The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-11-17
GEN. sHERMAN's REPORT.

General Sherman has submitted his annual
report to the Secretary of War, inclosing there
Isports OF Generals Drum and Sackett, and the
reports of the commanding Generals of di-
visions and departments.
General Sherman says, referring to the re-
ports of the latter, that they all show that our
companies are too small for efficient discipline
and for economical services. When the Ma
tional Treasury was poor and loaded with debt,
the army endeavored to gracefully submit to
overwork, but now, SAYS General Sherman, they
appeal for relief, and it is recommended that
Congress repeal that clause of the existing law
which limits the enlisted force Of the army to
25, 600 men.
Considerable space Is devoted to discus
sion of tho subject of officers servants, Gen
eral Sherman maintaining that no soldier
should ever be compelled to do menial labor
without compensation or without his consent
and he recommends that the existing law be
repealed or modified so as to secure this
end.
Referring to West Point, he says it has been,
and must continue to be, the fountain source OF
military education in time of peace. In his
Judgment the military academy at West Point
fulfills its uses, and can safely be intrusted
to prepare our boys to become the soldiers Of
the future.
There are in the army 43O companies, neces-
sarily widely scattered over our vast domain to
guard property and prevent, as far as human
every variety and kind, at one time protecting
settlers against the Indians, and again Indians
ageinst the settlers. When these occur 1t is
always sudden and re-enforcements have to be
hurried forward from great distances and al
ways at heavy cost for the transportation Of
men, horses, wagons, and supplies. This cost
In aggregate will, in my judgment, be more
than sufficient to supply an increase of 20 per
cent. in private soldiers-al that would ask
for at this time, because believe this Incl case
will add little if any to the annual cost of the
army, and yet give great relief to Cur oyertaxed
soldiers. In the last ten years our frontiers
have SO extended, under the protection of our
small army, to add at least 81, 00O OOO 600 to
the taxable wealth of the nation has enabled
enigrants to settle up remote parts of the coun-
try, and is the principal cause of the great
prosperity which is felt throughout all parts of
the country.
Gen. Sherman submits statement of the
actual number of ENLISTED men in the regular
army October Is, follow: {: Cavalry, 1852;
artillery, 403 infantry, 10, $50 total combat
ants, 1855. Non-combatants Engineer Bat
TALON, Ordnance Department, Recruiting Ser
vice, Signal Corps, etc. 3,7s1. Total enlisted
force of the army, %, 596.
!, Nearly every general officer commanding
troops on the frontier asks for an increase to
any number of privates, not exceeding lOO
limited always in practice by the actual appro-
priations of money rather than by fixed num-
Der of men.
The General recommends that the who,e
question OF coast defence be submitted to
board OF high officers, while similar board
should consider the matter of military posts
and stations now obsolete. These recommen-
dations are with view to the sale and relief of
the army from the care of useless forts, pos s
and stations. Some old forts, General Sher-
man admits, are worth retaining, and i'll order
that these may be properly taken care of, he
recommends that the President be authorized
to transfer out of the cla>s of enlisted men,
who have served for twenty-five years or more
number not to exceed 500, including Ordnance
Sergeants (now 112) and establish "a veteran
corps" to be stationed at the old forts, With
the rank and pay they held at the close of their
active career of army service, to be subject to
the rules and articles of war, but only to be
used for guarding public property. One or two
officers of the retired class and half dozen of
these old soldiers would compose good garri-
son for an abandoned post or fort. By grant
ing the retired officers this detailed fuel and
quarters, we would provide homes for worthy
veterans, which would be most honorable an6
charitable to them and advantageous to the
Government.