The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-27
CUR STANDING ARMY.
Its Distribution and Northumberland sher-
mans Annual Report.
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY,

Y,
WASHINGTON, u. g., Nov. 10, 1870.
GENERAL--Slnce my annual report of November
20 1869, several changes have occurred In the dis
irbutlon OF the army incident to The restoration OF
the States OF Virginia. Mississippi and Texas and to
the gradual reduction Of the force. The geographic
cal territory OF the United States is now divided
into ten departments aud these arc grouped into
four military divisions
The Military Division OF the East is commanded
by Major General George e. Meade, ana is composed
OF the Department OF the East, Brigader General l.
Mcdowell, and the Department or the Lakes, Briga-
der General p. ST. George Cooke.
The Military Division OF the South, commanded
by Major General ii. W. Halleck, and is composed
A. II. Terry, and the Department OF Texas, Colonel
J. j. Reynolds.
The Military Division OF the Missouri is COM
manded by Lieutenant General p. H. Sheridan, and
Is composed or the Department of Dakota, MAJOR
General W. S. Hancock; Department OF the Platte
Brigadier General q. G. Augnr, and the Department
OF The Missouri, Brlgauler General Jonn Pope.
The Military DIVISION OF the Pacific IL commanded
by MAJOR General John NJ. Scholeld, and is composed
OF the Department. OF the Columbia, Brigadier
General Il. Il. s. Candy; the Department Of CaiIior
MIA, Brigader General Il. o. G. ord, Depart
ment oi Arizona, Colonel George Stoneman.
This subdivision Of the country Is found to be
well adapted to the Of military forces In the
diversified sections ana The intees committed to
their charge and the general officers IN conmdnd
all wen qualified Tor Their respective duties Icnclose
herewith the annual report VI all these commanders
except of General Sheridan, who Is absent in
Europe, ana Colonel Stonenan, who Is in mat
remote Territory, Arizona, with which our commu-
nlcatiOn IS dlhcut anu his report has yet been
received, but VIII be submitted as soon AS possible
10 these reports must refer you for the actual
trionliOn OF the troops and the details OF the years
work.
THE STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
According 10 The latest returns tie regular army
IS composed OF 2 ssS ocers ana -, $40 enlisted men,
Under the operation OF the act approved July Is,
1870 the numper Of officers is RAPIDLY decreasing
that Nv the lst Of January 1t VIII reach The legal
standard, 2,21l.
OF enlisted men the present number is made up
as fOows:-Ten regiments Oh cavalry, 9.Sy2; five
regiments Of artillery, 400; twenty-five rcgi
ments Of infantry, 1885; total troops OF The line,
Bits. In addition To which are i've companies
of engineer troops, $40: permanent recruiting
parties anu recruits 1923; enlisted men of oru-
mace FOG; West Point detachment 26l; signal
detachment, 81 hospital stewards, 333; ord
nance sergeants l2l-3,oe making grand total Of
a4,S70 by the same act this number must he reduced
by the Isl Of july 1871 To The limit VI 900. As
matter Of course, desire that The reduction should
TALL as lightly possible on the troops Inc line;
for II the companies OF cavalry and infantry when
occupy the remote posts are TOO small department
commanders wil be forced 10 break up many oil the
smaller posts and to use two companies where one
Suiiices ii the n0n-cOniba AM class be Kept to
the present standard oil 2 there VIII be lett for
the line only -6,Sos, which, divided up among the
430 companies which compose the present or
ganizat0n, VIII allow but SILKY men 10 Il
company. The universal experience IS that the
constant loss oy death, discharge, deseron, &c.,
especially IN the more remote and dangerous dis
trtcts Will reduce The actual number present FOR
duty TO about two-thirds OF the prescribed limit,
VIII bring the companies down 10 about forty men,
which is TOO small Tor efficient service. believe
that on fair representation Congrc - Will make d.
rect provision tor the engineers, ordnance signal
detachment and hospital stewards. This would
make the limit Of 10000 TO apply only To The troops
of the line and their necessary recruiting parties.
RELATIONS or THE CIyILAND MILITARY AUTHORITIES.
In the examination OF the reports herewith en-
closed invite your attention 10 that Recommended
lion oI General Haeck which refers 10 the use or
troop5 IN assisting the civil authorities IN maintain
ing peace, collecting the revenues, &c, which has
become SO common OF late the duties OF the SOL
diery in this connection are not prescribed SO clearly
ny statute that the officers can understand their
rights and duties, and tie civil agents and auth0rt
tleS often expect more than can be rightly or law
fully DONE think the soldiers ought not to be eA.
pected to make individual arrests to do any act
OF Violence except In their organized capacity ~
posse cUntftdtUs. duiy summoned by the UniEc