The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-15
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. OF WAR.
War DEPARTAEN1


WASHINGTON, December s. 1857.
Sin / have the honor to submit the following report
the condition and operations of the army during the
tat year
The army consists of nineteen regiments divided into
tn Of infantry four of artillery two OF dragoons two of
cavalry, and one of mounted riaemen. The whole
strength of the army posted consists of about II 1884
men and the actual strength the lst of July last
was l5 764. In addition to the movements which the
troops have been called to make this year which are
vet forth IN separate paper, prepared by the Adjutant
General and herewith transmitted this force Is called upon
to garrison 6s forts of large and permanent character
far, at least as 1t is possible to supply for the
purpose and to occupy 20 posts less permanently estab
lhed, where the presence of force is absolutely
qured. The area which these forts and posts
spread embraces circuit of about 600 900 square miles
and requires journey of many thousand miles to visit the
principal ones OF them.
The external boundary of country, requiring
throughout less vigilant military supervision
is H. 900 miles in length presenting every variety of eli
mate and temperature, from the incement cold of our
Canada frontier to the tropical regions of southern Texas
But the occupation Of this long line of frontier is trng
difficulty in comparison with that of protecting the double
line of Indian frontier, extending from the Lake of the
Woods the banks of the Rio Grande the east side of
the Rocky mountains and from beyond the river Oregon
on the British frontier to the head of the Gulf of Caifor
na on the western slope of those mountains Superadd-
ed to these lines requiring to be occupied the great
lines of iuercommunicaton between the valley of the
Mississippi aud the Pacific ocean, which imperativey de-
mand protection which only the United States troops
can furnish. These lines are very long, and are now
extremely important, whilst every year renders them
more and more From western frontier of settle
mens to those of Northern Oregon the distance is about
1900 miles from the frontier to the,settlements of
California, via Salt Lake, is 800 miles from the from
tier of Arkansas at Fort Smith, by Albuquerque Santa
Fe to Fort TETON, is about 100 miles and from San
Antonio by Ell Paso to San Diego the borders of
the white settlements is 400 miles, constituting an a
gegate line of 6,700 miles which ought to be occupied
and which we pretend in some sort to keep open and de-
fend
This simple statement of facts demonstrates stronger
than any arguments could do the absolute necessity for
IN increase of the army
The policy of government and the spirit of pco
pie alike opposed to large standing army and very
properly but if army is needfu at all il should be
organized in such to the purposes for
which it is required Its numbers should correspond with
the service it is intended to perform from any dis
proportion in this respect it stops short of efficiency it
becomes Insignificant and entails upon the country
pendtures wholly ncommensurate with any service 1t
render
1t will not be denied that an army properly organized
and of sufficient strength constitutes the cheapest
and most efficient by which the indispensable
vices designed to perform be secured by the gov
eminent. #H
There substitute for army and to render it at
economical and efficient, adequate numbers
snta If there is higher duty than another devolved
upon well regulated government it is to afford perfect
protection to its citizens against outrage and personal yio
ence yet this great obligation not performed by the
government of the United States. For large portion
OF the year scarcely week elapses without bringing to
intelligence OF some Indian massacre, outrage
shocking than death itself and it most frequently hap
pens that these acts go unpunshed altogether either
from the want of troops for pursuit, from their
motenes from the scenes of slaughter which renders
suit useless. u
In former times, when the hardy pioneer was allured
away from the line of white settlements by fertile lands
alone he scarcely ventured far to be beyond
and protection from those he left behind But far diff
is Tho (l,,rp
Elements with their great inducements of rich ands
ubious climate, and fabulous mineral treasures present
to the inhabitants of the Atlantic States temptations to
emigration which the prvations of an intervening wilder
ness and desert and continual danger from rowing bands
of savages hanging upon their march for many hundred
miles together, cannot deter them from undertaking
This migration strengthens the natural ties between the
Atlantic and Pacific States, and adds immensely to the de-
enve strength of that remote region Justice and hui
nanity alike demand protection for these emgrants at
the hands of our government. e.@r #..
TO render governmental protection to vast frontier
and emigration perfect very large augmentation of the
army would not be required. Five additional regiments
would answer the purpose, if properly posted n WI
1t will be from paper carefully prepared from
liable data by the adutant general that increase of
our forces is so efficient near 30 cheap the augmen
ttion of our regular army.
line of posts running parallel with our frontier but
hear to the Indians usual habitations placed at
nent distances and suitable positions, and occupied by
nantry would exercise salutary restraint upon the
upon the white settlements would meet with prompt
aliation upon their homes In addition to this
means of Defence there should be concentrated along
own frontier at eligible points large bodies of efficient
horse all any portion of which could upon the OPEN
ing Of spring and the first appearance of grass march to
punish aggression repress any spirit of nsubodna
uont These cantonments for cavalry should be estab
nhed at points where corn and hay abundant and
cheap The present is favorable period for the choice
permanent locations for the that upon large
portion of northwest frontier, particularly, settle
mens have nearly reached the limits of cutivable lands
beyond which, while there spots of rich soil and toll
eahe pasturage they not sufficient for extended set
ueent Hence there is likelihood of military sta
tons being left heretofore in the heart Of thckly
populated country after the lapse of very few years
The posts selected in the indicated would
become useless only when the Indian tribes ceased to be
formidable disappear altogether, for they would be
upon the line of permanent frontier which has been
reached
The concentration of these large bodies of horse at ELI
Oe points upon borders would have the best inu
ence both upon the discipline and effectiveness of the
corps. Throughout the winter when field operations
were impossible the men could be perfectly drilled and
The horses would be put in complete order for the most
active and arduous service in the earliest spring This
uoube line of defence would constitute perfect proec
uon to the settlements in the first place. and would soon
prove far the most economical system of frontier proec
uo because 1t would greatly diminish and cheaper the
transportation of military stores and munitions of war
roner expenditure. The infantry stations would not
necessarily be large and supplies could be furnished them
fom convenient points at very moderate rates.
FOR these reasons and many others which readily sug
ss themselves venture to submit to you the proprety
VI asking from Congress an increase of the army l
strengthened in my convictions of its propriety from the
IeCommendations of my predecessor, whose thorough