Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-01
GENERAL sH ERMAN'S REPORT.
Strength Of the Regular Army.
The following is the report Of General She
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASpINnTnN Nov : fs-q

wAsHIsGToS, Nov. I, 1873.
To Hon. w. W. Beikr,dp, Secretary Of Var
SIR-Ihave the honor herewith to subINit a
stat, Ine mt showing the organization and actual
strength of enlisted men in the army, compiled
from the official returns, up to the latest date.
and invite your attention to the reorganization,
showing rs ,5}5 enlisted men of cavalry artiIIe-
ry and Infantry and 1870 nOn-cOmbatants-the
whole aggregsting 90 500, or 495 less than the
humber, 1000, limited by law. In the active
regiments the number of men sick and on the
nCcessary details about the posts will fully equal
. per cent, so that the actual strength for mil
itary service does not exceed ~, 652 men.
In order that the regular army should fulfil
It's arduOus duties on the frontier, as also form
the model on which TO shape the volunteers and
militia force OF the United States, | earnestly
recommend that Congress be asked to fix
the limit of the enlisted force at such figure as
will give 80 900 for the regiments of the line and
20 provide specifically for the non-combat4ut
detachments, such as the Engineer battalion,
the Ordnance Department, West Point detach-
ments, Signal Department, ordnance and COM
misSary sGrgeants, in the same manner as has
been doBe for the hospital stewards
The artillery regiments have an organization
different from the intantry-viz.. II batteries to
regiment; but of these, only one is equipped
and Instructed as battery OF artillery the other
II companies of each regiment being armed
with muskets and instructed as infantry.
In ORDER to simplify the organization to apply
the new tactics NOW approaching completion)
to all arms OF the service alike, with your ap-
proval, have ordered the word "battery" to
apply, technically, to such only a. are provided
WIN HOftes ana guns, ana all others TO be called
companies" Some of the artillery OFF rers
think the act of July %, 1866, entities them to
the name "battery,' whether they have guns or
not, and it might be well to ask a modliica alton
of the law SO as to read-"battery or company
for the artillery regiments, to correspond with
the iwoTds 'uoop or company" used for the
cavalry in the same act.
The plumber Of reglmental commissioned Off.
ceIs on duty, or belonging to the several depart
ments and divisions, number, in the aggregate,
1,j32; present for duty, ga; absent on leave or
de taChed, 29s.
The fore going does not include the 81 second
heutenants, recently appointed from civil life;
now under orders TO join their regiments.
| now enclose the annual reports of the
division and department commanders, copies
of which have been submitted to you as
received.
The military divisions embrace the whole
area of the United States, and these reports
include the acts of all the regular army. leaving
nothing to be added by way OF history of the
events during the past year. -
The reports OF all the department command
Crs, with the exception Of that of the Depart
nent OF the Columbia, not yet received, are
also herewith sent.
No part of the army is under my immediate
control, and the existing army regulations
Cevolve on the Secretary OF War, the actual
command OF the military peace establish eDt
and All responsibility thereof, so that | fOTbear
making any further recommendations or report.
Very respectfully, your Obedient servant,
w. T..SUEPNAN