The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-10
THE ARMY.
Annual Report OF the Secretary OF War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, I

is l65 but the actual strength the lt Of July was
III 4os These troops compose the whole numerical force
Of our army distributed throughout the States ami Terri
tories Of the entire concracy, manning all the ortlca
tons occupied by troops holding all the posts garr
soned defending all our extended frontiers and protect
ing as far possible, the different routes extending
the continent from the Mississippi valley to our
possessions the Pacific.
THE ARMY
The absolute demands for men in the various posts,
stations, &C. well as for wha, might be termed the po
lice operations Of the army, left only thirteen regiments
for actual service in the field And upon this small force
numbering little eleven thousand men, devoved the
arduous duty of prosecuting all the Indian wars, which
have extended this year from the British possessions on
the Pacific to the border settlements of Texas as well as
OF crushing the rebellion in Utah, which from its vim
dctve spirit and large numbers threatened at its outset
| 10 become. and indeed was, very formidable.
The abors performed by the army since my last report
will very fully appear from the reports OF the different
bureaus herewith transmitted, and to which call your
particular attention may be safely asserted that no
army of the size ever before performed such
length Of tme marches and movements OF such extent
surmountng in their progress such formidable obstacles
Ex1EsT or TERRITORY TRAvERsED by TIE TROOPS.
These regiments have accomplished within the
| year a march averaging for each the extraord.
miles. These marches, in the main, have been made
! through the unnhabited soludes and sterile deserts
Which stretch away between the settlements of the At
iante and Pacific coasts upon routes which Afforded
nothing facilitate the advance except only the heritage
which the beasts Of burden might pluck by the way
side.
| Every item Of supply from horseshoe nail to the
largest piece Of ordnance has been carried from the de-
pots along the whole line Of those tedious marches 10 be
ready III the exact moment when necessity might call for
them. The country traycrsed could yield nothing. The
labor foresight method, and requisite TO systema
tze and the energy activity and persistence to carry out
such operations by the different departments deserve the
attention OF the country and, in my opinion its common
dalton No disaster has bcalen the army throughout
its immense ramhcatons and the pryaons, hardships
tolls and dangers to which it has been continually sub
tae.Ed hata ltaap hnrna x,h n mn
| TIE INDIAN WARS IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON.
There has been for long time much exh.bi
ton Of insubordnate and hostile spirit among the
Indian tribes Of Washington and Oregon Territories and
during the past spring and early part OF summer broke
attacked q comparatyely small party Of our peo.
pie, who, after an Intellectual resistance and the loss OF
brave officers and men, were forced to retreat This
the signal for general rising OF the tribes and an
alliance speedily formed between the powerful tribes
Of Spokanes and Cuur dAlenes together with many strag
Cling warriors from among the Paouses and other tribes
Immediately upon this outbreak, Breve Brgadier Gene
raj Clark, command Of the department OF the Pacific
with great promptness and with wise forecast,
tratcd in mastery the widely scattered forces
under his command, and precptaed them into the heart
OF the Indian country where powerful Indian force was
already assembled to meet him. The campaign was pro-
secuted with great activity and vigor by Colonel
Wright, of the Ninth Infantry, who gave battle
routing them completely After beating their forces,
capturing many prisoners and destroying large amounts
OF property and laying waste their country the Indians
surrendered at discretion with their wives and children
and sued abjecty for peace. The criminal offenders
amongst thom heretofore guilty oil murder anu raine,
the chief insugaors of all dissatisfaction amongst those
tribes and the immediate Of the recent hostics,
were surrendered, tried and executed.
permanent peace has been established by treaties en-
tered into with them and the army has been already dis
lrbued to points where the presence OF force was
greatly needed. The officers and men OF this command
the thanks Of the country for the efficient and
sodiery IN which they have borne themselves in
| the prosecution Of the campaign.
WAR MEXICO AND TEXAS
The forces employed il the Territory of New Mexico
have been called upon also repe Indian aggressons and
I'll. la firth fha
These sayages have for some time evinced spirit OF in
subordnaon and discomfort which at last broke out into
open defiance Of authority and followed by the
murder of negro within the precincts Of the camp.
