American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-01-01
ANNUAL Report Of lieutenant q emo.
raj Scott.
HEADQUARTERS or fnE ARMY, |
New YORK. Nov. 90. 1857.

NhW lohh, NOV. ", 1901.
Hon. j. b. Floyd, Secretary of War:
SIR: As the immediate commander
of the army, under the President, l
have the honor to submit the usual an.
nual report on its general condition
and wants.
Our regiments, horse and foot, in
Guiding artillery, Serving mostly as in.
fantry, are rs l have remarked in for
mer reports, anything but a peace es-
tahlishment. For years they have
been almost constantly in pursuit of
hostile Indians, through swamps and
mountains, in heats and enows, and
with no inconsiderable loss Of life from
frequent combats, and still greater
mortality from excessive labor, depri-
vatlon and disease. In other wars
those hardships are occasionally broken
by rest and comfort, now long unknown
to nine-tenths of our troops; and hence
another great evil-thc numerous de-
sertions which daily thin their ranks.
AS partial illustration of the extra.
ordinary activity and sufferings l have
spoken of, beg leave to annex copies
of two of my orders-Nos. 4 and IA
ofthe present year.
10 mitigate those evils, and enable
us to give reasonable security to our
people on Indian frontiers, measuring
thousands Of miles, l respectfully sug-
gest an augmentation of at least one
regiment of horse, dragons, cavalry
and rihemen) and at least three regi-
ments of foot, Gnfantry or riflcmen).
This augmentation would not more than
furnish the reinforcements now greatly
needed in Florida, Texas, New Mexico,
California, Oregon, Washington Terri
tory, Kansas, Nebraska and Minneso-
ia, leaving not company for Utah.
1.-THE re!nforccments should be author
lied as early as January, it would be
easy, in the present unfortunate want
of profitable employment for the thou
sands of able bodied men to be found
idle in every populous district Of the
country,to make the number of recruits
needed, and in time for them to reach
the theatre Of military operations in
the summer and autumn of 1853. Of
the relief which the measure would af-
ford to our general population l may
not speak in military paper, but to
the army and exposed frontiers under
Its protection it would be immense.
1t is eminently desirable, by all the
reasonable means at the disposition of
the government, to attempt the moral
elevation of our enlisted mcn-that is,
all below commissioned officers. In
physical comforts, whether they are
sick or in health, the justice of Con-
gress in respect to physicians, mcdi-
cine, hospital stores, the pay, clothing
and subsistence Of every body, has
scarcely left anything to be asked for.
(This subject Of quarters will be no.
tlced in the sequcl.) So, too, in respect
to religious instruction; through some
twenty and odd military chapIains-
considering the great number of sects
and the habitual dispersion of the
troops-I have nothing practical to
suggest. But to render the service
honorable, SO that citizens may freely
enlist without the fear of harsh, arbi-
trary, or capricious treatment at the
hands of any superior, some additional
legislation seems indispensable. l al
ludc to revision of the rules and arti-
clcs for the government of the armies
of the United States, particularly the
45th, 10th, Goth, 9th and Goth of
those articles-all respecting the ad-
ministration Of justice. In order, a.
mong other things, to provide for the
legal punishment of petty offences,
Substituting, when necessary, courts
consisting entirely of sergeants,) so as
to deprive commanders ofsmall detach-
monts and isolated companies Of all
pretext--the want Of officers to COM
pose courts, &c.-for taking the law
into their own hands, accordingly
recommend that the subject be in the
first instance referred to n board con-
sisting Of intelligent officers of great
experience with troops, and, if their
report be approved, that it next be sub
mitted to Congress-. The same board
might, with great benefit, revise the
general regulations of the army and
the conflicting systems ofinfantry tao
tics now in force.
In connexion with penal justice, it
is due to all good men in the ranks to
say that they are directly interested in
the suppression Of crimes, disorders, land
neglect prejudicial to good order and
military discipline, inasmuch as often
ccs hurt the just pride of the corps,
and every offender put under guard or
i'll arrest increases the duties and ia
tigues of his meritorious companions