Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-11-23
Annual Report of the Army.
WASHINGTON. Nov. IS.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Is.
The annual report of Gen. Sherman shows
that on October 18th the regular army was
composed of general officers II general staff.
officers, $50; hospital stewards, 1S6; engineer
battalion, l99; ordnance, enlisted men, 346;
enlisted men of staff corps, 73l. Ten regi-
ments of cavalry-Officers, 500; enlisted men,
1911; cavalry, $3.50. Five regiments OF ar
tillery-Oflicers, 2S4; enlisted men, 1891; ar
tillery, 1905. twenty-five regiments of in
fantry-Ofiicers, S77; enlisted men, SITS; in
fantry, 1855; besides which there are re-
ported as non-commissioned staff, unat-
tached to regiments, Military Academy re-
cruits, unassigned Indian scouts, and prison
guards amounting to: Men 1877, signal
corps, 4O4; retired officers, 301, and Captain
in the United States army by act of Con-
gress, /; aggregating officers and men, a.
sol, of which the force available for war is
made up of cavalry, artillery and infantry
regiments amounting to 2O,6Ol officers and
men, to which should be added the eleven
general officers and the officers of the gen
eral staff serving with them, together with
$40 Indian scouts.
The General details the operations of the
army during the year, referring specially and
in high terms of praise to the conduct OF
officers and men during the Indian war, and
at the time of the recent riots.
1t appears that Gen. Sheridan, in recon-
mending the increase Of every company in
the service to 100 men, expressed the opln-
ion that, had this been done some time ago,
the Indian troubles would have been settled
promptly, with strong probability that they
would not have occurred at all. Gen. Sheri'
dan adds: The Indian troubles in this divis-
ion are over for the present. | cannot say
that they are finally ended. Complications
are still liable to arise, and our experience
should teach us to be better prepared than
we have hitherto been.
Gen. Sherman agrees with Gen. Sheridan S
recommendation, which would raise the
army to nearly $4,000 men, but despalrs OF
! success in such application to Congress, and
| therefore urges such legislation as will give
| us D, ,0OU men for regiments of the line. This
| would make for the present 430 companies,
with an average of fifty-eight men to a com
| pany. 1 believe it to be wrong and damag
ing to increase the cavalry at the expense OF
| the artillery and infantry. The latter do as
| good service as the cavalry, are as necessary
| and cost much less for maintenance. All are
| equally necessary and should be on a par
| but the President should have the right to in
| crease companies stationed at exposed points
at the loss of others not similarly situated.
The concluding portion of the report is de
voted to an account of Gen. Howard's move
ment in pursuit of the Nez Perces and theil
final capture by Col: Miles. Gen Sherman
says: OF course Col. Miles and his officers
and men are entitled to all honor and praise
for their prompt, skillful and successful
work, whilst others, by their long, toilsomC
pursuit, are entitled to corresponding credit
because they made that success possible
The General hopes these Indians will be pro
vided with homes in the spring on the Indial
reservation near the Modocs, where by mod
crate labor they can soon be able to supper
themselves in peace. They should never b
allowed to return to Oregon or to Lapwai.