New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-11
REPORT or THE GENERAL-IN-CHfEF
OF THE ARMY.
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY,


In conformity it'll usage, the undersigned, the imme'
date Con mander of the Army under the President
submits through the Department OF War, hts annual
report the general condlton and wants OF the
in a simple report lIsi9 observed that, consider
ing the present distribution and employment OF the
Army, it would be quite misnomer TO call It PEACE
establishment. During the seven years when nave
elapsed, nearly all our corps have been as before,
constantly on the alert, and much of the tne engaged
in hunting and fighting Indians in the midst OF difficult
forests, swsmps and mountains, with great loss OF
lie and he ath from wounds and diseases. On the part
of many officers who have survived those conflicts,
tLere ave been frequent displays OF conduct and
courage, which, in my Judgment it would be just "a
wel,a, polite 10 honor by brevets. 80
The general state and distribution Of the army will
have been reported from the Office of the Adjutant-
General. In regard 10 certain OF Its wants, which
have already to some extent attracted legislative at
tenioD though yet without success, proceed hope
fully TO reiierate in part views aud recommendations
which may he found at large in my former reports
l. 1t has been gratifying TO observe within the past
wear that the recent .gsaton for the benefit OF en-
listed men-increase Of pay, with the otter OF condi
tjoBsl prou otion to sergeants &c-has been attended
with the coed effects anticpafed-an Improvement 10
the character of the rank and file &c further ben
eft of the kind would il u belle we'd, result from
a change 10 the system of recruiting heretofore pro-
posed BY me-each regiment keep two of It's conps
lies assigned alternately on depot service, for filing
IFS own ranks.
Q. That the efficiency of the army would be greatly
promoted by provision for the retirement of super
ANIMATED and other disabled officers, is proposition
already 60 repeatedly urged by the War Department
and Military Committees of Congress, as well as BY
the GenerainChief that il need not be here further
dwelt upon.
3. The wait indispensable to the well being of the
army, and now the most pressing Of al-pressing when
fret presented and yearly become more SOS an in
created comLeDsaton 10 commissioned officers such a.
has already been accorded to the rank and file proper
tond TO the altered condition of our country and
times, or The great depreciation of money since the
present tariff Of pay and subsistence was established.
Originally this was deemed quite moderate, and had
for many years been undergoing slow diminuton; but
our recent successes in arms, adding immensely to
the territory and wealth of the Union, have suddenly
diminished the Hecessaries and comforts Of officers
thirty per cent more making In all forty or fifty per
centum by q corresponding dlmnution in the value Of
their stationary receipts while in every other depart
ment Of life public and private, the rewards of labor.
talent and science have, by an equitable advancing
liar hardship upon officers, who contributed 20
much labor, talent science end blood toward those
successts, that they should thereby have reduced
themselves to q state of comparative poverty. Bat
hope, though long deferred st condes in the justice
Of Cor grees
Inmy last report presented plan of moderate relief
for the future Its features an addition TO the
monthly pay, an increase OF the Communication price OF
rstops sno q service ration for every three instead
OF, as now every five years on duty Except n the
last point this scheme Appropriated by the plan Of
the House bill, No. 55l, I'd section, which was before
the present Congress at its first session. and which ii
-
all in commission.
10 considering the policy and equity Of such relief
but just TO remember that the military profession
absolutely separates the Off from every pursuit Of
private interest; that il claims despoc control over
bis TIN and movements and energies As he belongs
to the service entirely upon it alone be must depend
and hence II should secure him reasonable support
Nothing than this has been aimed at in any quar-
ter, as Augmentation that has been suggested ap
proxmaies to thst four+eytpths of the former pay
recently accorded to all under the rank Of lieutenant.
T. In this connection again suggest an amendment
of the Per zion laws so as 10 place the army the
same footing with tie navy, the existing dscrmina-
tion of law being greatly against the army. To effect
tuch equalization would involve scarcely any change
in detail of the present code beyond some such prov
sion the following:
The cases of officers, noncommissioned officers and
enlisted men OF the army who have died, or may die
by reason OF injury received casualty incurred or Of
daease contracted while 10 the line Of their duty 10
be placed on the same footing with those of the sew
erai ranks Of the navy, in like cases. as by Law nov
established in respect to pensions assimating the va
nous ranks equitibly for The purpose.
- Respectfully submitted, WINFIELD SCOTT
hsn. JEFFERSON DAVIS, Secretary Of wU.