The declining health q Breyet Brigader General Gar
land necessated his return 10 the States which devoved
the command Of that department upon Colonel Bonneville
This officer promptly and with very proper foresight put
foot the expedition against the Indians and the cam
paign has 10 tie last adyces been conducted with
skill ability, activity and courage The enemy has been
met on several occasions and always routed although
our disparity Of numbers has always been very great
our troops have succeeded, also, taking considerable
amount Of the Indian property consisting OF cattle and
grain. This war u si' prosecuted with vgor, ana the
Indians show disposition 10 abandon their warke atti
ludc ask for peace The Nayajos are very rich in
herds and nocks and possess considerable quantities Of
grain enough at least 70 enable them for time 10
keep up resistance and prosecute The war They can pro
an extremely formidable force, particularly in the
Wild and remote country they inhabt. There
hail be no relaxation ~ prosecuting TINS war until the
savagcr are brought absolutely under the yoke.
In the state Of Texas and upon It's borders there has
been and s,l s, at this time, raging Indian be
tribes. the Camanchcs OF the plains and their knsmen
and allies, the kiowss. These people have, for long
time been committing petty outrages upon the inhab
ants Of our frontiers travellers upon the roads lead
Ing the vicinity OF their haunts. These deprcdaons
brought at last fight between troops and their
warrIors which for Gerccness and determination was
very remarkable In Indian warfare. The Indians were
routed with considerable oss 81 killed and wounded by
troore, moet efficiently commanded by Major Van
Dorm who ALEC succeeded ~ capturing number OF their
horses.
This war We may look upon just begun and the pro
liabilities that will be Of ierceness and may he
ole considerable duration Every will be taken
prosecute with veor and TO terminate Il With all pos
You viii see SIR from this rapid narrative. that our
little army has been called upon, during The last year. 10
carry a extending nearly the whole space
embraced between the parallels q 80 dgrces AID Is dc
grccs q north latitude, and extending sracc of
more than fifteen hundred miles u - not, then mat
ter o Prise that thirteen regiments, engaged In
lcse wars and tho Mormon rebellion should have brcn
called uron W thc performance o. those arduous services
race distance q nearly thirteen hundred miles.
IL addition " the OPERATORS above spoken q, troops
have been moved urou the northwestern frontier AM sta
toned such manner e. afford protection a. Gar as
possible 10 the border settlements q that region. Much
Apprehension, from the hostile manifestations ~ the "a
wages hey tho confines If Iowa and Minnesota has been
fen the frontier settlements Of ihose states and regret
fat force j. not sufficient - spare troops IN such
numbers a. viii quiet altogether these alarms.
rtrsTS KoAps.
have caused map to be made which accompanies
tn report u shows NJ glance an the military posis
occupied ~ trools all the roads 70 be travelled
Tassng to them such 81 these posts garrsoncd
must be Transported 70 them whenever and wherever
they needed, regardless 81 al oOtaccs. II these
post Permanently occupied hy lxed numbers ~
troop u would be easy e. furnish exact estimate of
cot both Tor supplies AMI Their trans orton Bot Hs
very FIR Otherwise ~hen the supplies contingent upon
the accidental number q troops which the exgcnces ot
the service may require q gwen ont, AMI the season
Of The year when they 20 ~ moved The number Of
/ posts and Their positions exhibited by the map AMI
the extraordinary distances travcrscd by troops
I demonstrstc that both economy and the proper
I efficiency II tie army require increase of
T H. Whilst have 10 recommendation 20 make
upon the subject knowing - do The of Congress
uIon this subject =, tile session. yet feel constrained
lay these facts before yOr and The country that any
apparent acs ~ efficiency The army giving comrete
protection a. frontiers be set down the
II numbers. and not 20 any want % activity the part
~ our uooIe
Iron his point her eavc D. ca yopr attention to the
views 0f the general n.chiei
tfAH REBELLION
Tho operations Of the army connect with the Ter.
ftoy = Utah, since tho date 81 my last port deserve