The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-06

more exposed garrsons of the Indian country.
The consolidation has thus been effected at as
little cost as possible, and principles fair and
just as the case admitted
by this consolidation were rendered super
Assigned TO fill vacancies ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. II
transferred to fill vacancies in cavalry. 7
transferred to fill vacancies in artillery..... 10
Died. ed...........................
Dismissed OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
1asnleieu' '''.....................
ltetred' l
Total Observation-Disclosures. 1l3
Balance Of unattached officers November w 500
herewith submit table showing the organization
as proposed and assuming the number OF regiments
to sreman unchanged wiz, forty, and allowing a
maximum OF seventy five prvates to each company,
it would give us for the line OF the army two thou
sand one hundred and thrty-1ve l2135 commissioned
officers, and forty-two thousand four hundred and
ninety 42,99O men. 1t is well known that no army
can be Kept up to Its legal standard, and that two
actual service. Applying this MS ratio we have for
actual service about twenty-nne thousand seven
hundred and fifty o75O) officers and men-a num-
Der that no one acquainted with the subject can de-
clare to be above the necessities of the country.
It also seems unjust to permit the whole blow OF
reduction TO fall upon the infantry arm Of service
alone. The cavalry and artillery should share In the
consequences, and therefore recommend, after
Congress has enacted the necessary laws, that the
President assemble board of disinterested general
officers, to whom shall be committed the whole mat
ter OF reduction and reorganization with authority
TO transfer unattached infantry officers to vacancies
that exist or may be created in the regiments OF
v,
recommend for actual disbandment the officers
found in excess OF the new organization. In spite
Of whatever may be done, there will be cases OF
hardship and seeming injustice, but it is allimpOrt
ant that the rule that cuts Off all promotion should
be removed as soon as possible, for army can he
ehcient without holding out to the Junior officers
the hope OF promotion.
staff of the Army
This term applies to those officers and men who
administer to the wants of every military establish
men and are in our service classified as Adjutants-
g-(f NJ itor
Justice, Quartermasters, Commissarles, Surgeons,
Paymaster's and Ordnance Departments, Corps of
Engineers, Chief Signal Onlcer, and Post Chapaius.
The names imply their respective duties, and the
organic law OF lS66Imits and prescribes their num-
Der. The heads of these departments reside in
Washington, and submit annually written report
OF their operations for the past year.
ing the month of October, when by law these reports
were made in order to reach the Public Printer by
reports to be addressed like ali other military re-
ports to the Acknowledgement, for the perusal of
the General Of the Army who could make use Of
them before the Secretary OF War. This is, in my
judgment, the course that should always be pur-
aued-thOugh different one has heretofore pre-
vaied-for otherwise we would have the absurdity
of a General commanding the army with his chief
staff officers reporting to somebody else The
General can have no objection to any amount of
labor being imposed upon these departments by
Congress, by the President, or Secretary of War;
but all orders and instructions touching army
movements by law must pass through the General
of the Army that he may know what is transpiring
See section 2, Act of Congress approved March q
1861
This matter has already attracted the attention OF
Congress, for find printed report army orga-
nzatiOn was made on the Goth OF February 1869, by
Mr.. Garfield, from the Committee on Military Affairs,
to the House OF Representatives. This report, with
the testimony OF the several officers Herewith con-
tans much matter that is worthy OF the most serious
consideration. need only refer to some Of its con-
clusons:-"The staff departments or corps are, in
the opinion OF the committee, too large In proportion
time tendency towards the multiplication of de-
partments, increase OF rank, and independence Of
| control in the star that ought to be checked"
heartily concur in these views, and so far as my
| authority goes, will carry them out 1t would be
absurd to hold General Schofed, or General Augur
or General Hancock, responsible for affairs in their
| most important departments If they have not the
absolute command of their troops and OF the stafT
officers who minister to their necessities. If Con-
gress will only enact the Articles OF War, all
hurtful distinctions heretofore existing will at once
cease, and all parts of the army will be put on the
| same honorable footing
| Miscellaneous.
In reference to the report OF the Commissary-
General General Eaton, it is proper that should
say that the army has been well supplied with good
Of articles not embraced in the ration. Tor sale to
the companies and the officers families at price
sufficient to reimburse the department This obvi-
ates the necessity for suffers, which are now pro-
| hibted by law, except as mere traders having no
lien whatever on the soldiers pay. The Officers OF
| the Subsistence Department are at depots and the
actual issues to the troops made by line oicers
| styled acting commissares OF subsistence who re-
| ceVe an extra compensation of twenty dollars q
month less the value OF ration. (See section g act
| of Congress approved March 2, 1879
| From personal experience doubt If 1t be practi-
cable to commission the officers specially such, or
to appoint permanent commissary sergeans, because
| of the constant changes OF stations OF our small
| army but think they should have q fair c0mpensa-
tiOn for the extra labor and risk imposed on them
by these duties. | recommend the repeal OF the
DTOUiSO OF the second section herenbefore referred
| TO- and that the Oflcers acting as quartermasters
| and cOmmissaries OF posts receive ten dollars a
| month where there are two companies or less, and
| twenty dollars month where the garrison Is more
| than two companies.
The Engineer Department has charge OF the con
| structOn OF the permanent forts, the improvement
OF rivers, harbors, and various other duties imposed
by special laws SO much as refers to the forts con
Germs the army that must live in them and fight
them, and therefore falls within my Official province
All else not directly Affecting the army, is none Of
my business.
j concur with General Dyer perfectly in his re
concentrations that the small and surplus arsenali
at Rome, N Y, Champlain, Vt, Mount Vernon
Ala, Appaachicola, Fla, and Fayetteville, N O.. b(
sold, as well as the captured establishments a
in Marion and Davis counties, Texas. Other small
arsenals might in due course OF time be sold, unit
we have, at central points, but few great arsenal
and depots OF powder and these should be OF th
most perfect Kind, on the most extensive scale
Our railroads can rapidly transfer from these arse
nails the requisite stores at the times and to tn
places needed on short notice.
In conclusion, ! VIII invite the attention OF th
proper authorities TO the earnest recommendation o
General Thomas, made in his report, and repeatet
to personally that the seal islands OF Alaska ST
Paul, ana st. George be sold, after due advertise
ment, to the highest bidder. From the nature OF tn
fur SEAL either of these islands, held by singl
owner, viii be most valuable property; but
thrown open to the world they Will soon becom
islands II they are hunted and killed without du
regard TO their habits.
vOuN EApNIrAE e. CO rOAT1ussTON MEV