Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-12-24
Condensed Report Of the Sec
rotary Of War.

uons OF tne army, only thirteen regiments, 4
numbering little over ii 900 men. are
left for 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 vindictive spirit and large
numbers, threatened at its outset to become
and indeed was, very formidable These
regiments have accomplished within the
year march, averaging for each the ex-
traordinary distance of twelve hundred and
thirty four miles. These marches, in the
main, have been made through the unin-
habited solitudes and sterile deserts which
stretch away between the settlements of the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts, upon routes
which afforded nothing to facilitate the ad-
vance, except only tho heritage which the
beats of burden might pluck by the way
side
Every item Of supply, from horse shoe
nail to the largest piece of ordinance, has
been carried, from the depots, along the
whole line of those tedious marches to be
ready at the exact moment when necessity
might call for them. The country travers-
ed could yield nothing. The labor, fore
sight, method, aud care requisite to system
atize, and the energy, activity, and persist
ence to carry out such operations by the
different departments deserve the attention
OF the country, and, in my opinion, its COM
mendation too.
1t may be safely asserted that no army of
the same size ever before performed, in such
a length of time, marches and movements
OF such extent, surrounding in their pro.
gress such formidable obstacles: In the
Mormon rebellion and Indian wars. this
body Of men marched 300 miles. A large
portion of the report is taken up with the
history of the Mormon war, which has been
published.
The disbursements, amounting to nearly
Sl0.0O0,000, have been made through this
bureau during the last year and every trans
action has been finished, every account
closed, every voucher filed, with the ex-
cepton of $50, 900, not yet received, owing
to the great distance Of the discussing off
GERS from the seat of government The
operations of the Commissary Department
have been very satisfactory during the past
year. The appropriations for supplies being
sufficient there was money in hand to make
all necessary purchases I; and supplies of
better quality have been purchase ad Sor
lower rates than at any previous anne for
many years When contracts W neees-
sarly given had they been made on very sd ).
vantageous terms. The supply Of Neef FOR
the army in Utah and the internssdiate
posts has cost less than the ruling prices 10
New York or any of the Atlantic cities at
the same periods. The beef delivered in
Utah cost no more than eight dollars per
hun fred, nett at Fort Laramie seven dollars
and half per hundred, nett, whilst the sup
ply delivered at Fort Leavenworth, of the
latest and most superior quality of corn
fed beef, cost only six dollars and twenty
five cents per hundred nett,
The Secretary asks for appropriations to
construct suitable military works at Willets
Point and Fort Richmond. The military
road from Fort Smith to the Colorado is
nearly finished.
The camels have proved excellently
adapted to army use, and will be especially
useful whilst engaged in expeditions against
the rowing tribes of the plains. In all these
movements camels could be used, no doubt
to very great advantage. In the space of
three days we'll appointed command could
set out and traverse a space of one hundred
fatigue, and fall upon any Indian tribe per.
fectly unawares They would be able to
carry all necessary supplies for the campaign
and traverse the arid plains without any
inconvenience from want of water. The
superiority of the camel over the horse
would soon become so manifest for all
movements upon the plains and deserts,
that hostile Indians in those regions would
soon come to understand the hopeessness
of escape by fight, and the folly of maraud-
ing where chastisement was certain. He
recommends the purchase of one thousand
camels.
The School ofArtllery at Old Point has
answered expectations, aud the purchase of
a piece of land in the vicinity to catch the
balls at long range target practice is recon
mendcd. In army government he recon,
mends union of the corp of Engineers
with the Typographical Engineers, and the
appointment of three additional Brigader
Generals The estimated expenses of the
army for the next fiscal year, are SO, Ice, 44S
less than the present.