operations of enemy than when n
| 1914 il selected as the line of hostile descent.
The physical geography Of the vast region drained by
The Columbia river indicates that at day great city
arise at the point which shall become its commercial
cntrepot Attention has been heretofore called to the
cessity OF ordfyng the the Columbia river
and would again commend 1t to attention and favorable
consideration
For information regard the operations Of the Ord
Department refer 10 the accompanying report of
the Colonel of Ordnance taking occasion to the
concentrations have heretofore made for appropriation
Tor arsenas In Texas and New Mexico aud the north
Pacific in Oregon Washington Territory may be
found most advisable also for national armory for the
fabrication Of cannon aud proectes Ny views IN regard
TO the eIpcdiency OF these heretofore given
main unchanged the then advanced in support OF
the recommendations remain in full force and referred
TO instead of being repeated here.
At the national armores the manufacture OF smooth
bored has been brought 10 close New models for
all smalarms have been adopted upon the rifle principle
aud embracing the improvements described in my last
port and il Is expected that the armorcs will be at work
upon the new before the close of the year
10 the mean time, the improved ammunition, TO which
mainly 10 due the increased range recently obtained by
smal-arms has been issued to troops bearing grooved
arms and s in actual service has fully realized all the
advantages that anticipated.
Among the models for smal-arms Is pistol Of in
creased length Of barrel furnished with attachment TO
the stock which may be instantly applied and which con
actual service the experiments made indicate no
difference will be needed between the and equipments
Of dragons and those of light cavalry but the whole
armed with this weapon will be rendered In ceoriy OF
movement equal 10 t cavalry and in combat efficient
heavy Dragons IL Is thought that this will be
found also well adapted TO the of sappers and miners
OF working In the trenches and Of lghtartilierymen
Under provisions made last year for the purchase Of
breoch-loading rifles many samples Of this weapon have
been examined and number OF various patterns purchased
aud placed in the hands Of troops for trial In the held u
Is deemed Indispensable subject them TO this test before
adopting any a standard weapon.
The distribution Of to the militia Of the several
States the year has been made according rep
reenaon in Congress prescribed by the 9TH section OF
the army appropriation act approved March 3, 1888 In
fixing the quota the District OF Columbia and the Terri
tories which by the act left 10 the discretion OF the Ex-
ecutiye determined that the District and the Terri
tories should receive tho quota Of States having the least
representation Ia Congress That provision OF the act
which required this department TO equaze far prsc
ticab the number Of distributed to the States
executed by issuing fro the United States srsepas TO
each State aud Territory which had received less than
1000 stand many would bring their supply up
10 that number.
Arrangements have been made 10 convert arms OF the
old model Issued to the States when desired by them, into
rned arms OF the new model with percussion lock and
primer attached the expense Of the alteration 10 be
charged 10 the States and deducted from their several
quotas Of the appropriation for the annual supply OF
Under the appropriation made at the last session ed
ton Of cavalry aud light infantry tactics have been pro-
cured for the militia and 10 Of distribution
AT the last session OF Congress act passed direct
ing the Secretary Of War TO be constructed
site TO be selected by the President of the United States
suitable building for the and preservation of the ord
nance and arms and accouremen Of the volunteers and