The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-20
ANNUAL REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GEN-
ERAL SCOTT.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army,
New York, Nov. 20, 1867.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army
New York, Nov. 20, 1851
Hon. J, B. FLOYD Sscrawy Of Var:
SIN AS the immediate commander of the army,
under the President have the honor submit the usual
annual report on its general condition and wants.
Our regiments horse and foot including artillery, (ser
wing mostly nfanry are rs have remarked In for
reports, anything but peace establishment For
years they have been almost constantly in pursuit of hos
tile Indians through swamps and mountains, in heats
and SHOWS and with uncomfortable loss of life from
frequent cobats and still greater mortality from
cessive labor deprivation and disease In other wars
those harshps occasionally broken by rest and
fort long unknown to nine tenths OF our troops
and hence another great evithe numerous desertons
which daily thin their ranks.
AS partial illustration of the extraordinary activity
and suferings have spoken of, beg leave to annex
copies of two Of my orders and IA of the pres
ent year.
TO mitigate those evils, and to enable to give
sonabe security to people Indian frontiers, measu
ring thousands of miles, respectfully suggest aug
mentaton of at least regiment OF horse dragons
cavalry remen and at least three regiments Of foot
Infantry orrifemen This augmentation would not more
than furnish the achievements now greatly needed in
Florida, Texas, New Mexico, California, Oregon, Wash
ingon Territory Kansas Nebraska and Minnesota, leav
ing not company for Utah the achievements should
be authorized early as January would be easy in the
present unfortunate want of profitable employment for
the thousands of men to be found idle In every
popnous district Of the country to make the number Of
recruits needed and in time for them to reach the thea
tres of military operations in the summer and autumn of
1858 OF the relief which the measure would afford to
general population may not speak In military pa
per- but to the army and exposed frontiers under its pro-
lection 1t would be immense.
1t is eminenty desirable, by all the reasonable
at the disposition OF the government to attempt the
moral elevation of enlisted mcnthat is, all below
commissioned officers In physical comforts whether they
sick in health the justice Of Congress in respect to
physicians medicines hospital stores, the pay, clothing
of hags left
to be asked for he subject Of quarters will be noticed
in the sequel &c. too in respect to religious instruc
tion though twenty and odd military chaplains
considering the great number Of secs and the habtua
dispersion Of the roopsI have nothing practical to sug
gest But to render the service honorable that cit
liens freely enlist without the fear of harsh arbitrary
capcous treatment at the hands of any SUPERIOR
additional legislation Indispensable allude to
revision of the rules and articles for the of
the armies of the United States particularly the 45th
65th 66th G7th and 99th of those articles respecting
the administration of justice In order among other
things to provide for the legal punishment of petty often
ces substituting, when necessary, courts consisting
trey of sergeant to deprive commanders of small
attachments and isolated companies of all pretexthc
want Of officers to compose courts for taking the law
into their own hands, accordingly recommend that
the subject be in the first instance referred to board
ssting of intelligent officers of great experience with
troops and if their report be approved that next be
submitted to Congress. The same board might with
great benefit revise the general regulations of the army
and the conflicting systems Of infantry tactics in force
In connexon with penal Justice is due to oil good
in the ranks to say that they directly interested
in the suppression of crimes disorders and neglect pre-
judicial to good order and military discipline inasmuch
offences hurt the just pride of the corps and every Of
fender put under guard in arrest increases the duties
and atges Of his mertorious companions Of the
class or rank.
have word to say in respect quarters for troops
the scaboard In regular Notifications have
but little shelter other than easements for fighting siege
guns and these arches are too damp and otherwise
comfortable for the lodgings of the troops In respect
the Indian frontiers except at two interior points
for reserve, the troops arewhcn they chance to be al
lowed short rests either in TENTS winter well
mer, such miserable bush and mud hus they have
hastily constructed for the moment Hence another
of desertion disease and mortality II is true that the
frontiers constantly shifting by the extension of set
Elements and hence great difficulty in providing perna-
nent quarters except for reserves and far from
having regiment, even company, to be posted.
The instruction of our artillery regiments in their APP
popate duties with light and heavy batteries has been
much neglected of late years--frst, by capriciously
dismountng several Of the light companies and sending
others to the most unsuitable posts in respect to sup
plies and health and second, by the necessary employ
men from deficiency in other troops, of the greater part
of each regiment as infantry the Indian frontiers
school of practice, however, for garrsons sea-coast
and siege artillery is being organized, small
SCALE at Fortress Monroe to be enlarged the regiments
may be withdrawn from the Indian frontiers, whenalso
regarrisoning principal fortifcaons each may
be made subordinate school In the mean time re-
specuy ask that the light companies remaining on foot
be re-mounted, as authorized by law.
OF recommendations in former reports beg leave spe-
cally to recall two:
/. system of recruiting by and for the respective
regiments which IL is conceived would create and nurture
the esprit de copa family feeling in each always highly
conducive to moral elevation and military efficiency
2. revision of the pension laws, to place the
army like footing with the navy, volunteers, and
militia in this respect, there be conceivable
of any sort for discrimination to prejudice
Please vol 2, p 229 Of the Presidents Message,
SC, December, 1856
have the honor to be- sir, with high respect your
most obedient servant, WINFIELD SCOTT