The New York Herald Newspaper, December 9, 1854, Page 2

a aS EE a ES SE PE SOD SE TED EEE PES ESE IIE DOES IEEE ETE SE EEE ATE EPEAT EES TEDL CITE DLE TILE EEE NATIONAL DEFENCES. port of the Secretary of War, me Wak DxpantMxyt, Dec. 4, 1854 Stx—I have the honor to submit the following report of (he operations of the army for the past year; and to y before you the reports of the Commanding General and of the heads of the several bureaus of the War De partment The authorized strength of the army, (as now posted) ix 14,216 officers and men, but the accompanying tables, prepared in the Adjutant General’s office, show that at the date of the last returns tre actual only 10,746. This diffs ence, however, thorized aud actual strength of the arm: “< i is fast disap: pearing under the operation of the law of the 4th of August last “to increase the pay of the rank and file of the army and to encourage enlistments.” The general distribution of the army is nearly the samo as shown in my last report. The most important changes will be briefly noticed. The Third Artillery has been re-organized since the wreck of the steamer San Francisco, and six companies sent to the Pacific, via the Isthmas of Panama. lwo of th panies of that regi- ment mada detachment of recruits for companies of a serving in the department of the l’acific have been sent by the overland route, for tae purpose of ex- erciaing @ salutary influence over the Indians inhabiting the country through which they will pass, and holding to account the tribe implicated in the massacre of Capt Gunnison’s party. They will winter in the Great Salt Jake Valley, and proceed to their destination in the spring, Six companies of the Second Infantry have been re-orgauized, and all are now posted in the department ofthe West. The remaining companies of that regi- ment will be sent to the same department as soon as their organization is completed, The Sixth Infantry has been ordered to the department of the Pacific. Six companies of the at Jefferson Barracks by way of the Isthmus, and two others, which were also under orders for Jeiferson Bar. racks, have been sent to Fort Laramie in consequi f the diffieulties that recently occurred in that vicinity. ‘The remaining companies now at Forts Kearney and La amie will be sent to their destination next spring by the overland routes, if a continuation of the Indian difficul- ties in that quarter should not interfere with this inten- tion, The headquarters and two companies of the first dragoons have been transferred to the departmeut of New Mexico, and replaced in the department of the West by four companies of the second dragoong, from New Mexico, The troops on the Indian frontier of Florida have recently been reinforced by two companies of ar- +illery, drawn from the Atlantic coast. Some other minor importance have also been made, with ecting a greater concentration of the troops. moval from Florida of the remnant of the Semi who, in violation of the treaty. have con tinued to occupy the southern par; ‘of thit State, has received the constant attention of the Department; but, ) the causes of Tu were ponseased, would be subject, sufficiently attests the wisdom of our forefathers in not conferring it, and must remove far from us any desire to it, If this view of the subject be correct, it f Executive must look to the army regularly authorifed by law to preserve police among the indian tribe: dd to give that protection to pioneer settlements which in terest, humanity, and duty alike demand. The organi zation of the two new Territories, and the impulse given thereby to emigration towards the Western frontier, and the increase in the overland trains to our Pacific pos- sessions, have multiplied the opportun as well as ny he gory and hostilities. It is hat the ensuing year will be reasonable to expect t | marked by more numerous and serious Indian outrages regiment are concentrated | frow peculiar circumstances, the eiforts directed to this | pbject have been attended with but little success. It is, powever, believed that better results may be anticipated in the eusuing year. The troops baye taken a line of observation which greatly contracts the limits of the territory occupied by the Indians; and it is proposed to make expeditions through the region where they have hitherto remained securely concealed. By opening roads and by the use of boats adapted to the navigation of the lakes, swamps and bayous, which havo hitherto enabled them to elude pursuit, (including small steamer, as re- commended by the Quartermaster General,) the depart- ment oxpects to acquire an accurate knowledge of the country, and to impress them with the conviction of their inability to escape from or resist the power of the United Sta Measures have been taken to cut off their trade and to make them feel the great inconve nience which will attend an attitude of defiance on their part towards this government. By these means it is hoped the Indians may be peaceably removed to the home provided for them west of the Mississippi, and the claim of Florida to be relieved from their presence be answered. Should this hope not be fulilled, sures above referred to are the proper and most eficient ateps preliminary to active operations for their removal by force In the other military departments the Indians have repeatedly come into collision with our troops. Depre- dations upon our frontier inhabitants and upon emi- gtanta passing through the Indian, country have been, and are still, of frequent eccurrence. In the Depart: ment of the West, besides the depredations committed by amaller tribes, hostilities have occurred with the Sioux Indians, the most powerful and warlike tribe of the Northwest. In Texaa they have been so frequent, and of so threatening a character, that it was considered yto authorize the commander of that depart- ment to call upon the Governor of that State, from time to time, as exigencies might arise, for such