The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-06
7 RI e "A R M Y.
he Annual Report of the General-in-
Chief-The Question of Relative
Rank-The Present Condl-
ton of the Army-Our
Military Force and
How it is Dis.
tributed.

Thc following are the material portions OF the
port of General William Il. Sherman, Generaln-
hief OF the Army, which was made to Secretary
Flknap under date Of November 20, and by him
Rnsmitted to Congress at noon to-day
Line OF the Army.
For the purpose of military responsibility and
bvernment the domain OF the United States is
vided into twelve departments and three districts,
Nicer who by law is invested with all the powers
h the commanding general of an army In the field,
nd held responsible G dor te Gpne o ood anI orn
far the military authority extends and for the
bare OF all public property that belongs TO the army
he limits and boundaries OF these departments are
better described by the map and tabular statements
kerewth than by any mere words could give.
/ In order 70 prompt action in case OF need, and to
lace similar territory and similar interests under
Common commander, these departments are again
|nanded by the four generals next in command to
3y the organic law OF July 2s, 1866, as modified by
That Of March 8, 1859, the regular army now consists
n five regiments OF artillery ten OF cavalry, twenty
I've Of Infantry, battalion OF engineers, and the
cadets OF the Military Academy. These are all as
\rned to the several departments by regiments or
companies; but each division commander can rein
bGce any point within his command 10y transferring
he troops from one OF his departments to another.
AS a general rule the artillery companies are dis
*Sbuted In the permanent forts along our seaboard
Rom Eastport, Maine, to the mouth OF the Rio
1Erande, and from San Diego, California to Alaska
kerving on foot. One company OF each regiment Is
Ounted and equipped rs g91 alreTy; @ one tS oi
bher four at Fort Riley, Kansas, as school OF in
ruction. Another company OF each regiment dn
El hye) is stationed at Old Point Comfort as "a
hoo OF instruction for heavy seacOast artillery
An the ten regiments OF cavalry are serving in Texas
Nb Indian country, ana lAclnc Territories, with the
Exception of single company mere In washington,
4hch Is the only cavalry east OF the Mississippi
Ever
N e twenty-five regiments OF infantry are dis
u uted :-One regiment along the northern frontier,
ne in Virginia, one in Mississippi, and three in the
department OF lhe South. The remaining nineteen
kegiments are in Texas, the Indian country, and
Western States and Territories.
Three companies OF engineer troops are at Willetts
Point New Yolk Harbor, one at Jefferson Barracks,
Missouri, and one at Yerba Buena Island, San
Francisco Harbor doing garrison duty, and more
specially designed to preserve the practical know
eige OF field fertilization, of mines, and OF pontoon
bridging.
Il The cadets are at the West Point Academy under
going Instructions preparatory to being commissioned
Is oficers OF the army.
At this moment we have not a single regiment that
NAV be said to be in reserve. All are on duty, and
ave constant calls for more troops, which cannot be
granted beg, therefore, your earnest attention tO
his matter, that Congress may be appealed to moi
'O diminish the military establishment any further
ecauI of the great extent OF our country aud the
SOUTH cast and west by thousands of miles.
Consolidation.
By the organic act of July 28 1866 fixing the peace
Establishment, there was provision for forty-ay'