The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-11-10
General sherman's Annual Report

WASHINGTON, November 7.-General Sher-
man to-day submitted his annual report TO
the secretary of war, enclosing the reports
of adiutants and commanding generals oil
divisions and departments. Referring to
the proposed increase in the regular army
recommended in the annual reports OF the
commanding generals of departments,
General Sherman says: All these annual
reports with Justice dwell on the fact that
our companies are too sinai for efhcient
discipline and for economical service
There are in the army four hun
dred and thirty companies, winch are
necessarily widely scattered over our vast
domain to guard property, ana 10 preVen11
as far as foresight can disturbance anu
trouble of every variety and kind at one
time, protecting soldiers against Indians,
and again Indians against soldiers. when
these troubles occur it is always sudden and
reinforcements have to be hurried forward
from great distances and always at q heavy
cost for Transportation of men, horses and
wagons, and to supply TINS COS. cost
IN the aggregate will in my Judg-
ment be more than sufficient to supply
an increase of twenty per cent. of private
soldiers, all that l should ask for at TINS
time, because | believe this increase will
add but little if any to the annual, cost OF
the army and yet give great relief to our
oyer-taxed soldiers General Sherman then
urges an increase of the army proper TO
26, $50 enlisted men. In this connection he
submits a statement OF the actual
which is shown to have been
10, Sis combatants and 3,7sl non-combat-
ants. He also recommends the sale of many
a aneIeSS Gulf lft'' coast, as we'll as
a great number of inland military posts,
which have become desolate. On this sub
iect he says:"In the early days of the repub-
lican party, every. city and harbor on the
Atlantic and Gulf coast as well as on the
lakes, wanted fort for protection against
the public enemies. These were built and
still remain the property of the United
States and the army is charged in one way
or another with their care and preserva-
ton. Very many of them are now
absolutely of no use, present OF. prospective,
and should disposed of. will not men
ton names because of local feeling. Every
Duluth to Lake George, has a local pride
in its fort and garrison, and if, in times
past. such fort was built by the United
States, any attempt to withdraw the garri-
son or remove the flag is met by local OPP
position often impossible to over
come. l recommend that you
apply to congress for authority to submit
the whole question of coast defense to
a board of high officers of all arms OF the
service, and to consider the whole question
with instructions to report what coast forts
shall be maintained, what sites shall be re.
tanned for further use, and what may be
absolutely sold, and further that authority
be granted to the president to sell the
same, subject. to any condition which
congress may impose. In like manner in
the inland a great number of military posts
and stations have ever been reserved from
the public domain or have been purchased,
which, by the process of settlement, have
become unnecessary, yet they need mill
tary guard for their protection. These are
worse than useless, because they absorb a
large portion OF the small
army. which ought to be free
for action. For these | would recommend
the same disposition, but distinct board
to MAJ "a thorough indy OF the whole
proplep Of internal LICENSE with similar
anthorft, 10 soil and dispose of all posts ex-
cept suelSSs are Cccm.d necessary for per
manent occupation and future use" west
Point he saws has beer and-must continue
tn he he foundation source of military
educpgirn i'm sine # peace, and in
his Judgment the military academy
there can be safe,y trusted TO prepare our
boys become the soldlers OF the future;
In conciusiol General sherman says:
Officers of the present army of the United
States in physique, in\ intelligence, in pa
triotic devotion to the honor of the flag of
our country, will compare iavoraoly WIN
any similar establishment on earth, and
with our own army at amy previous period
of our history.