The daily union., 1856-12-10
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT, December l, 1866.

sra have the honor to submit the following report Of
the operations of the army for the past year. ana 70 y o
fore YOU the reports of the several bureaus OF the war De-
parment and communications from other officers Of the
army. :,
The authorized strength of the army as now posted
the actual strength at the date OF the consoida
ton of the returns July j. 1856 was 1861 The number
of enistmens made during the twelve months ending sep
tsnhar 80 1856 was lao The number OF persons Offering
enlist but who refused account OF minority and
unftness service 1894 The number OF casualties
in the army by Deaths discharges and desertons during
the ending June 80 1885, was 60So OF Whlch 5ZEo
were by deserton.
The accompanying tables exhibit the distribution of the
troops n the several military departments During the
past year the department the Pacific has been reinforced
by three companies of the first dragons and the ninth
regiment OF infantry. post has been established at
Tucson New Mexico for the protection of the valley OF the
Santa Cruz and the restraint of the Indians north OF the
Ga and ia at present garrsoned by four companies OF the
first dragons The regiment of mounted rfemen in con
sequence of threatened hoses with the Navajo Indians
in New Mexico ordered in June last TO that depart
ment from Texas Two of the second dragons
and the second regiment Of infantry occupy the poss To-
Gated the Upper Missouri at the close Of the late cam
paign against the Sioux Indians.
An expedition has been the northern boundary
of Minnesota Territory for the purpose of acquiring infor
nation respecting that region OF country and the Indians
residing there upon whom IL supposed the appearance
of body of troops among them would exercise beneh
cial influence The knowledge thus gained will determine
the eligible site for military post in that quarter
should hereafter be deemed advisable to establish
The Indian difficulties the western plains have been
successfully terminated except those with the Cheyennes
The troops designated and held in readiness during the
last for campaign against them it hoped and
believed would only have reduced that particular tribe
good order but would have sufced TO insure much
of peace and security persons all the
plains north of Red and west of the Missouri as B
compatible with the continuance there of wandering unciv-
ilized tribes
In Texas though the amount Of military force has been
reduced within the past year. have had TO
grauate ourselves upon less frequent disturbances than
existed for years past but owing to the fact that the
State of Texas ali the land with the exception of the
he
State without any permanent home and the control
which be exercised them under those crcumsan
be sufficient either to give security to the
whites in any meteral degree TO ameiorae the cond
ten of the Indians Could the ragmenary tribes in Tex
be removed lands owned by the United States north
of the Red river great reduction would be made in the
expenditures required in Texas for the mantenan OF
military posts which would then become wholly useless
whilst great service would be rendered to the develop
ment of the of that State and surely better
prospects would be offered for the improvement OF the In
dian tribes
The Indians within the limits of the department of New
Mexico have generally observed thr treaty stpllaons
Occasional depredations have been committed by them
but none it is believed OF serious nature indicating
any settled hostility on their part,
The Indian hoslites existing in Oregon and Washing
ton Territories at the date of the last annual report from
this department. which threatened to be of very ormda
BILE characte- have been generally suppressed comb
nation embracing tribes inhabtng those Territories
was entered into and the determination of the whites
seemed be their purpose but the military expeditions
against them have been conducted with much energy
u
ons their hostile demonstrations have ceased. The dis
urbances Puges Sound and in the Rogue River valley
reported terminated and il is hoped that the tbss
in and about the WallaWala valley between whom and
the troops collision recently took place. will speedily be
brought TO terms.
Military positions have been occupied in the counry
Gently in possession Of the Indians and udicious move
ments of troops WILL 1t s believed prevent any out
break of general nature hereafter.
Much information respecting the origin and progress Of
this communicated to Congress at its last session
The various reports Of subsequent events contain full in
formation respecting the transactions.
The possessory rights secured to the Hudson Bay and
Puget Sound Companies leave in this portion Of ter
rtoy traders and others who possess great influence
the Indian tribes but allegiance to the United
States II win be readily perceived that preceding and du
ring hoses such persons cannot be expected to pursue
other than that which would preserve to them
the trade and good will of the Indians and therefore that
their presence cannot be otherwise than detrimental the
control Of the United States those tribes In this
nexon it not be inappropriate 10 suggest the propre
ty of speedily e1tiuguisbing such possessory rights
regret to state that the Efforts Of the department have
thus far proved unaEaing 10 effect the removal Of the
Seminole Indians remaining in the peninsula of Florida
the home provided for them of the Mississippi
river These Indians have within the past year. given
peated evidence Of their hostility and the department has
made the necessary arrangements TO carry vigorous
campaign against them during the present season
large force the demand of the service in other quarters
will permit has been concentrated in Florida for this pur
pose consisting of four companies Of the first artillery
companies Of the fourth artillery the fifth regiment OF in
fantry, and a limited number Of volunteer militia all
under the command Of Brevst Brigadier Gen. Harney
The expense and embarrassment TO the military service
resulting from the present policy Of locating posts in ad
of settlements and along emgrant the
continent continue TO be seriously felt II Is manifested
in the large required for transportation and In
the small garrisons found at most Of the posts
policy adopted TO subserve the purpose Of given
suggests revision with every material change OF cir
When from the communities originally esIab-
lshed along the Atlantic slope Of the United States indus
trial emgrants went forth to penetrate the wilderness
the Mississippi valley they found every hand fer
tlity which invited agricultural labor and each set
uemsnt became productive Of all the necessariss
life Military posts advanced with the progress Of the p
oneer and whilst the afforded protection the labor
Of the other furnished the supplies required for sub
sissnce. The general fund Of the United States in
dsmnhed for expenditures support these advanced
posts by the results which followed from the appropria
ton and cultivation Of It's wild domain If we have now
passed the limit Of general fertility and pushed our mill
tary posts into a region where they be
rounded BY agrcultursl-producing population then
the circumstances have materially changed to call
for revision Of the policy which founded upon
different condition Of things and connected results
which longer Attanaole The reports OF reconnos
sance submitted by the War Department within the last
two years have such general and detailed
Of the character Of the country between the Mississippi
river and the Pacific render here
It's further geographical description Those reports su
GENTLY show that with few exceptions the country lying
between the loo meridian Of longitude and the coast
range Of mountains overlooking the Pacific is
susceptible Of cultivation without the aid ofartcal means
and that the country probably be covered by
agricultural settlements limit therefore been reach
ed beyond which cultivation has CEASED follow in the
train Of advancing military posts, and the service and
support OF the military establishment is essentially
altered post established In the desert region TO
which I have referred, does not become The nucleus
Of settlement from which in short time the provision.
and forage be drawn, and the expense for trans
portatou thus reduced 70 the necessary supply OF
.aI