The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1864-01-13

iltit IL is not ueeIneu ucCtHSdIf " punt 10 Tile
evil consequences which would result from the
destruction of the old organisations, or dwell
upon the benefits to be secured from filing up
the veteran companies as long before the dis
charge OF the earl Y members as may be possible
In the case where It may be found impractical
BILE to maintain regiments IN sufficient strength
to justify the retention OF the present 0rgQnisa-
ton, economy and efficiency would be promoted
by consolidation and re6rgapisaton This would
invoke the necessity Of disbanding part of the
officers, and making regulations for securing the
most iudicious selection Of those who are retain
ed, while least woundlng the feelings OF those
who are discharged.
Experience has shown the necessity for further
legislation IN relation to the horses of the cavalry
Many men lose their horses by casualties OF ser
vice, which are not included IN the provisions
made to compensate the owners for their loss,
and it may thus frequently happen that the most
efficient troopers, without tault OF their own in
deed it NAV be because Of their Eel and activity
are lost TO the cavalry service.
I-wOutd also seem proper that the government
should nave complete control over every horse
mustered into the service, with the limitation
that the owner should not be deprived Of his
horse except upon due compensation being made
therefor. Otherwise, mounted men may not
keep horses fit for the service; and the question
whether they should serve mounted CT on foot
wnuldsd depend, not upon the qualifications OF the
men, but the fact Of their having horses.
Some provision is deemed requisite to correct
the evils arising from the long continued absence
of commissioned officers. Where it is without
sufficient cause it would seem but just that .he
commission should be thereby vacated.
Where it results from capture by the enemy,
which, under their bar6arous refusal to exchange
prisoners Of war, may be regarded as absence
for an indefinite time, there is a necessity to
supply their places in their respective commands
This might be done by temporary appointments
to endure only until the return Of the officers
regularly commissioned. Where it results from
permanent disability incurred in the line Of their
duty, it would be proper to retire them and fill
the vacancies according to established mode. |
would also suggest the organisation Of an inva-
lid corps, and that the retired officers be trans
ferred to it. Such corps, it is thought could
be made useful in various employments, for
which efficient officers and troops are now de-
tached.
An organisation of the general staff Of the
army, would be highly conducive 30 the efficen-
CIV of that most important branch of the service.
The plan adopted for the military establishment,
furnishes model for the staff Of the provisional
army, if it be deemed advisable to retain the
distinction. but I recommended your considera-
ton IL 9ropciety Of abolsh,ng it, and providing
for The organisation of the several staff corps in
such number and with such rank as will meet
all the wants Of the service To secure the re
qulsite ability for the more important positions,
il will be necessary to provide for officers OF
higher rank than is now authorised for these
CORPS To give to the officers the proper relation
and c0inteligence in their respective corps, and
to preserve in the chief Of each, useful influence
and control over his subordinates, there should
be no graduation on the basis of the rank of the
general with whom they might be serving by ap-
appointment.
TO the personal staff of general, it would
seem proper to give grade corresponding with
his rank. and the number might be fixed to cor
respond with his command. To avoid the conse
quence Of discharge upon a change OF duty, the
variable portion of the personal staff might be
taken from the line of the army, and allowed tt
1 retain their line commission.
! The disordered condition Of the currency, t.
which have already alluded has imposed on tn
government a system Of supplying the wants 0
| the army which is so unequal in It's operations
vexations to the producer. injurious to the indus
trial interest, and productive Of such dlsconten
among the people, as only to be justified by til
! existence Of an absolute necessity The repOr
of the secretary on this point establishing cen
/ clusively that the necessity which has forced IL
bureaus Of supply to provide for the army b.
/ inDressment, has resulted from the impossibilit
of purchase by contract or in open market, eX
cept at such rapidly increased rates as woul
have rendered the appropriations Inadequate t
that the temptation to hoard supplies for tn
higher prices which could be anticipated wit
certainty, has been checked mainly by the fea
OF the operation Of the impressment law; an
that commodities have been offered in the market
principally to escape impressnent, and obtai
) higher rates than those fixed by appraisemen
, The complaints against this vicious system hay
been we'll founded, but the true cause Of the CIV
} has been misapprehended. The remedy is to b
found, not in a change Of the impressment law
} but in the restoration Of the currency TO such
/ basis as will enable the department to purchas
necessary supplies in the open market and thu
S render impressment rare and exceptional pre-
I cess.
/ The same remedy will effect the result uniTel
! sally desired, Of an augmentation Of the pay
! the army. The proposals made at your previor
n session, to increase the pay Of the soldier by
! additional amount Of treasury notes, would hay
conferred little benefit on him, but radical +
d form Of the currency will restore the pay to
n value aDproximating that which it originally ha
i and materially improve his condition.
j. The reports from the ordnance and mimi
\ bureaus are very gratifying, and the extension
h our means of supply OF arms and munitions
5, war from our home resources has been such as
q ensure our ability soon to become mainly, ii n
Y entirely independent Of supplies from foreis
J. countries The establishment OF the casting
\ Guns and proiectes; for the manufacture Of sma
/, arms and g0npowder, for the supply Of nit
), from artificial nitre beds; and mining operation
II generally, have been so distributed through Il
= country, as to place our resources beyond Il
" -reach of partial disasters.
)t The Recommendation Of the secretary Of war
other points, are infinitely detailed in hisrepol
1t which is submitted to you, and extending,
n they do almost to every branch Of the seryil
lie merit careful consideration.
t, regret 10 inform you that the enemy have
S, turned to 5he barbarous policy with which tn
$, inaugurated the war, and that the exchange
e prisoners has been for some time suspended. 4
le correspondence Of the commissioners Of eXchan
1e is submitted to you by the secretary Of war,
s it has already been published for theinformati
is of all row suffering useless imprisonment. 7
he conduct Of the authorities Of the United Sta
O. has been consistently perfdioua on this subie
An agreement for exchange in the incipiency
II the war had just been copchded when the fail