Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-14
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

secretary Stant0nS report IS important
in two points of view-tirst, as it relates
the history Of the final events Of the war,
and presents some remarkable facts III re-
lation to that history ; and, second as it
shows the wonderful capabilities of the
country for war, and indicates what we
can do if suddenly called upon to defend
our rights or assert the national dignity
In the latter view it glances quite directly
at the Mexican question, and will rcassure
all those who regret that our army has
been SO far disbanded while that question
has not yet been brought to definite issue
The military history of the great cam
paigns that gave us the victory is left TO
General Grant the Secretary is satisfied
to state results in that respect but lie
bears with natural emphasis on the rapid
change brought about through his depart
ment from war to peace-on the nolseless,
effective, almost immediate Obliteration Of
a vast army which the theorists of the Old
World had declared would in the hour Of
victory prove more dangerous to our liber
ties than the rebellion it had been required
to put down. The national military force"
says the report on the first of May, 1865,
numbered one million five hundred and six
military establishment to fifty thousand
troops, and over eight hundred thousand
have already been mustered out of service
The military appropriations of the last
session of Congress were over five hundred
millions Of dollars. The military estimates
for the next year are less than thirty-four
millions. This is a result Of victories that
the taxpayer can appreciate. Some OF the
figures given enable us to realize the en-
ormouS expenditures incident TO al army
of a million men Thus large slice Of
the national debt is well accounted for
when we learn that more than thousand
million dollars have been paid to the sol
diers Two hundred and seventy millions
we've taken home by the eight hundred
thousand men lately mustered out. Some
of the draft figures have also considerable
interest. The number of men asked for by
government to put down the rebellion was,
on all calls together, 2,I59,O49, and the
number of men actually brought out was
only 1902, ,496 short of this. This deficiency
was not from failure, but occurred rbecause
the recruiting was stopped by the end OF
the war.
What the Secretary says as to our abili-
ty to organize another army. if circumstan-
ces should require it, has a national inter
est at the present time. He states that
the estimate for the army, as given above,
''is believed to be adequate for any nation
! al exigency. if the country should be bless
ed with peace. The reduction of the ma
tional military force, in its rapidity and
numbers, is without example, and if the2 e
be any alarm in the public mind because
this reduction is made while grave ques-
| tions at home and abroad are unsettled, a
| brief consideration of the subject will show
that there is no cause for apprehension
| The Secretary then runs over the facts that
the troops dsbanded were volunteers, who
/ came out originally to support the govern
ment that there struggles in its cause
have not lessened their love for it, and
that "a foreign war would intensity the
national feeling, and thousands once mis-
led, would rejoice To atone their error by
rallying to the national flag" The only
question relating to troops is one with res
pect to how soon we could raise them
''Our experience on this point" says the
report "is significant When Lees army
surrendered thousands of recruits weIe
pouring in, and men were discharged from
stations in every State. On several oc
casions when troops were promptly needed
to avert impending disaster, vigorous ex
ertion brought them into the field from re
mote States with incredible speed Officia
reports show that after the disasters o.
the Peninsula, in 1862, over eighty thous
) and troops were enlisted, organized, armed
equipped and sent into the field in less tha
month. Sixty thousand troops have IT
= peatedly gone to the field within four weeks
Ninety thousand infantry were sent to tn
| armies from the five States of Ohio, Indiana
E Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin within twent
: days" And it is shown that in all othe
: respects we are as ready for war as W
= were before our vast army went home.
Il These facts will make the report yer