The New York herald., 1873-11-30
which

OF great Importance, and the question OF this ap
preparation Is respectfully submitted.
The heavy rined guns selected for fabrication and
test under the act approved June 0, 1872. are now
in Of ns %ns Sauase SaS S Ss
tion aud experience are TO be gathered
in the trial OF these O.. gun guns. s,,,,, the
OF an effective ride suitable calibre for the ser
vice. and, in this connection. would recommend
proper trial Of THESE experimental neavy guns.
The oheapneSs Ol cast iron ana the marked prog-
ress attained in the manufacture o, g.npow.SS .Ser
an appropriation OF $4,000 be granted; "
be applied in the fabrication and % trial %, Of
capabilities OF the metal for ride constructions OF
large calibre may be put to the fullest test, in the
may be conclusivey assured or denied The powder
in the hands OF the department IL, on account OF
part In the magazines our seacoast fortncationa
while under the searching Influences OF the salt
AIR It Is rapidly undergoing deterioration. For It's
better preservation large powder depot should
be established In some s.. region where neither
dangered by ITS proximity, and an appropriation
suitable site d,,.,cn and commsncemens Of mag.
smaller smaller arseuais s I''' and the application Or
the proceeds OF their sale TO the erection OF
a large arsenal OF proper construction on the
Atlantic coast, IS again urged, on strong econOmi-
cal grounds, and IL Is recommended that law be
a sale OF any OF the smaller arsenals at such times
as would be most advantageous to the govern
menCs ana 10 apply the proceeds as suggested.
The department feels much embarrassment,
alleged arrangements of patent rights in the
construction OF breech-loading guns at the
national armory. The officers OF the Ord
nance CORPS In the execution OF their official
duties, are seriously annoyed by private actions
for damages instituted by persons claiming to hold
valid patents which have been tnirnged In the
productions OF the government armory, and some
department. to dispose OF the claims.
Secretary Belknap embodes synopsis OF the
n thn In thQ
HERALD few days since, and adds:-The ascer-
tanned comparative accuracy Of deductions
clearly presented In this than in preceding
years The percentage OF verifcations has been
graphical districts mentioned M in the the reports Ths
department acknowledges as in previous years the
general support of the popular opinion Of scientific
men and OF the press III It's EFFORTS successfully to
carry on this work. Errors have occurred, but 1t
has been generally recognized as Inevitable
q % the work is no longer doubted.
q few years ago could hardly be hoped for.
1t is mentioned in connection with this
subject that arrangements have been made
sia England and Turkey to commence January
|, 1874 an exchange with the United States Of the
stations throughout the great extent OF the Rus
sian and Turkish Empires, the British Islands ana
tens or other nations is expected
My annual inspection OF the affairs OF the Military
Academy and corps OF cadets III June last disclosed
very creditabe state OF discipline and an atten-
tion to study very commendabe in the cadets
The Secretary recommends as there is no
Assistant Secretary Tor the War Department.
the passage OF a law which will permit the
Secretary or War to authorize the CHIEF clerk,
in case OF illness or otner temporary absence OF
the head OF the department.. to sign requisitions
and other papers deemed necessary Tor Immediate
In conclusion he refers to the fact that by joint
resolution OF Congress the Secretary OF War
was required to appoint competent per
cation official documents relating to the
rebellion and operations OF the army during
and estimates OF the cost thereof to Congress- at
It's then next session. person w2s
appointed to assume 80. this work oa who was
Although the appointment was made at the time,
no acceptance was filed and no action
was taken toward .theIarrangement and pub
lcation OF the records AS the appointments
under previous legislation cannot now be made.
for the reason that The act prescribed that the pay
passage, this LEGISLATION should be revived
ana tne secretary war ansaoraea TO make
OF much historical value and constant. daily OBJ
seryatlon and experience render y evident that
these vast and important materials for publication
General Sbcrman's Report.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 90 1873.
The following is the report OF General Sher-
man
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
WASHINGTON, Nov. I, 1873.
To Hon. W. W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War
SIR have the honor herewith to submit state
ment 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 recapitulation showing
25,535 enlisted men OF cavalry. artillery and IN
fantry and 3970 nOn-combatants-the whole ag-
gregating 29,505, or 495 less than the number,
$4,000, limited by law. In the active regiments tho
number OF men sick and on the necessary details
about the posts will fully equal 25 per cent that
the actual strength for military service does not
exceed 1862 men.
In order that the regular army should fulfil its
arduous duties on the frontier, as also form the
model on whicn to shape the volunteers and
militia orce OF the United States, earnestly
ommend that the Congress be asked to fix the
limit OF the enlisted force at such figure win
give 10000 for the regiments OF the line, and to
provide specifically for the non-combatant dctach-
ments, such as the Engineer battalion, the Ord
Signal Department. ordnance and commissary ser,
geants, In the same manner as has been done for
the hospital stewards
different from the infantry-viz, IL bat
teries TO regiment; but OF these, only one is
the other II Companies Of each regiment being
armed with muskets and instructed as infantry.
new 1accs 20 re 70 apply nS
arms OF the service alike, with your approval, l
have ordered the word battery apply techni-
caly. to such only as are provided with horses and
guns, and all others to be called "companies.n
Some Of the artillery officers think the act OF July
2s, 1866, entities them to the name ''battery,"
whether they have guns or not, and 1t might ba
well to ask modification OF the law 80 as to read
'battery or company for the artillery regiments,
10 correspond with the words troops or COM
The number OF regimenta commissioned 0flcers
on duty. or belonging to the several departments
and divisions NUMBER In the aggregate 1892;
present for duty, 1,234; absent on leave or de-
tached, 29S.
The foregoing does not include the 81 second
Heutenants, recently appointed from civil lhe now
under ORD ers to JOIN their regiments.
now enclose the annual reports OF the division
and department commanders, copies ofwhich have
been submitted 10 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 o history OF the events during the
past year.
The reports OF all the department commanders,
with the exception OF that OF the Department OF
the Columbia, not yet received, are also herewith
sent