volunteer force as might be required to repel Indian incursions, in New Mexico serious hoetilities were repressed by the prompt and energetic action of the troops employed there, but depredations upon the inhabitants are still of occasional occurrence; and in the Department of the Pacific outrages of the most revolting character have re- cently been perpetrated on parties of emigrants on thei way to California and Oregon. To repress such disor- ders, the troops have been actively and constantly em- loyed; and in the arduous and harrassing duties that have devolved on them, have exhibited a gallantry, zeal and devotion that merit the favorable notice of the overnment. The details of these operations will be found in the report transmitted herewith. During the past year the Sioux Indians have com- mitted many depredatiens upon the property of the emigrants passing Fort Laramie, on the route to Oregon and Utah. On the 19th of August Lieutenant Grattan, vf the sixth infantry, was sent by the commander of that post, with thirty men, to arrest an offender. This entire detachment was massacred by the Iniians, with the ex- reption of one man, who escaped severely wounded, and subsequently died! The circumstances of this affair were at first involved in much obscurity, but authentic details Lave since proved that the massacre was the re- suit of a deliberately formed plan, prompted by a know- ledge of the weakness of rison at Fort Laram by the temptation to plu large quantity of pul and private stores accum at and near that post. The number of Indians engaged in this affair was be- tween 1,500 and 2,000. T regret that it has mot been in the power of the de partment to concentrate the troops in sufficient force to prevent, and, in all cases, to punish these disorderss ‘The circumstances of the ser’ have been such, and the want of troops in all sections of the country so great, that the concentration would “have exposed por- tious of the frontier to Indian hostilities without any protection whatever. Every favorable opportunity will be tasen to post the troops in commanding positions from which they can exe a supervision of the Indian country, and operate to the bestadvantage. The events of the past year have furnisned many examples of the inefficiency of small posts. Our entire loss in the several actions With the Indians Shean: tee year has been four officers and sixty-t men killed, and four officers and forty-two men wounded. While the oceurrences on cur frontier, and in the Indian territory, present gratifying evidences of the zeal and devotion of the troope, they also furnish deplorable proofs of the insufficiency of our military force, and the absolute necessity of the increase, which it was my duty to urge in my last annual report. I again solicit atten- tion to this subject, and im doing so must repeat, to some extent, what was then urged. For military purposes, the territory of the United States is divided into five geographical commands 1. The Department of the East, embracing all the country east of the Mississippi river. This department has 2,800 miles of sea-board, 1,800 wiles of foreign, and about 200 miles of Indian frontier. Of the fifty perma- nent fortifications and barracks on the Lake, Atlantic and Gulf coasts, now completed, or nearly so, and re- quiring garrisons to protect the posts, cities and national establisbments which they cover, only eleven are now garrisoned, leaving the remainder exposed to a sudden or unexpected attack from any naval power. The total force in this department, at the date ot the last returns, ‘was only 1,574 officers and mon, and of this number 500 are employed on the Indian frontier of Florida. 2. The Department of the West includes the country between the Mississippi river and the Rocky mountains, except the Departments of Texas and New Mxeico. It has a sea board, foreign and Indian frontier of 2,400 miles, 2,000 miles of routes through the Indian country constantly traversed by emigrants on their way to Utah, New Mexico, and our possessions on the Pacific, and an Indian population of 150,000, a large proportion of whom are, in feeling, hostile to ne, and many of them at this time actively so. The total force in the department, at the date of the last returns, was 1,885 officers and men. 8. The Department of Texas, nearly the whole of that ‘State, has a sea board frontier not yet protected by for- tifications, of 400 miles, a foreign and Indian frontier of neariy 2,000 miles, and commutications through the In- dian country of more than 1,200 miles. The Indian po- pulation is estimated at 30,000, nearly all of whom are “yomadic and predatory; and the western and northern frontiers of the State are exposed to constant inroads from the Indians of Mexico and the plains. The force in that department at the dace of the last returns, was | 2,886 officers and men. ‘4, The Department of New Mexico.—This departmen‘ issn ladian and foreign frontier of 1,500 miles, comma- rieationa through the Indian country of more than a thou sand miles, and an Indian population of 50,000, a grea proportion of whom are bands whe do not acknowledge the authority of the United States. @ in this department at the date of the last returns, was 1,054 cers and men. The Department of the Pac of Califoruia, and the Territor and Utah, aod apart of the Territory of New Mexico. ‘This department has s sea-board frontier of 1,500 miles, entirely unprotected by fortifications, except the works in progress at San Franciseo, an Indian and foreign fron. tier of 1,600 miles, and more than 2,000 miles of ¢om- munications through the Indian country. An Indian population of 124,000, who are becoming formidable from concentration, from’ the acquisition of fire-arms and a knowledge of their use, The force in this department is only 1,66 officers and men, but, a heretofore men- tioned, they will be increased by an additional regiment ordered there. To recapitulate: We have