New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-26


REGULAR ARMY-TIIE NEW TACTICS.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-The following is the
fun text Of the annual report OF the General OF the
Army To be submitted TO Congress at the approaching
session IL important showing the present location
OK officers and troops the strength Of the army In officers
and men, the operation Of the law for the reduction
Of the army the present condition OF the investigation
on tho subject OF small arms, and the opinions and
concentrations OF Gen. Sherman and Maor-Gen Hal
lcck on the question, always less I'm doubt
the relation lawfully existing between the military and
civil authorities:
TIE MILITARY DIVISIONS
HEADQUARTERS OF IHR ARMY
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Nov. 10, 1870.
GENERAL: Since my annual report OF Nov. 20, 1869,
several changes have occurred In the distribution Of the
army incident the restoration OF the States OF vr
enia, Mississippi and Texas and to the gradual rednc
OF the force The geographical territory OF the United
States IL now divided into ten departments, and these
are grouped into four Military Divisions
The Military Division Of the East Ii commanded by Ma
jorGen George c. Meade, and scomposed OF the Depart
ment ~ The Eat, Brig-Gcn l. Mcdowell aud the Dc
partlnent of The Lakes. Brig Gen. ST. George Cooke
The Military Division OF the South IS commanded ny
Major-ten H. w HaccE aud Il composed Of the Depart
Of the South gGcn A. ~. Terry; and the Depart
nent OF Texas, Col. J. j. Reynolds.
The Military Division OF the Missouri IL commanded by
Lieut. Gen r IL Sheridan, and - composed OF tne D
OF the Platte Brg.Gcn G. e. Augur; ana the Dc
partmcnt Of che Missouri Brig. Gen John Pope. =.
Maior-(icn. John ~ scboaeld aud composed Of tho
Department Of the Columbia, Brig Gen f. X :. Canby
the Department OF California, Ing Zen H. ~ ., oid
and the Department OF Arizona, Col. Geo. stoneman'
Ih's sub-' Vision Of the country - found to be wen
adapted the Of military forces in the dvefs
ned sections and the interests committed to Their
FOR their rcsuecuEe duties nelose hercWllh tnt aIu
report Of al these commanders except OF Cen Sheridan
who Is absent IN Europe, and Of Col -0neman, who Is
I'm that remote Territory, Arizona, with which our com
municaton difficult and his report has not YET been
received, but will be submitted as soon a. possible TO
these ports must refer you for the actual distribution
u The troops and the details oi tie years WORK
1HE STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
According 10 tho latest returns, the Regular Army il
composed 2iss officers and 81 enlisted men Under
the operation u the act approved July 49, 1s0 the num-
Der OF officers IL rapidly decreasing, that 10y the lt Of
January il viii reach The legal standard, 2,2I7.
OF en ted men the present number is made up as FOL
lows Ten sment Of cavalry $685. FIVE regiments OF
artillery, 1900 Is regiments OF infantry 1885; total
troops OF the line 3ll1s. In addition to which are i've
companies of engineer troops 500 permanent reeritng
parties md recruits l62 enlisted men OF ORDNANCE 49,
grand total Of $3.50 BY the saline act this number
mt be reduced by the 1st Of July 1871 the limit Of
30 OO As matter Of course desire that the reduction
should fan as Lightly q; possible on ane troops
clyaIry end Infantry, which occupy the remote posts,
break W many OF the smaller posts and 20 Use two com
pduies where ono now suhoes the honcoinDaiLant
class be kept to the present STANDARD Oh ~ h o
among the companies which compose the present Or
csnization, will allow hut co men to company Inc
universal experience t. that the constant loss by death
dscharge desertlon &c., especially N the more remote
and dangerous districts win reduce the actual number
present for duty about twohrds OF the prescribed
limit will bring The companies down 10 ABOUT AZ mem
which i too small for efficient service. believe that
on fair representation Congress will make direct pro-
vision for the engineers, ordnance slgal detaeheh
30 600 10 apply only the troops OF the line and their
necessary recruiting parties.
RELATIONS OF THE CIVIL AND MILITARY AUrHoRTTIEs
In tho examination OF the reports herewith nclosed'
invite your attention to that recommendation OF Cen
Haeck which refers to the OF troops in assisting the
civil authorities in maintaining peace, collecting the
revenues &C., -iii.a has SSc3.c 20 c-=co- c. l2te
Te duties OF the oldery in this connection are not pre-
scrbed clearly by statute that the Ohcers can Under
stand their rights and duties, and the civil agents ana
iawfIIIy done think the soldiers ought not
perted ~ make individual arrests or To DO any act OF
e50ifgs dGy summoned by the United states Marshal,
nni acting in hi. personal presence Yet y II Is deemed
this concur with Gen. Haecl that Congress should 80
| enact ia clear and distinct terms
DISCIPLINE OF THE TROOPS.
| During the past year the Department Commanders
have given great attention 20 the instruction and dsci-
Milne OF their troops and force becomes less and
less deem It important that they should receive every
epcUragemeut for know that the volunteers, when
called Tito active eery ice expect learn the routine OF
service the regular army. In tins connection COL
J. J. REYNOLDS IN Texas objects, and with good reason,
hat he il forced to @ his great portion OF their
trnc a. borers on public buildings roads and at other
work which disquhes them as soldiers, beside prevent
Ing them from scouting ON the frontier much would
otEerwIse be the case As matter course soldiers
nd of
must labor IN mnhs ee ol t,d ot,anant wnrLs
necessary supphe-; put ~ ouiiu peiih ht nar
or toads III wh' pirs ny labor that ought not
tn ho imposei on our reduced establishment. would
S1ss1 the , between these two kinds OF
craving ceal u, 49, g., oriors or ra1,lo
abOf shu ~ Puulsn ~ W o ~ otra, ., ssiiSt
uols, so lat ~ "oun eei i 90 ill., Traouentfv 40
ment, and soldiers WouI hot, AS uiey NV,
plead this cause az Justheau3h Oh ueSel '
the past year the troops nave uen weI sue I'm IA an
respects and have been pald regularly every t"o
Gen Augurs ~, ,naI 'o ti p H ~
shorter mtervas ~ S coune 40 seldom iS ant 70 be
Is known that pay MN, SIx I'd not ,nf,eopeny re