The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-14
Important Report from the
Adjutant-G General of the
United States Armies.
Advices from South America
Earthquakes and Revolutions
A Practical Movement to
Release Cuba.
Further Election Returns
from the Northwest.
FROM WASHINGTON
Report of the Adjutant-GenerRIO of the
Army-The Military Strength of the


Army-The Military Strength of the
Nation.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-The Adiutant. General
of the army has made his annual report to the
Secretary of War. The actual strength of the
regiments in the service on the 3Oth of Septem.
Der was 43 TAI men, and beside these there were
434O men in the Engineer, Ordnance, aud other
special branches of the service. An unusually
large number of discharges have been
granted during the year on individual applica
tions, and these, with ordinary discharges
and casualties, are rapidly diminishing
the regiments, except of cavalry, which are
necessarily kept in force, because of the Indian
depredations. 1t is reported that 45OO men are
to be discharged before New Years, by reason
of the expiration of their term of enlistment
The number of desertions last year was 27OO
less than in the previous year, and the number
of deserters arrested was nearly thousand
greater, and the proportion of losses by deserton
to the strength of the army is considerably less
than last year. Recruiting was carried on for all
branches of the service until Nov. 26, 1867
when orders we're issued to reduce all regiments
of infantry aud artillery except the ten light
batteries, to the number of fifty privates per
company, and to reduce the recruiting service
cavalry and four for infantry. Recruiting for
infantry and artillery was suspended April 8,
1868, except in cases of old soldiers desiring to
enlist; and on the oath of July, 1868, instruc.
tions were issued prohibiting all enllstments or
re-enlistments, except as musicians, of any men
in either of these two branches. 1t is added
that to still further reduce the expense and
strength of the military establishment,
IA. -, .
have been reduced as much as possible,
and the schools of instruction have been
suspended. No recruiting of any kind but for
cavalry has been going on since the end of last
July, and there are only five stations for
recruiting in this arm of the service. The
regiments on the Pacific coast have, as far as
possible, to avoid expense of transportation,
been supplied with recruits obtained in Cali
fornia. The strength of all the colored regi-
ments in the service is nearly up to the required
standard. The Adjutant-General renews the
recommendation which he made last year,
namely, that men be enlisted for five instead OF
three years. He further recommends that
Congress authorize the enlistment OF boys over
twelve years of age as musicians, with the con.
sent Of their parents.
The Adjutant-General speaks at some length
on the subject of military prisons. He says
that the present system of punish hment in the
army not only fails to reform the men, but tends
to degrade them; and that by thro wing hardeued
and desperate criminals into close contact with
young and thoughtless soldiers, subjects the
latter to contamination by both precept and
example. He forcibly alludes to the evils of
guard-house confinement, and holds that they
are the fruitful cause of desertion. He,remarks
against the civil law often enter the army to
escape the penalty of their offenses, and
at this time there is no way Of getting
rid Of these men; for if they are dis
charged from one regiment they will go
to another part of the country and enlist again
under other names. After spe Aking further and
with much feeling and judgment on this subject
OF army discipline and punishment, the Adjutant-
General declares again, as he did last year, for
military prisons. These, he says, If properly
managed would serve as retormatory institu-
tions, and would rid the army of many vicious
and insubordinate men; they would materially
diminish the need and expense Of courts
martial, prevent the discharge of many
desperate men in unsettled parts OF the
country, where they always become pests
and outlaws, and would facilitate the
recognition OF OHenders against the CIVIL law
who have entered the ranks of the army. He
proposes to build the first prison in New York
harbor aud If that is found to work well, theu
he would have Congress provide for similar in
stitutions on Ship Island at one point on the
Pacific coast, and at one point in the Mississippi
valley. The labor of cOnvicts and the stoppages
of pay would, he thinks, nearly support each
prison after its erection. He would have
companies of discipline attached to each prison,
into which, under proper regulations, all idle
and worthless men of the class who prefer being
in the guard-house to doing duty should be
transferred, and would have these vagabonds
severely dealt with. He sketches his plan in
detail, and suggests that 1t be submitted to Con-
press The report closes with tables showing
The number and rank OF officers in the Adjutant-
Generals Department.