The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-18
LI,entena.nt eeneral. .Grant and the

4 ~
| WASHINGTON May 1.-THE sPresi-
dent to-day sent message to the House
enclosing the following communication
from Lieut.. Gen. Grant:
HRADQ,Rs ARMY UNITED STATES,
/ WASHINGTON, ID. O., May 16, '66.
/ Hon. e III. Stanton, Secretary Of Var:
StR:4 I'm view of the long delay in
the lower House OF Congress IN agree
| ing upon a plan for the reorganization
| of the army, suitable to our present re-
duiFements, and the urgent necesSi-
| ties for early action,I am induced to
present the matter to you officially, and
| TO ask the attention OF Congress TO It, be-
lieving when they have the matter tair,
| ly before them they will do what should
be done, speedily. At the present time
settlements are springing up with I'M
usual rapidity in the district of country
between the Missouri river ana the "a
citic ocean, where heretofore the 1nd1an
was left in undisputed possession.
Emigrants are pushing to these settle
menfs and to the gold fields of the
Rocky Mountains by every available
highway. The people hocking to. those
regions are citizens of the United States
and are entitled to the protection
of the Government. They are de-
Veloping the resources of the country to
| its great advantage, thus making it to
their interest as well as duty to give
them military protection. This makes
a much greater force west of the Mis-
sisSippi necessary than was ever here
tofore required. A small military
force is required in all the States lately
in rebellion, and II cannot be torSeen
that this force will not be required for
some time to come. 1t is to be hoped
that this force will not be necessary to
enforce the laws, either State or Ma
tional, but the differences of sentiment
engendered by the war which has ragged
for 4 years. will make the presence OF
military force necessary TO give a
classes disposed TO obey the laws Of
country, will feel thus alike to main
tain order. The Government has been
compelled to retain volunteers all the
while. The volunteers have become
dissatisfied, and claim that the contract
with them has been violated by retaln-
ing them after the war was over. BY
reason of dissatisfaction they are no
| longer of use, and every one now re-
naming in the service, might as well
be discharged at once. The colored vol
unteers have equal right to claim
has not asked for discharge. How
long will the existing laws authorize
the retention of this force, even If they
are content TO remain? The U. s. Sen
ate passed promptly a bill for the reor-
ganization of the army, which IN my
Opinion Is as Tree ODIeGllOu Any
great measure could possibly be, and it
would supply the minimum requisite
force. 1t gives but a few thousand adj
ditionnl men over the present organt-
cation, but gives larger number OF
additional battallions and companies,
and its public services, guarding routes
| over the plains and giving protection in
the southern States, demand the occu-
patton of a great number OF posts. For
many of them small company Is Just
as efficient as one with more men. 1t
would be the bill before Congress, or
the one that has passed the Senate
gives an increased number of compa-
MICS by diminishing the number of
rank and file of each company. 1t isan
exceedingly appropriate measure in
this particular. for it provides for the
| increase, when occasion requires, of
more men. The company Is the small
est unit of organization that can be used
Without materially injuring discipline
and efficiency. The beliefthat Congress
would act promptly in this matter, if
their attention was called to 1t,
has induced me to respectfully
ask your attention to it. If you agree
with me in this matter, / would also
ask If you deem 1t proper that this with
such endorsement MS you may be
pleased to make, be laid before Con-
greSs, through the Speaker ofthe House.
Very respectfully, FL.
Your Obed'nt serv't,
TSigned1 u. S. GRANT, Lit. Gen.