The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-11-17
Tie Y. S. Army.
WAsHINGTON. NoYem


General Sherman to-day submitted
his annual report TO the Secretary of
War, enclosing reports of the adjutant
general and commanding generals of d.
Visions hnd departments. Referring to
the proposed increase in the regular
army recommended in the annual re.
ports of commanding generals Of depart
ments, General Sherman says: 'All
these annual reports, with justice, dwell
OH the fact that our companies are too
small for efficient discipline and for eco.
nomical service. There are in the army
430 companies, which are necessarily
widely scattered over our vast domain to
guard property and to protect, rs far US
foresight can complications and troubles
of every variety and kind, at one time
protecting settlers against Indians and
again Indians against settlers When
these occur it is always suad.n, and
reinforcements have to be hurried from
great distances and always at heavy cost
for transportation Of men, horses, wag-
ons and supplies. This cost in the ag-
gregatc will, in my judgment, be more
than sufficient to supply an increase Of
twenty per cent Of private soldicrs-all
that | would ask for at this time, because
| believe this increase will add little, if
any, to the annual cost of tho army, and
yet give great relief to cur ovcriaxed
soldiers"
Genc:al Sherman then urges tho in
crease of the army proper to 26,G6O en-
listed men. In this connection he sub.
mits statement of the actual strength
| of the army on October Is, which is
shown to have been 1885 combatants
| and 3,7Sl on-combatants. He also re.
II aol, 0f H.
useless forts along the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts, as we'll as a great number of in.
land military posts which have become
obsolete On this subject he says: "In
the early days Of the Republic nearly
ever city and harbor on the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts as we'll as on the lakes
wanted a fort for protection against pub
lie enemies. These were built and still
remain the property OF the United States,
and the army is charged in one way of
another with their care and preservation.
Very many of them are now absolutely
OF no use, present or prospective, and
should be disposed of. l will not men.
iion names because Uf local feeling.
Every such city or town from Maine to
| Texas and from Duluth to Lake George
has local pride in its fort aud garrison,
and if in times past such fort was built
by the United States any attempt to
withdraw the garrison or remove the
flag is met by local opposition often i'm
possible to overcome. l recommend
that you apply to Congress for authority
to submit the whole question of coast
defence to board of high officers Of all
arms of the service, TO consider the
whole question, with instructions to re.
port what coast forts shall bc maintained,
what sites shall be retained for future
use and what may be absolutely sold,
and further, that authority be granted to
the President to sell the same subject to
any conditions which Congress may i'm
pose. In like manner inland great
number of military posts and stations
have either been recovered from the pub
lie domain or have been recovered from
the public domain or have been purchas.
ed, which by the progress Of settlement
have become obsolete, yet they need O
military guard for protection. These
are worse than useless. because they
which ought to be free for action. For
these would recommend similar but
distinct board to make n thorough study
of the whole problem of internal defense
with similar authority Ia sell and dispose
of all posts except such as are deemed
necessary for permanent occupation and
future use"
Yves. Point, he says, has been and
must continue to be the fountain source
of military education in time of peace
and, in his judgment, the Military Acad
emy there can be safely trusted to pre-
pare boys to become the soldiers of the
future.
In conclusion, General Sherman says
II beg to assure you that the enlisted
men and officers of the preser. army O
the United States in physique, intelli
gence, in patriotic devotion to the hono
and flag of the country, will compar,
favorably with any similar establishment
on earth and with our own army ut an,
previous period Of our history
= The Rochester E,YTess puts II tho