The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-03

Annual Report or the Secretary OF VI

wAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON Dc. g. 1885,
Sn-I have the honor 10 submit the following report
q the operations Of the army for the past year
lay before you the reports Of the heads Of the
81 the War Department and communications from
ether officers Of the army.
The authorized strength of the army (as posted)
Is IT. 867 ocers and men but the accompanying tables
prepared in the Adjutant Generals oece show that
the date of the latest the actual strength was
1576a The recruiting service is progressing salts
fActory however, and it Is believed that in few months
the disparity between the authorized and actual strength
OF the army q 115) viii be nearly Ths
Der OF enllstments made during the twelve months end
ing September 80, 1o,5a5. The number of persons
Offering TO enlist, and who refused account of
minority unftness for service, 20 522 The
Der of casualties in ths army by deaths discharges and
desertioas during the period $500. The very
numerous applications for the discharge of minors-so
many OF which have succeeded within the past year
renders it that steps should taken
check the growing evil and the serious expense which
the government is thereby subjected The regulations
sufficiently stringent the subject of the enlistment
Of minors but recruiting officers frequently deceived
by the appearance Ct the recruit and the false
sensations respecting his true age In where de
captions Of this character have been praced the
tiact should be considered binding or the recruit.
should be required .. the time of snlisting swear
that he is either Of full age or, being minor that
he has neither parent guardian. modification to
this extent of the existing law respecting the discharge OF
minors 10Th section OF the act Of Sept 2 1850 would it
ia believed, Lessen the mposions which prac-
tsed and protect the from nconsiderabe
less.
The general dis tributon of the troops the
most part indicated in the last annual report Among
the changes of most importance the following The
four additional regiments authorized BY the act of March
g. 1856, have been recruited and organized Seven
psnes OF the LIST Cavalry have recently returned from
expedition into the Sioux country and the regiment will
winter at Fort LAavenworth, where ii will be in position
for Interior operations in the spring The ID Cavalry
has been sent to the Department of Texas replaces the
companies of the ID Dragons transferred to the De-
par tment Of the West
The 9th infantry frifemen) designed for service
the Department of the Pacific has been embodied
Monroe, and held under instruction preparatory TO
campaign which 1t was proposed 1t should undertake as
soon - the season would permit through the Indians
the head waters OF the Missouri and tributaries OF the
Columbia river, from which exhibition of power
auence ever them would result But in &C ,ordance with
the necessity communicated by letter from Gen. Wool,
ding the Department of the Pacific dated Novem
Der and this day receives the War Department that
aiment will be diverted from the proposed campaign
delay by way of the sthmus to reinforce the command
engaged in the suppression of Indian hostes in Oregon
The 10th Infantry, (raemen With the exception Of
ordered TO the military stations the Upper Mississippi
portion of this regiment when the admits will
be employ to establish post the Red river Of the
North the northern boundary OF Minnesota, agree
able to act passed at the last session OF ngres
sppropriang 5000, sum altogether Inadequate for
taken post at Fort Pierre the upper Missouri Con
tnued Indian difficulties on the Oregon route have rem
dsred IL retain in the Department OF the
Yves. the 9th Infantry which regiment 1t Was contem
plated to send to the Pacific coast
nant of The Seminole tribe from Florida. The troops
there have been kept actively employed in exploring he
these means much important respec ing the
territory in possession OF the Indians has been gained
which VIII greatly facilitate future operations. All in
tercourss with Indians has been strictly prohibited
and it is believed that they have not in instance
passed the line of observation Occupied BY the troops
In the Department of the West, Texas, Nex Mexico,
And the Pacific Indian hosiles have been Of frequent
For the purpose Of chassng the Sioux In
dians implicated In the massacre of detachment OF
United States roops August Of las. year, and pro-
tect from Indian incursons he Western frontiers OF Ne
brasks and Kansas and ant routes leading the
Missouri river to the West military force was mt into
the try inhabited by the Sioux late in the summer
under the command Of Brevet Brigader General Harvey
On the I'd of September that officer with portion OF his
command, engaged party Of the Bru'e band of the
Sioux nation and after short conflict completely routed
Der t.lea prisoners The papers and property csptured
leave doubt that this band ncerned in the
. "a. sne aoose wen s
grants, end in the robbery Of the public mail.
In the Departments of Texas, New Mexico and the Pa
cifc military expeditions have been sent against the In
dams guilty outrsges upon the persons and property
of the frontier bitants within tn
secti Of the country and in several summary
ofcoopg t,ibes
The details Of these opera ms viii be found 10 The pa
The ms steamcr just arrived At New York has brough.
advces from the Department Of the Pacific to
bth by which regret TO learn that Indian hostities of
q much character than the difficulties in
that department referred to above than from the off,
cia reports eviousy received there had been to
sppreheod have occurred in the Territories of and
The letter of the Governor OF the Territory
Pacific of October "a Of which copies with sub
mitted nsh the only official Information the subject
in the ession of this Department. 1t will be per-
ceived tbat to meet the emergency the Governor has
or6e red out . mounted volunteer force of seventeen
companies, or about twelve hundred men.
The Department, at this distance and in the absence
OF definite information, especially in regard to
the extent Of the combination among the hostile tribes
csnno. Judge what volunteer to the regu
lar trov ps may be necessary. This is matter which
must be lett to the military Ter in the
Department t he Pacific who has repaired to the theatre
Of hosties. His presence there will obya,e the dfi
cuties which might otherwise arise the subject Of
rank ami command between officers of the volunteers aud
regular forces The slacrity with which the volunteers
have responded % the call OF Governor Curry
gives that their aid viii be as ELI
in the military service the great Interrupt
ton Of their ordinary pursuits, viii be limited to the
shortest possible duration by the OF nents
which have ordered Ia the regular troops OF that de-
rsttment. . :.
the department Of New Mexico it appears that s the
Inc trite within his command have concluded treaties
with Coy OF the Territory, and retired to the
limits assigned them.
Sc, vice in Indian campaigns though little calculated to
excite tary srdor of the sol ier, Is attended ~
equal hazard by greater prva ions than belongs
to ws-fsfe With civilized toe The gallanry zeal and
devotion OF both officers and men, have been repeatedly
hsve on a such occasons eq ed the cpatioDs which
past conduct warrnted and have renewed their claim to
the gratitude Of those whose flag hey bear, and in
whose service they have sufferec The unusual extent
of the opera above detailed has necessarily caused
large expenditures which mus exceed the appropriations
made for the ordinary wants of the military sean
incident which, appropriations made upon estimates
prepare d 50 long In advance are always suhjecs.
Nv attention has been recently called the practice
in the settlement at the Treasury Of charging
sums sue past years 10 the current appropriations.
T. IA d. emed pleera that the lement Of old
counts should provided for by appropriations for
ages and practice above referred TO be checked
since % ng rs IL prevails, the appropriations for
rent expenses must prove insufficient and deficiency bills
be the cecsssary consequence.
In ms In Il rsrort suggested several which