New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-19
ANNUAL REPORT OF GEN. SCOTT, THE
GENERAL-IN- CHIEF.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army, Nev.York, Nov %. 1887.
The Hon. J. B. FLOYD, Secretary of War 80
SIR: As the immediate commander of the army, un-
der the President, l have the honor to submit the
usual annual report on it, general condition and
wants.
Our regiments, horse and foot, including artillery
iserviI mosty Infantry are, as l have remarked
in former reports anything but peace establishment
For years they have been almost constantly in pur-
suit Of hoetie Indians, through swamps az mountains
in heats and SHOWS and with no ncOnsdsrabe loss Of
life from frequent combats, and still greater mortal
ity from excessive labor, deprivation and disease In
other wars those hardshps are occasionally broken BY
rest ard comfort now long unknown to nine tenths Of
our troops; ard hence another great evl-the numer-
GUS desertions which daily thin their ranks.
As partial illustration Of the extraordinary activity
and suferipgs have spoken Of beg leave to annex
copies Of two of my Orders-Nos. and li-of the
present year.
To mitigate those evils, and to enable us to give
reasonable security to our people on Indian frontiers,
measuring thousands of miles, / respectfully suggest
augmentation of at least one regiment of horse
ldrsgoOns, cavalry rfenen and at least three regi
ments of foot infantry rhsmen. This augmentation
would not than furnish the reenforcements now
greatly needed IL FSiids Teyss Nsw-hs.ioo. Cali
brasks ard Minnesota, leaving not company fer
Utah If the reenforcements should be authorized
early as January it would be easy, in the present
fortunate want Of profitable employment for the thou
ssrd Of able BODIED to be found idle In every popu
lous district Of the country to make the number Of
crus needed and in time for them to reach the theater
Of military operations In Summer and Autumn OF 1858
OF the relief which the measure would afford to our
general population may not speak in military paper
but to The AIRY and exposed frontiers under its pro-
lection it would be immense.
1t il emineItly desirable, by all the reasonable means
at the disposition OF the Government TO attempt the
moral elevation of enlisted men-thst u.s. 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 and subsis:en of everybody, has
rcsrcely left anything to be asked for. THE subject
of quarters will be noticed in the sequel So, too in
respect to religious instruction, through some twenty
ano Cdd military chsplsns.considering the great
number Of sects and the hsbitus dispersion OF the
troops-I have nothing practical TO suggest. But to
render the service honorable, that citizens may
freely enlist without the fear Of barsh, arbitrary cs
precious Treatment at the hands of any superior some
addition oil legislation seems Indispensable. alhde to
revision of the rules and articles for the government
of the armies OF the United States, particularly the
18th 65ih, Goth, 9th and 9th Of those srticesall
spectng the administration Of justice In ORDER among
other things, to provide for the legal punishment OF
petty sffenfss substituting, when necessary, courts
consisting entirely Of sergeant, 30 as to deprive com
msnders Of email detachmerts and ieolsted companies
Of all pIetexthe want Of officers to compose courts,
&c for taking the law into their own hands. Ac
co,Girgy recommend that the subject be In the first
ipstsIce referred to board consisting Of intelligent
officers Of great experience with troops and il their
report be approved that il next be submitted to Con.
grsss. The same board might with great benefit
vie the general regulations of the army and the
fictDg systems of infantry tactics now IN force.
In connection with penal justice, it is due to all good
men in the ranks to say that they directly interest
ed in the suppression of crimes disorders and neglect
preudica to good order ana military discipline nss
much as oenses hurt the just pride Of the corps, and
every offender put under guard in arrest increases
the duties and fatgues Of his meritorous companions
OF the same class or rank.
have word to ssyn respect TO quarters for troops
on the seabosld In our regular Notifications we have
butte shelter other than Classmates for fighting siege
guns, and these arches are too damp and otherwise
uncomfortable for the lOdgiogs Of the troops. In re-
spect to the Indian frontiers except at one or two In
terror points for reserve, the troops are-when they
chance to be slo sed short rests-etber IN tents Wit
ter as well a. Summer, or such miserable bush and
mud huts they have hastily constructed for the mo-
neDt. Hence another cause of dssertion disease and
mortality. II is true that the frontiers are constantly
shfirg BY the extension of settlements and hence
great difficulty 10 providing permanent quarters ex.
cept for reserves, and We far from having regi
ment or even company to be 90 posted.
The instruction OF our artillery regiments in their
sppropiste duties with Light and heavy batteries, has
been mach neglected Of late years. First by csprc
iou,ly dsmounra several Of the light companies, and
Lorg other TO the most unsuitable posts IN respect
to supplies and health; and secoad by the necessary
tpployment-from deficiency in other 1oopsof the
greater part Of each regiment infantry on the Indian
iionti<n.
school Of Jrsotee, lsveves, ssI Tarrsons, ses