The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-12-03
war DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report Of the Secretary Of War and Of
General Sherman.

The annual report of General Belknap,
the Secretary OF War. shows that the es-
Inmates for military purposes for the year
ending June 80, 1874, we're S33, S26, 1873.
The estimates for the same purpose for the
year ending June 30, 1875, are S34, 4lO,-
722, the excess oyer the current year being |
1854, 344. The appropriations Tor military |
purposes for the year ending June 80, 1874, |
were 49,. 9l797l. In addition to the us
ual estimates already made, the following |
are submitted for such action as Congress |
may deem proper to take; Armaments Of |
forts, 81 ,44g, $50; estimates for engineer |
purposes, $50, 459, 1896. He recommends |
that better facilities TO obtain field musi- |
clans be afforded by the passage of an act |
authorizing the enlistment OF boys not I'M
der u wears OF age with the consent OF
their parents or guardians. The Secretary
says lis order directing officers, active or
retired, to refrain from visiting Washing
ton during the sessions of Congress with a
view TO influence legislation, will be strictly
Reinforced In so far as he has power. He
also SAYS further legislation is necessary to
define the scope of the provision of the
act regulating the pay of officers, commu-
tatiou, etc, The Secretary recommends
that an allowance OF $40 month be made
to Leutenants Of the line detailed as Act
ing Assistant Quartermasters.
OF fifty railroads which purchased mate
rails from the department at the close of
the war to the amount OF 81, 500, 900 thirty
of them paid in full The remaining TWEEN
ty are still indebted about S4, 700, 900 He
recommends the passage of law which
will enable the department to collect from
tbn DNak Al1an llanartYonnt @bn
ings of several of the delinquent railroads.
lie also recommends an appropriation to
continue the experiments Of an artesian
well at Fort d. A. Russell. believing
series OF flowing wells to the people of Col
orado, Wyoming, Dakota and Montana will
be of importance in the development OF
their material resources. He also recon-
mends that an act be passed authorizing
the issue OF tobacco as part of the rations
of enlisted men,and that the medical corps
be opened to appointment and promotion.
That there be an increase of Paymasters
from forty to fifty-two, that new ap-
pointments and promotions be allowed
Works on the sea-eoast defences and for
| titications haYe been advanced with rapid
! ity consistent with economy and efficiency,
and the works of four of our principal har-
! boris now contain quite number of plat
! forms ready for their armament of guns of
the largest calbre The harbor defences
in course of construction are recommended
to be forced to completion.
| The Secretary invites the attention of
| Congress to the bridging of the navigable
waters of the United States, and suggests
such general legislation as may be neees-
sany for the preservation ofthe channels of
commerce He recommends the repeal OF
the law authorizing the construction of
bridge acr,s the Arkansas river at Little
Rock, for the reason that bridge construct
ed according TO its terms would materially
obstruct navigation.
The survey of the lakes have been con-
tinued with success during the season.
The Springfield system of breech- load
ers will be hencetorth used as muskets and
carbines in the army, and an appropriation
OF $500, OOJ is asked for to manufacture
about $4,000 arms of the accepted system
for reserve supply in case OF war. 1t is
recommended that the appropriation for
arming and equipping the militia be in
creased 10 the proportion Of the increasing
/ population Since the passage of the act
Of lSOS, cities on the sea coast, it is stated,
are in very detenceless condition, and the
Secretary calls the earnest attention of
Congress to the fact, suggesting that 81
100000, the estimate OF the Chief Of Ord
nance, be appropriated TO put them in a
state OF defence, and says this sum will
only provide deieuces with ne-sixth the
complement OF guns required for different
Notifications
The purchase Of proving ground for
. experiments III heavy guns is advised.
Also, the appropriation OF $4,000 for the
manufacture and trial of twelve inch cast
iron trimmed cannon. A large powder de
pot, it is recommended, should be estab-
llshed In some region where neither pri-
vate nor public interests would be endan-
gered, and away from the influence of salt
/, air, and for the purchase of a site and the
! commandments of magazines 100000
should be appropriated In the same con
nection it is recommended that the smaller
: arSenals be sold, and large arsenal be
built from the proceeds OF these sales.
r. The Secretary concludes by recommend,
ing that legislation should be renewed by
u giving the Secretary of War authority t.
appoint a competent person to arrange and
prepare for publication official documents
T relating t. operations of the army during
e the war
= GENERAL SHERMAN's REPORT.
i General Sherman in his report TO tht
4 Secretary of War, says The number O
r enlisted men is 495 less than the 3O,0Ot
: limited by law. In active regiments, tn,
number Of men sick and on necessary de
n tails about post will fully equal % pc
!, CENTS that the actual strength for militar,
4 service does not exceed 1862 men. In or
I dor th4t tho ra,r,,iop should 4,,iEH -
arduous duties on the frontier as also firm
model on which to shape the vulunteer
and militia force of the United States.
earnestly recommend that Congress be ask
Il ed to fix the limit OF the enlisted force a
: such figure as will give 10000 for regi
It meuts OF the line, and 10 provide specific
= ally for non-comb Blatant detachmeuts, sucl
as engineer battalion, ordnance department
= West Point detachment, signal department.
/ ordnance and commission Scrgeants, in th
same manner as has been done for the hos
e pital stewards
N Artillery regiments have an organization
IS different from infantry, viz; twelve ba,
/ terles u a regiment OF these, only on
Y is equipped and instructed as battery O
n artillery, the other eleven companies G
< each regiment being armed with musket
r and instructed as infantry.
7 Regimental commissioned officers on dut
,r or belonging to the several departments an
to divisions number, in the aggregate, | ,532
- present for duty, 1924 absent on leave o
! detached Dos, The foregoing does not il
" clude 81 Second Lieutenants, recently az
r pointed from civil life and under orders t
n join their regiments.
is The military divisions embrace the Who'll
is area Of the United States and their reports
D. forwarded to the Secretary of War, includ
Il the acts Of all the regular army.
Of No part of the army General Sherma
says, is under his immediate control, an
il the existing army regulations devolve O
ut the Secretary of War, together with til
RS actual command of the military peace e.
We adjustment, and all responsibility Thereof
" so that he forbears making any further n
5, concentrations or report.