Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-12-12

her Increasing the capacity Of this Arnory, believing
that be made sufficient to supply oil the muskeis
and rifles which the Government may hereafter need In
any contingency Located in healthy country in the
midst OF nn industrious nnd ingenious people, where
pcent workman always be obtained without diff
Guilty. and sufficiently 10 all the materials needed IN
the manufacture Of arms is at the same time
to every part OF the country BY wutcr and railway
muuicaon.
Afer having made conrncls for arms with private es
adjustments In this country it wos deemed by
the Prestlcnt to insure speedy aud ample supply.
send special agsi to Europe with funds to the amount
OF two millions of dollars to purchase more. nm graft
hcd 10 state ihut he has made arrangements for large
number Of arms part Of which have already been eliv
cred The remainder will be shipped by successive steam
crs until oil shall have been received.
Combinations among manufacturers, importers. and
agents for the sne OF arms have in many cnses caused
mn undue Increase IN prices To prevent advantage be-
thus nken OF the necessities Of the Government Col
ecors Of Customs have been directed deliver 10 the
ngenis OF the United States all arms aid munitions thnt
may be imported ihio this country.
The demand for arms has called into existence numer-
Gus establishments for their manufacture throughout the
loyal PORTION OF the country aud hns been the policy of
this Department To encourage thu development OF the cap
al en,er rise. and skill OF people il this direction
The Government should never have less than million
OF nuskes IN It's nrs;nals with n spending propor-
on of arms and equipments fol artillery nnd cavalry.
Otherwise may, nt most criticul find itself
deficient IN gus while having an abundance Of men
Irecomnend that application be made 10 Congress for
authority 10 establish National foundery Tor the
faciure OF heavy artillery at such point may niord the
greatest facilities for the purpose. While sufficient
number OF cannon, perhaps could r procured from pr
manufactures The possession Of Naonn establish
nent would lead to experiments which wonld be useful
TO The country md prevent imposition in prices by the
accurate knowledge that would be acquired TO The real
value Of work OF his character.
IL my last rcpor called attention to the uc hu lcgs-
lnon wns necessary for tie reorganization, upon uni
form basis, of the militia Of the county Some general
plan should be provided by Congress III aid OF The States
by which mila can be organized armed. and dis.
ciplined. and made effective any Tor umcdi-
service. II thoroughly trained in time oi peace.
when Occasion demands, itmay be converted into
army coniidsn N rs discipline and uncoqnerahle IN its
ganilnlion upward OF 100000 men have already been
brought into the field ond in view of the alrcrty and
enthusiasm that have been displayed, do not hesitate
express the belief that combination OF cnn arise
In which this country vii not be able not only protect
itself bur- contrary 10 its policy. which peuce with all
the world, 10 enter aggressive operations against
power thai inermeddc with lonr site tnirs
j'omm,tce should appointed by Congress with n,I-
lory TO sit during the devise aud report n
plan for the general organization Of the Militia Of the
Unrd Stntes
be given to the rOnf)n Of our ortilcatOns uron the
scnhonrd ami the takes. and upon exposed frontiers
They shnil NJ once he piuced IN perfect coalition for
successful defense AgrrcSsi?ns are seldom mndc upon
n nnon ever ready 10 dcrnd its honor and repe in
suits. and should show to the world that while en-
| gagged in quellng disturbances NJ home able to
protect ourselves against attacks from abrond
| earnestly recommend that immediate provision be
made for increasing tho corps OF Cadets To the grenest
capacity Of the Military Academy. There are now only
1872 cadets Mt iat important institution. am assured by
the Superintendent thnt 400 at present be ncconn-
dated. aud that will very ring additional xpcnsc this
number he increased 10 800 II Is necessary ut
this late dsy TO sneak of the value Of edcntcd soldier,
While. in time OF rebellion we mu Il ever depend
mnnly upon niiin and volunteers. shall always
need thoroughly y-lrairel officers. Two classes having
been graduated during the present year, IN order the
service night have the jenet OF their military educaiio
hnd hoped thu Congress al its oxra session. would
thorikc ncrcnsc o the number. Having failed do
So ,rnst that the ap roaching session increase will
be authorized und that tie selection of cadets he limited
exclusively those Srtes, whirh. cooperniing cordially
with the Government have brought their forces into the
| fold To aid in the maintenance OF its authority
Ia his connection justice requires thai should call at
tenon to the clans OF veteran officer to whom,
hnn any othet,tc lnry Academy indebted for il.
