Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-12-08
RICHMOND SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER

reau have been discharged. Since the secretary lm
Foyd came into Office more than S2i 900 900 have been
sbursed by about hundred and three officers and
agents. These expenditures have been in strict conor
Inity 10 law and regulations OF the department, and all
this large amount has been fully accounted for and set
tied except 900 which has beel suspended against
dsbursng oicersprobaby the whole Of which will be
credited them upon further explanations Of their pay
ments sricter accountability or fat dis.
| bursement It would be difficult to secure.
The final completion Of the military road connecting
the Mississippi valley with the Pacific coast and extend
inc from Fort Wal-Wala the Oregon river, across
the mountain ranges to Fort Benton the head of the
Missouri river is referred TO. The Secretary, who
first initiated this grand project coming into office,
says il has already demonstrated the important fact that
it can be made available for moving large bodies of
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and will constitute the
means by which we defend possessions in that
remote Territory against any force that be brought
against it. Indeed can concentrate by this line in
the course of three at most four MONTHS the Pa
cGc stronger force than could be put there by any
other power in the space Of year. probably much
longer time. A considerable portion Of this Missouri
route from the headwGters Of that river 10 the Oregon
passes through country capable OF sustaining aIge
population IL is mOuntaineOus but the climate is salu
brious and the soil is well adapted TO grazing There
are good grounds believe that the mountains abound
in rich veins of precious metals The march Of troops
through this region keeps in subordnaton the Indian
tribes upon the route and this ia matter of great i'm
pOrtance TO the Northern settlements o: Washington
are numerous waIke and powerful.
The experiments OF the improvement of ordnance
arms aud equipments for the army and militia have been
continued with valuable results-have greatly improved,
if they have not perfected the fabrication OF and
garrison gut carriages Of rOn the models and modes of
casting of heavy Cannon aud the quality Of metal for the
same. The is true as to the manufacture OF cannon
powder particularly for guns of large cabres whereby
the endurance of such guns has been much increased
without any dminuOn Of their effectiveness But IL Is
i. = ia. 4 r.a.s.l.
that such experiments have been satisfactory aud valua-
BILE.
The report OF board OF ordnance and artillery Off
GERS who have been occupied during the past summer
aud fall in experimental firing with rifle cannon, leaves
no doubt that the accuracy and effectiveness OF our ar
lery may be vastly increased at comparatively small
pense without dscardng from the good and service
able cannon Of present models requiring only that
they be ihegrooved to adapt them TO rifle can
non with James elongated expanding proectCs. This
easy and cheap mode will convert the smooth bored into
riffs cannon throwing nearly double the weight Of metal
without increasing rain TO lessen the durability of the
guns endanger the safety Of those serving them Ar
rangements have been ordered to be made for Ing
portion OF this plan, whics is the best, in
all respects that has far been brought TO notice.
An appropriation Of about fifty thousand dollars for
experiments for the improvement of and military
supplies Il highly desirable aud it Is recommended that
the law which prohibits the purchase Of military
supplies, Of patented invention, be so amended as to
except from the prohibition such arms other military
supplies as constitute regular part Of the armament or
equipment Of troops and also the improved patented
mode of casting aud cooling for iron cannon. 1t should
be repealed all articles used in the quarterm4steis
department.
The existing Law for armng and equpping the whole
body of the militia of the United States which pass
ed in 1905 and is still in operation is entirely insufficient
for It's tfecual accomplishment, and the attention OF
Congress is called TO the fact The want Of a rational
armory for the fabrication OF cannon also enforced on
Congress
Very frequent and numerous experiments have been
made under the present scretays direction of breech
loading arms and inventions for this purpose are
derluly numerous Many have been rejected but some
paus for breachoading have been approved after very
numerous experiments aud are conceded by all who
familiar with them and capable Of judging to be far
the most efficient arms ever put into the hands OF intel
ligent Immediate steps, he says ought to be taken
TO arm all our light troops with the approved OF
these arms. On this poin. the Secretary further
marks:
hES OLD It ue 20 MID Sf Ia mwRefe m @ S snSn SENDS
ger without furnishing him with he best not the
swer to say that troops cannot be taught to use with
skill this character Of arm rs well as another IL is the
practice and drill that make the soldier expert in the use
Of his arm and whilst he may attain to great skill with
GOOD weapon he certainly do so with an in
different one think il may be fairly asserted now, that
the highest efficiency of body OF men with firearms
cap ons be secured by putting in their hands the best
breechloading arm. "he long habit of using muzze-
loading arms will resist what be great in
novation and ignorance may condemn; but as certainly
the percussion cap has superseded the flint and Steel so
surely will the breechoadng gun dive out OF use those
that load &C the muzze. For cavalry the revolver and
breechoader will snperSede tle sabre
The report next reconus til movements OF several
poring expeditions during the last four years and states
that the West Point Military Academy has been progress
ing In its usual course except that the Of study
and discipline has been extended from four years TO
five.
The settlements on Pugets Sound aud the adjacent
waters are exposed the ncursiOns of warke Indians
from the British and Russian provinces. These Indians
come down in large canoes which carry from fifty to one
hundred warriors, and move with great speed. The
steamer Massachusetts, is used to give notice OF their ap
proach and to aid in defending the white settlers but
more suitable steamer Of light draft is urgently
needed.
Great credit is awarded to Major SedgSck and his
troops for the in which they have constructed
the works at Fort Wyse. This post 10 situated in the re-
pion of the Camanches and Kiowas, and towards the
gold discoveries in Pixies Peak 1t is necessary for the
pro econ of the crowds of people moving contnu-
ousy in that direction from lawlcss aud hostile bands OF
Indians Without any Of those facilities so essential to
substantial and cheap hor SedgWick with
his troops alone and almost without Tools except those
of the rudest Sort has been able TO construct OF stonc
houses Of the mpst substantial chagaaer, aud IN suh-
cent numbers TO shelter all the stores necessary for his
command which consisted Of six oompanies-tour OF
horse and two of infantry.
Brevet Brgadier General Toen, chief Of the corps
of engineers has paid out, part OF the price Tor
ground purchased for Fort Tompkns the of 5000,
which the Secretary contends ought TO be refunded to
him.
Mr. FLOYD concludes his report by urging that the
counting officer for the War Department should be pac-
ed directly under the control OF the Department ITSELF
ccuoI .psutps Ar WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE BE.