The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-11-17
GEN. SHERMAN'S REPORT.

General Sherman has submitted his annual
report to the Secretary of War, inclosing the re-
ports 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 the 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repealed or modified SO as to secure this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
fulflls its uses, and can safely be intrusted
to prepare our boys to become the soldiers Of
the future.
There are in the army 430 companies neces-
sarily widely scattered over our vast domain. to
guard property and prevent. as far as human
foresight can complications and troubles of
every variety and kind, at one time protecting
settlers against the Indians, and again Indians
Rg: inst 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. i'll private soldiers-all that would ask
for at this time, because I believe this increase
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, as to add at least 81 ,000 000 600 to
the taxable wealth Of the nation has enabled
eniigrants to settle up remote parts of the conn
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 i'll the regular
army October 10, as follow ! Cavalry, G,8s2
artillery, Q, 403 infantry 10, $50 total combat
ants, 19. S15. Non-combatants Engineer Bat
talon, Ordnance Department, Recruiting Ser
vice, Signal Corps, etc. s, ,781. 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 100,
limited always in practice by ths actual appro-
priations of money rather than by a fixed num-
Der of men.
Ine 0enefal recommends tnaG the WlO.e
question of coast defence be submitted to q
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
and stations. Some old FORTS General Sher-
man admits, are worth retaining, and in order
that these may be properly taken care of, he
recommends that the President be authorized
to transfer out of the class of enlisted men,
who have served for twenty-five years or more,
q number not to exceed 900, 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 ana
charitable to them and advantageous to the
Government,