Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-11-17
THE ARMY.


Gem. sherman's Annual Report.
Gen Sherman has submitted his annual TO
port 20 the Secretary OF War, ino'osing the
reports OF Gems. Drum and Sackett, and the
reports Of the commanding Generals OF the
divisions and departments. The General saws
n ferring 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 endeayored to gracefully submit
to oyerwork, 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
% $4,000 men.
Considerable space is devoted to the discus-
sion of the subject of otIicers' servants Gen.
Sherman maintaining that no soldier should
ever lie compelled to do mental labor without
compensation, or without hie consent, and ha
recommends that the existing law be repealed
or modified 30 az to secure this end.
Referring 10 West Point, he says ii 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
fulhlis It's uses, end can safely be intrusted to
prepare boys TO become the soldiers of the
future.
There are in the army $50 companies, neces-
sar " widely scattered over our vast domain
to quart the property and prevent. as far AZ
foresight Gun, complications and troubles of
every variety and kind at one time protecting
settlers against Indians, and, again. Indians
ag' inst settlers. When these occur it is always
sudden, and achievements have to be hurried
forward from grest distances and always at
heavy cont for transportation of men, horses,
wagons and supplies. This cost ia the aggre-
gate will, IN my Judgment, be more that sufi-
flKg -itra ma, asnFs
private soIGicrs-all that 1 would ask for tbs
time because believe this increase will add
little, Ii any, to the annual cost of the army, and
yet give great relief to our overtaxed soldiers.
In the last ten years ot,r frontiers have SO ex-
teudei under the protection of our small army
as TO add at least II, 000, 0G0, 900 to the taxable
wealth Of tho nation. This has enabled emil
grants to settle up remote parts of the
country, and Is the principal cause OF the great
prosper which is felt throughout all parts of
tue country. When the national treasury Was
poor and loaded with debt, the army en-
deayored gracefully 10 submit to ogerwork,
but they low appeal Tor relief and
do most earnestly ask the honorable
Secretary of War 10 apply to Congress
10 repeal that clause of the existing
law which limits the enlisted force of the army
to as O0 men, and to enact that each and every
company in the army may be enlisted to at least
fifty pryateS, making sixty-two enlisted men
and three OH ers to each 4jD comp lnies, thus
increasing the army proper 70 So, $50 enlisted
men, which number, III practice, will probably
never exceed 1000. This should 'oIm theconl-
bstalt force and as experience and universal
Ptactce nave aehohs'raled the necessity for an
o'he' 81 HCh-couipatdut iOrce, iurthcr urge
that special provision be made by law for each
OF tile following separate and distinct purpo-
ses-yiz:
- - =. .. 49, wv
Fistad men d.ii5 m % CIV. fe @o0
Ordnance DepnftInen{ sborera ana ,oacban,c3 .oo
Vast Point dcischrnents f1tI.itarv acal,n1vt 1oY
Prison guard at Font Leay enworth (speci il On
Hospital stewards. ...,.................... 1876
Ordnance serSeants ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Tia
ToHlinlssaF! Sefsoahts' $50
$50 dat,,,rterf 3O0
OOO
Total - 40
which number ad1ad to .to DC ceo 80
EXPLAINED. viii maze t!,e 10, sI enlisted forca 10
every nature and kind 3444q ~
Gen. sherman subrn t5a sistemapt of a.
actual nnp,ber of enlisted men in a. ,a. nc
army Oct IL. ''Ni
SAsadS 6,ss2
Ita.try '''''''''''.'''....' z'soJ
IT. @'n.bitanta 1870 po'9gU
Non-conba.ants engineer battalion. sss5ss-ass
department, recruiting service, signal corps,
ec- go .-...-........ s,7sl
A''@ e"l's''u ioi'0 VI "rliiS 1896
Nearly every general officer commanding
troops on the fronilr asks for a larger increase
thah have herein indicated, lut this may be
better accomplished by giving 10 the President
the night TO increase, az Dis discretion, COM
pshles most exposed 10 danger TO any number
OF prlVales not exceeding 100 limited always IN
practice py the actual appf9l II tons of money
rather thah ~ the hXed numb Of men,"
The General asks Tor M increase of nine
Majors N tue Inspectors corps, and recon-
LiehVs that tile Nhoi" question OF coast defense
be submitted 70 board OF high officers while
similar poard should con dder the mstter OF
nnltaty posts ana stations now obsolete. These
recommendations are with view to the sale
anu reilel OF me army iIom tho care OF useless
iorts' posts ana stations. some old forts, Gen.
sherman ADMITS, are worth retaining, and in
order that these may be properly taken care of,
he recommends that tine President be au-
thorlzed to transfer out OF the class OF en-
listed men who have ltTynd for tyartv