The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-07-17
Abstract Of the Secretary of
Wars Report.

ment in Slide Valve for Steam Engines.
Abstract Of the Secretary of
Wars Report.
| % ri
The report of the Secretary of War will
be read with unusual interest, and it will be
found instructive. After abiding to the
seizure of the public property by the rebels,
and the traitorous conduct of Twiggs, Secre-
tary Cameron justly praises the acts Of An
derson and Slemmer. He states that, while
under the cali Of the President for the mill
tia, in April, the Governors of Delaware,
Virginia and Missouri peremptorily refused
to send their quota, each of these States hav,
| ing since furnished a regiment raised by
patriotic citizens. The force new at the
command Of the Government is $40, 900 men,
and after the discharge Of the three months
volunteers, there will be force Of $50 900
officers and men. The increase in the reg.
ular army consists of one rcgimont Of cavalry
one of artillery, and nine Of infantry The
artillery contains twelve batteries, Of six
pieces each. Mr.. Cameron recommends that
the term of enlistment in the new regiments
shall be three years, and that, at the close of
the term, those who shall be honorably dis.
charged shall receive bounty Of one hun
dred dollars. In making the selections OF
officers it was necessary to make the appoint
ments from the regular service, by seniority
or by selection. The objection to the first
metlol was, that inefficient men might be
promoted to places which ought to be filled
by young and vigorous officers. The ohjec-
ton to the second was, that favoritism might
prejudice the claims of worthy officers. 1t
was Therefore wisely decided under the I'D
vice of the Generalin Chief to appoint one
half from the regular army and one half from
civil life. Of the civilians appointed, as reg
mental commanders, all except one are
either graduates of West Point, or have serv-
ed with distinction in the field Mr.. Cam
eron asks the sanction Of Congress for these
preliminary steps in the augmentation of the
close of the war reduction is necessary, q
sufficient one should be retained to protect
all the public property, wherever it may be
found
Of the volunteer system. he speaks highly
as substitute for standing army, stating
that facts now prove it reliable and efficient
in an emergency. The ardor with which men
of every rank and every station have come
forward, and the voluntary contributions both
from individuals and states, are alluded TO-
The calling out of a large force he deems in
strict accordance witha wise economy, and
regards vigorous measures as mefciful pol
icy. The appropriation required, in addition
to that already made for the year ending
June 80, 1861, for the force now in the field,
is $ls5, 296,397 He recommends an appro-
priation, for the reconstruction and equip
ment Of railroads AMI for the expense Of
maintaining and operating them, and also
for the construction of additional telegraph
lines and their appurtenances. He urges
the importance of enforcing the strictest dis
ciplne when active army operations are car
ried on in the rebellious States. He recon-
mends the organization Of military tribu
nal, to take cognizance Of criminal offences
and punish the guilty. The tribunal, how
ever, is not TO have jurisdiction if the func-
tons of the Federal courts are uninterrupt-
ed. In regard to the subsistence Of the
troops, he urges the importance of more
fresh meat and vegetables, and recommends
for the better protection of the men, water.
proof capes and blankets. He notices the
sanitary commission and the organization Of
military hospitals. The arms made at our
national manufactures, compare, he says,
most favorably with the best made for foreign
governments, and he recommends the ma
king Of those arms we may require, and
which the national armories cannot supply,
by private manufactures, in place of foreign
ones. As the rifle cannon is so efficient, ar
rangements have been made for rifling large
portion Of the guns now on hand The pre-
sentation of the Whitworth gun is noticed.
| Mr. Cameron deems necessary reorganiza-
| ton, upon uniform basis, of the military Of
the country, and notices favorably the eff
cient manner in which some IF the New Eng
land regiments now in service, are equipped.
He advises also the further distribution OF
improved arms among the militia. In allu-
ding to the disaffection among the officers Of
the army, he traces its causes 70 defects in
the system of education at the academy at
West Point, and earnestly trusts that Con-
grcss will examine thoroughly the system
Of education and discipline in that institution,
and provide without delay remedy for
whatever defects it may find. AS the ext
gencies Of the public service have greatly in
creased the labor Of the War Department, he
asks for a law authorized the appointment Of
an Assistant Secretary of War -New York
World.
! Prof. Roberts. the esteemed Mathematialc
tutor Of Burlington University has just bad