Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-26
crxrnaL TNTELLrGENC :.



communication from Gen. Grant.
WAsHrNeToN. May 17.-The Presl.
dant semi n message to the House to- day
enclosing the following communication
from Lit. Gen. Grant:
HEApo'Rs ARMIES OF UNITED STATES,
- W.sHINaToN, ID. C., May l6, 1866
~, Hon h. nc Stanton, Sec'y Of u ar:
STR;-In view of the long delay in
-tbe lower house of Congress in agreeing
upon plan for the reorganization OF
the army suitable to our present require
ments and the urgent necessity for early
action. am induced to present
fhal matter to you officially, and TO
ask the attention of Congress1 to 1T,
believing that when they have the mat
ter fairly before them they Wild what
sbould be done speedily. At the pres
emit time settlements are springing up
with unusual rapidity in the district OF
country between the Missouri river and
the Pacific ocean, where, heretofore,
the Indian was left in undisputed pos
session: emigrants are pushing to those
settlements and for the gold fields OF
the Rocky Mountains by every availa-
BILE highway. The people flOcking to
these regions are citizens of the United
States. and are entitled to the protec-
tion of the government. They are de-
yeIopipe the resources OF the country
to it's greatest advantage, thus making
it the interest as well as duty to give
them military protection. s..
This makes much greater force west
of the Mississippi necessary than was
ever heretofore required. A small mill
tary force is required In all the states
! lately in rebellion, and 1T cannot be
foreseen that this force will not be re-
quired for some time to come. Lit is to
be hoped that this force will not be
necessary to enforce the laws, either
state or national, but the differences of
sentiment engendered by the great war
which has ragged for four years, will
make the presence of n military force
necessary to give feeling of security to
the people. All classes disposed to obey
the laws of the country will feel this
alike. TO maintain order the govern
lrent has been compelled to retain vol
unteers all the while. The volunteers
have become dissatisfied and claim that
the contract with them has been YiOlat-
ed by retaining them alter the war was
over. -....e ...gs..
By reason of dissatisfaction they are
no longer of use, and every one now re-
manning in the service might as well be
discharged at once The colored vol
unteer has an equal right to claim ms
discharge, but as yet he has not done
So How long will existing laws au-
thorize the retention of this force, even
if they are content to remain? The
United States Senate passed promptly a
bill for the reorganization of the army,
which in my opinion is as free from OBJ
lection as any great measure could pos
sibly be, and it would supply the mini
mum forces required. 1t gives but a
few thousand additional men over the
present organization, but gives a large
number OF additional battalions and
companies, and the public service
guarding routes over the plains, and
giving protection in the Southern
States, demand the occupation of
a great number of posts. For
many of them a small company
is just as efficient as one with more men
would be. The bill before Congress-, or
the one that has passed the Senate,
gives an increased number of comps
MES by diminishing the number of rank
and file of each company. 1t IS an ex-
ceedingly appropriate measure In this
particular, for it provides for the in
crease, when occasion requires more
men. The company is the smallest
unit of organization that can be used with
ont materially ignoring discipline and
efficiency. The belief that Congress
would act promptly in this matter if
their attention was called to it, has in
duced me TO respectfully ask your at
tention to it if you agree with me in
this matter. 1 would also ask if you
deem it proper, that this, with such en-
dorsements as you may be pleased to
make, be laid before Congress through
the speaker OF the House.
Very respectfully your ob't serv't,
II. :. GRANT, Lit. Gen.