present prosperous and II cient condition ulude Col
Sylvanus Thnycr OF the Engineer Corps, who now, by
of ndv1nced years mud faithful public services I.
incapacitacd for duy IL the field Under the law
Of Congress may isly clnm to be- retire., from active
service but. believing tlar his distinguished services
should receive sonc mark OF nchno iedggncnt the
Government recommend hni nuthoiy be asked to
| ilfc him nrpn hls tall pay niid tmolnnIrnts
The health vi nn army consideration Of the highest
consequence Good men ard women in di lerent States
impclrd by the highest motives oi bcncy aud pa
ifoi'm lave come IN aid Of the constituted sanitary
rnnTemcnts oil the Government and been greatly instru-
M aia IN dimli-hing dsoasc IN the camps giving ,-
creased conorl md In pess To the life al the soldier
and nrar,ing to our hos piia service humane and
generous character sauhrity OF situation mud pleas
nnuess OF SURROUNDINGS have dciutcd the choice Of tho
hospital sites and establishments for sick nmd wound
ed. Of which we have every reasoi To be proud have
been opened IN ST. Louis Washington. teorgetown Bnt-
timorc aud Annapolis and will be attached EVERY di-
vision Of the ar;y in tao field To The close oi The
yisan care shall he given To the Lcan OF the well sol
der and 10 the cominri ind recovery oi the sick.
recommend that the lystem OF promotions which pre-
walls IN the regular service be applied 10 the volunteer
iorces III the respective iaes ricng however, the
promotion TO men actually N the field Al present each
Governor So ecis aud appoints the officers for the troops
furnished by lis State, uld complaint IL Frequently
when occur ~ The icld men oI nier
ior qualifications are pluce ed IN command ovcrrhose m the
cupacIy. The advancement OF merit should bc the load.
ing prucple IN nll prom itons md the volunteer soldier
should be given 10 understand that prrtennen will hc the
sure reward ol intelligence, fidelity aud distinguished
service.
| The above recommended has been pursued by
this Department and il is my intention, is In my
"A
| most beneficial elect upon the enilrr service.
BY existing laws and regulations a officer oi the reg.
Notwithstanding the com on OF the aiIcr may be OF
nniecedent date IN my IMtmen,, this practice has
tendency repress the ardor and to limit the opportunity
for disnnciI OF volunteer officers. und change
should be nude by which seniority Of Should
submit lar reflection the question whether the dis
tinction between Regulars and Volunteers which now
is should he permitted 10 continue The efficiency OF
the army il appears to me, might be greatly increased
by consolidation OF the Two during the continuance OF
| them one grand army Of the Union.
| Recruiting Tor the Regular army has not been
| attended with that successwhich was anticipated +,
althougha large number ot mell have entered this
branch OF the service While II is admitted that
1 soldiers In the Regular army, under the control OF
officers OF military education and experience. are
generally better cared for than those in the Vol.
uhner service, IL Is certain that tho popular pre-.
| erence Is largely given 10 the latter. Young
men evidently prefer to enter a corps differed by
| their friends aud acquai utaHces, and, beside the
bounty granted TO Volunteers in most of the
Suites, inducements arc often directly offered To
them by those whose commissions depend upon
their success In obtaining recruits. In addilis,
/ the Volunteer Is allowed to draw his iu II pay OF
$l3 per month, while by law 50 per month are
deducted irom the pay otihe Regular, 10 be return
ed TO him at the end OF his tenn of service. In
/ my judgement, this law should be repealed, and
rpay when due. He should also receive either a
| reasonable bounty upon enlisiinQ, or an advance