The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-11-16
THE REGULAR ARMY.
Points from the Yearly Report of Gen. W.
II. sherman.

Points from the Yearly Report Of Gen. W.
II. sherman.
The annual report OF Gen. Shermln shows
the general staff to consist of SIS officers
and l.ala enlisted men. The army proper
consists OF 10 regiments of cavalry, 43l Off
GERS and 6,Sss men; 5 regiments of artillery
2se officers and ,, i93 men; a5 regiments OF
infantry. $50 officers and S,s13 men; totab
including unavailable men detailed at va
rious points, a,l65 officers and q o34 men,
He saws the experience of the world shows
tina, hut 6,i per cent. of IN army is available
for active service, and, rs =, ,OO men are
really needed for o standing army, he recon-
men,is that the limit Of the army I've in
creased to co., The officers and men in
tha army are now, he says, oyerworked,
and must continue So unless the num-
Der is increased. He reviews the work
OF the year somewhat in detail, ;rrivtag
at the conclusion that there has been
a |. IS numb Of Indian outbreaks in the
wear than mt any time for twenty years
Part oil this is due to tho efficiency OF the
army, and palt To the advancement OF civil
iza'ion in the West. The report devotes
cons dsralc space to the growth OF tho
great West, and says that, now that the
transit on period Is past, it is due to the
Government 10 select certain strategic
po nts for permanent army posts, and con-
struct comfortable buildings on them, 50 as
not lonser to compel the officers and men to
live in holes in the ground, shanties, or
green cottonwood log huts, as heretofore:
There have been l ,.4l trials by court martial
d ring the year. He recommends change
i'll the system OF cOurts-maitlal, saying the
present system was established by custom
IN the English army hundred years ago,
when the habit was to dine at o'clock and
vn DRINK aff fnr II which hAhlG IL now.
happily, done away with.
TIE number of desert ons during the year
was ) ri, and emil. .tmcnts and re-enslst
ment 7,3il. Commenting on the number
OF desartions. he SAYS many are those of men
VINO enl ST in Eastern cities, and after get
ting free transportation West desert. know
ing there will he title eifprt to bring them
back or punish them. The remedy, ht
thinks, lis in cStsr treatment of thosr Whs
stay. and maie severe punishment OF &c
ssrters He recommends m increase OF thu
p4y OF men t. sii p,r month, instead ol SIS
IL. now, ana that punishment for desertiol
he made more severe. even lntilcttn. capita
puni hnent in aggravated cas-. :, "a Is on
/ hy othe. counties The general condi iol
Of the army personnel has been improved
rs has the general condition OF tn
people of the country at arge. Tn,
recent rifle contests have made great i'm
plovem nts IN the craftsmanship OF TIT
men and he enmmcnds an appropr atial
for csntiaung the work. He recommend
the a.io ton of some Ian hy which regi
ments and ,fii ers can be given detnit
terms in lemote posts and then he al oMe'
t. return To the comforts of civilized life
and their paces he taken hy others. lie re
comments the employment of teachers TO
schools ut posts, saying men from the arm
can no. be spared for this purpose, and re
marking that as officers In spite OF 81 2 nd
vice, will marry and have families, the
ought to be provided for in the best manne
nasslhla