Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-12-17
Gen. Sherman's Report.

IN his reportas General of the Army. Gen. Sher-
man opposes any further reduction OF the army.
he says the entire army is on duty and he has con
slant calls for more troops which cannot be granted.
He calls the Presidents earnest attention to the
matter, so that Congress may be appealed to not
to diminish the milaryesablishment because of the
grea1exten of country the unsettled character OF
large region measured north, south, east and west
by thousands of miles; the acts of Indians who in
habit this region, and the growing necessities of al
fOrdng greater protection to the roads that
traverse this region, and the mining and agri-
cultural interests therein. While the nation at
large is at peace, state of quasi continues to
exist over onehalf its extent. and troops therein
are exposed to labors, marches, fights, and dangers
that amount to war; Withdrawing or largely
diminishing the troops in Texas, the Indian country,
Arizona New Mexico, Montana idaho, or Alaska, as
well IN some parts of the Southern States, would,
he believes result in condition of things amount
ing to anarchy. He refers to the labors and ex-
pOsurcs of officers and men, and hopes that they
will receive the to which they are fairly
entitled, that their labors appreciated. Officers
have been required to perform the duties OF Indian
agents, governors, shertls, &c, foreign to their
military training, and have done this duty without
murmur and with marked intelligence. Never,
he says, has he known the army officers so poor,
but they hope that by the appreciation OF currency
their compensation will soon become more salts
factory. Any diminution of their pay would result
in loss of the services of every good officer, to
the extreme damage OF the army ITSELF Gen.
Sherman advises the adoption by Congress OF
the new army regulations, as prepared by the
special Board of Officers. In referring to army
officers, of whom 1856 arc awaiting orders; the num-
Der of retired officers is TT He urges that cavalry
and artillery regiments be differed alike in reg-
mesta and company organization, and asks for an
extra lieutenant for cavalry companies. He argues
that it is unjust that reduction of the army should
fall exclusively upon the infantry arm Of service,
and recommends that, after Congress has enacted
the necessary laws, the President assemble board
of DISTINGUISHED general officers, to whom shall be
committed the whole matter of reduction and re-
organization. Gen. Sherman comments upon
what he calls the absurdty of the staff of the army
making their reports to the Secretary of War; if
this is continued, he says, we have the absurdty of
the General commanding the army, with his chief
staff officers reporting to somebody else. He hopes
for legislation that will allow officers Of the army
to call upon the General for troops instead of the
President. He advocates an increase Of pay for the
soldiers He recommends that forts covering the
cities of Portland. Boston, New York Philadelphia,
Baltimore. New Orleans, and San Francisco, be
completed as soon as possible. He calls attention
to the earnest recommendation of Gen. Thomas
that the Islands of Alaska ST. Paul and St. George
be sold to the highest bidder. He sinformed that
parties in San Francisco are ready to bid several
million dollars, which, he says, would go far toward
Identifying the Government for an otherwise poor
and costly country.