The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-12-11
Report Of the Secretary Of War.

that the estimates for military purposes for tn.
year ending June 10, 1874, were 43A896 3D. TIN
s. ~
current year being 1064 -. The appropriations f0
military purposes for the year ending June 80. 1874
In addition to the usual estimates already made
the following are submitted for such action ~ Con
grese may deem proper to take: Armament Of
forts 4 4s8 90 estimates for engineering puf
He recommends that better facilities to Obtain
field musicians be afforded by the passage of an ac
~ the Of not Snds
The Secretary Gays his orders directing officers
during Of With View
fuence legislation, will be strictly enforced, In
far as he has the power. He also says further leg
islstion y necessary to define the scope Of the pro
communication, etc. The Secretary recommend.
that an allowance Of ten dollars per month be made
| to Leutenants Of the line detailed Is Acting Az
OF the fifty railroads which purchased material
from the Department ut the close Of the war to the
amount Of %7,5OO,O00, thirty Of them paid in full
q. 10000. He recommends the passage Of law
which will enable the Department to collect from
the Post-ofac Department the postal earnings o.
several OF the delinquent railroads.
he also recommends an appropriation to CON
time experiments Of the artesian well at Fort D.
A. Russell. believing . series Of flowing wells te
the people Of Colorado, Wyoming, Dakota, and
Of their material resources.
He alec recommends that An act be passed au
thorizing the issue Of tobacco part of the ration.
Of enlisted men, and that medical corps be opened
to appointment and promotion; that there be IN
increase Of Paymastefs from forty -four to fty-two
and that new appointments and promotions be
allowed.
Works on the sea-coast defenses and fortifca
tons have been advanced with rapidity consistent
Win economy and efficiency, and the works in
OF the platforms ready for their armament Of guns
OF largest caliber. The harbOr defenses in course
OF construction are recommended to be forced to
The Secretary invites the attention Of Congress
to the bridging Of the navfgable waters OF the
United States. and suggests such general legisla.
the channels Of commerce. He recommends the
repeal Of the law authorizing the construction OF
the bridge across the Arkansas River at Little
Rock, Tor the reason that bridge constructed &C.
cOrding to its terms would materially obsruct nav
igaiion.
The survey Of the lakes has been continued with
success Gee s. during the season.
hencefOrth used for muskets and carbines in the
army, and an appropriation Of 100000 is asked
Tor to manufacture about 5,000 arms Of the &C.
tits Recommended that the appropriation for arm.
ing and equiPping the militia be Increased in pro-
portion TO the increasing population since the
Cities on the seacoas, it is stated, arc in very
defenseless condition, and the Secretary calls the
earnest attention Of Congress to the fact suggest
Ordnance, be appropriated to put them in . state
OF Defence and says this sum will only provide the
defenses with one sixth of the complement Of guns
required for the different fortifcations.
Inc purchase OF . pr0ving-gr0un for expert
ments IN heavy guns IL advised; also, an appropri
alton OF $7a COZ for the manufacture and trial of
twelve-tnch cast-irOn trimmed cannon.
A large powder depot, it IL recommended, should
be established IN some region where neither pri-
vate nor public interests would be endangered,
and away from the influence Of salt air, and for
zines 100000 should be appropriated. In the
same connection it Is recommended that the small.
er arsenals be sold, and . large arsenal be built
from the proceeds Of these sales.
The Secretary concludes by recommending that
legislation should be renewed giving the Secretary
OF War authority to appoint competent person to
arrange and prepare for publication official dOcu.
ments relating to the operations Of the army dur
ing war.
GENERAL sHERxAN's REPORT
General Sherman, In his report to the Secretary
Of War, says the number of enlisted men in the
army Is AS less than the 30 1000 limited by law In
active regiments the number Of men sick ana on
per cent so that the actual strength for military
service does not exceed Il, 652 men.
In order that the regular army should fulfill it,
ardaous duties is on the frontier as also to form
force Of the United States, he earnestly recon.
mends that Congress be asked to AZ the limit Of
the enlisted force at such figure a. will give 80
600 for regiments Of the line and to provide spc-
cifically for nOn-cOmbatant detachments, such az
engineer, battalion. Ordnance Department, West
Point detachment, Signal Department, Ordnance
and COmmlesary Sergeants, in the same manner "a
has been done for Hospital Stewards.
The artillery regiments have an organization
different from the infantry, viz. twelve batteries
to regiment. OF these, only one is equipped and
instructed battery Of artillery the other eleven
companies Of each regiment being armed with
muskets and instructed as infantry.
Regimental commissioned officers on duty or be-
longing to the several departments and divisions
number, in the aggregate, 1851 Present for duty,
l.234. Absent on leave, detached, 2OS. The fore
going does not include 81 Second ieutenants re-
Gently appointed from civil life, and under orders
to join their regiments.
The military divisions embrace the whole area of
the United States, and their reports forwarded to
the Secretary Of War include the acts Of all the
regular army. No part Of the army, General Sher-
man says, is under bis immediate control, and the
existing army regulations devolve the Secretary
of War, the actual command of the military peace
establishment and all responsibility thereof, 60
that he forbears making any further recommenda-
lions or report