The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-11-18
THE ARMY.


Gen. Snermam'S Ammuah bsepOrts
Gen. Sherman has submitted his annual re-
port to the Secretary of War, inclosing the
reports OF Gems. Drum and Sackett, and the
reports Of the commanding Generals OF the
divisions and departments. The General says
referring to the reports OF the latter, that they
all show that our companies are too small for
efficient discipline and for economical service.
When the treasury was poor and loaded with
debt the army endeavored to gracefully submit
to overwork, but now, says Gen. sherman,
they appeal for relief, and 1t Is recommended
that Congress repeal that clause of the existing
law which limits the enlisted force of the army
to rs, 900 men.
Considerable space is devoted to the discus
sion of the subject of officers servants, Gen.
Sherman maintaining that no soldier should
ever be compelled to do mental labor without
compensation, or without his consent, and he
recommends that the existing law be repealed
or modified 80 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
fulflls its uses, and can safely be intrusted to
prepare boys TO become the soldiers OF the
future.
There are in the army 430 companies, neces-
sarilv widely scattered over our vast domain,
to guard the property and prevent, as far as
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 ID always
sudden, and reinforcements have to be hurried
forward from great distances and always at Il
heavy cost for transportation OF men, horses,
wagons and supplies. This cost in the aggre-
gate will, in my Judgment, be more that sufh-
Gent TO supply an increase of 20 per cent. OF
private soldiers-all that would ask for this
time-because believe this increase will add
little ii any, to the annual cost of the army, aud
yet give great relief 20 our overtaxed soldiers.
In the last ten years our frontiers have so ex-
tended under the protection OF our small army
TO add at least II, OOO, 100000 30 tue taxable
wealth OF the nation. This has enabled emf
grants to settle up remote parts OF the
country, and is the principal cause OF the great
prosperity which is felt throughout ali parts of
the country. When the national treasury was
poor and loaded with debt, the army en-
deavored gracefully to submit to oyerwork,
but they now appeal for relief f; and
l do most earnestly ask the honorable
Secretary of War to apply to Congress
to repeal that clause of the existing
law which limits the enlisted force of the army
to rs, 600 men, and to enact that each and every
company III the army may be enlisted to at least
fifty privates, making sixty-two enlisted men
and three officers TO each 430 companies. thus
increasing the army proper to $4,000 enlisted
men, which number, in practice will probably
never exceed 25, 600. This should form tue com
blatant force and, as experience and universal
practice have demonstrated the necessity for an
other or non-combatant force, L further urge
that special provision be made by law for each
OF the following separate and distinct purpo-
ses-viz: