Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-09
General Sherman's Annual Re
port

port.
WASHINGTON, November 7.-Gener
al Sherman to-day submitted his an
nual report to the Secretary of War,
enclosing the reports of the ad-
iutant general and commanding
generals of the divisions and depart
ments Referring to the proposed
increase in the regular Army, recon-
mended in the annual reports of the
commanding>generals OF the de-
partments, General Sherman says
Ali these annual reports, with justice,
dwell on the fact that our companies
are too small for efficient discipline
and for ironical service. There are in
the Army four hundred and thirty
companies which are necessarily
widely scattered over vast domain
to guard property and to prevent, as
far as they 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 sudden, and reinforce
ments have to be hurried forward
from great distances and always
at heavy cost for transportation OF
men, horses, wagons and supplies.
This cost, in the aggregate, will, IN
my Judgment, be more than sutfis
cient to supply an increase Of 20 per
cent of private soldiers, all that I
would ask for at this time, because I
believe this increase will add little, if
any, to the annual cost of ,he Army,
and yet give great relief to our over
taxed soldiers.
General Sherman then urges an
increase of theArmy proper to 26,660
enlisted men. In this connection he
submits the statement of an actual
strength of the army on October the
18th, which is shown to have been
- S15 combatants, and g.
7S1 non combatants. He also
recommends the sale of many
useless forts along the Atlantic and
Gulf coasts, as well as a great many
of the inland military posts which
have become obsolete. On this sub,
ject he says: In tie early days of
the republic nearly every city and
barbor on the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts as well as lakes, wanted fort
for protection against public en-
emies. 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 preservation. Very many of
them are now absolutely of no use,
present or prospective, and should
be disposed of. 1 will not mention
names, because of local feeling.
Every such city or town, from Maine
to Texas and from Duluth
to Lake George has local
pridein its fort and garrison, and if
in times past, such fort was built by
the United States, any attempt to
withdrawal garrison or remove d flag
is met by local opposition, often i'm
possible to overcome. [ recommend
that you apply to Congress for au'
thorlty to submit the whole question
of coast defense to board of high
officers of all the arms of the service
to consider the whole question, with
instructions to report what
coast forts shall be maintained
what sites shall be retained for fu-
ture use and what may be absolutely
sold, and further, that authority be
granted the President to sell the
same, subject to any conditions
which Congress may impose. In like
manner, inland; a great number oi
military posts and stations have
either been received from the public
domain OF have been purchased
which, by progress of settlement
have become obsolete. Yet they
need military guard for protection
These are more then useless because
they absorb large fraction of the
small Army, which ought to be free
for action. For these, [ would
recommend similar but distinct
board, to make thorough study o.
the whole problem of internal de
fense, with similar authority to sci
and dispose of all posts except sucf
as are deemed necessary for perman
ent occupation and future use
West Point, he says, has been an(
must continue to be the fountain
source of military education in time
of peace, and, in his judgment, ths
military academy there can be safel,
trusted to prepare boys to become
the soldiers of the future.
In conclusion, General Sherman
says: g I beg to assure you that th'
enlisted men and officers of the pres
ent Army of the United States il
physique, in intelligence, in patrioti
devotion to honor and the flag of tn,
country, will compare favorably witt
any similar establishment On earth
and with our own Army at any pc
Rod of our history.