a sea-board and foreign frontier of more than 10,000 miles, an Indian frontier, and routes through the Indian country, requiring con: atant protection, of more than 8,000 miles, and an In- dian population of more than 400/000, of whom probably one-half, or 40,000 warriors are inimical, and only wait embracing the State { Oregon, Washington the rtanity to become active enemies. four army should be expanded to ite test limit, it would have a | foree of 14,751 officers and men; but as a large allow- ance must always be made for absentees, invalids, &c., the effective force would probably never exceed 11,000, That thia force is entirely inadequate to the purposes for which we maintain any standing army, needs no demonstration; and I take occasion again io urge the | necessity of such immediate increase ax will at least ive some degree of security to our Indian frontior. Frat, for this purpose, a regular force is not only the efficient and cheep, but the proper and con- atitutional means, seems to me demonstrable, if not obvious. The President is authorized to call out the militia to repel invasion and suppress insurrection, ‘These are the emergencies for which it was deemed proper to confer upon the Executive the power to cail citivens from their homes and ordinary avoca- tions, and these are the t occasions on which they may be justly expected fimake all personal sacrifices which the safety of the country may require. It isin this view that we habitually and securely look to the militia as our reliance for national defence, It was not the design of the constitution and laws to emable the Presideut to raise and maintains standing army, bat | 1 would’ be the practical effect of a power, at his d'veretion, te call the militia into service, and employ Lem for the ordinary duty of preserving order ia the Ia quae Territory. Tht abuse to which such a power, if it than the last or apy preceding year. Our border settlements extending from the Missouri to the West, and from the Pacific ocean to the Kast, are steadily pressing the savage tribes into narrower limits and an unproduetive region, from which result combi- nations of bands heretofore separated from each other, producing at the same time, by their concentration, an increwse of power anda diminution of their ability to live by the precarious products of the chase. Hence, a two-fold necessity for an increase of our military force. The question of economy in the employment of the means for this purpose has been frequently and fully discussed. It may not, however, be without benefit to advert to some instructive facts in our past experience of Indian wars. The expenses occasioned by the war with the Sac and Fox Indians, in 1832, amounted to more than three mil- lions of dollars. the definite appropriations for the sup- pression of Indian hostilities from 1836 to 1841, inclu- sive, amounting to more than eighteen millions of dol- lars. Within the past six years large appropriations have been made for the same object in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Cahfornia, and Oregon. Tbe aggregate of | vice of troops, ought not to take, by seniority, the mili- such expenditures in the last twenty-two years, inde- | pendent of the regular appropriations for the support of the army, is estimated at more than thirty millions of dollars, a sum sufficient to bave maintained for the whole period 4 much greater force than that recommend- ed in my report of last year. This sum is independent of the expenditure for property destroyed compensation to suflering inhabitants and on account of pensions and bounty lands, and, of course, does not include the losses eccasioned by the destruction of private property, nor those consequant upon tke interruption of agriculture and of the progress of settlement. ‘These cannot be measured by any specific sum, and, although private in their character, are not hmited in their effects to individuals, but, by diminishing the re- sources of the country, become public losses, and, ay such, are widely felt. It has been stated by those conversant with all the facts that, if in 1831 a small mounted force had been at the disposal of the War Department, the Black Hawk war might have been prevented; and that in 1835, if a few additional companies had been sent to Florida, the Seminole war would not have occurred. ‘The state of the recruiting service is shown by the re- port of the Adjutant General, and the accompanying ta- bles. Since the passage of the law of August 4, 1854, to encourage enlistments, that service has progressed very satisfactorily both as regards number and character of the men enlisted. Inthe months of September and October last, 1,005 enlistments were made, while in the corresponding months of 1853, the number was only 309, In eonsequence of the number of companios that have been placed on the maximum establishment under the law of June 17, 1850, the little success that attended the receuiting service prior to the passage of the law above cited, and the greater than usual number of casualties during the past year, the number of at will be required for the service ef the en- suing year will probably not be less than 6,000. The estimates for the support of the army during the next fiscal year exceed those submitted at the last sea- sion for the current year by the sum of $681,668 39, ‘The increase is to be found in the items for the pay of the rank and file at the higher rates fixed at the last session of Congress, and for recruiting, clothing and subsisting the better filled ranks of the army. In other items there ia a decrease, so that, leaving out of view the pay of the army, which, being fixed by law, this de- partment can in no way increase or diminish the ex- pense of keeping the army in active service, with its ranks thus increased during the next fiscal year, will not, according to the estimates, exceed that of the cur- rent year. The item of transportation, one of the hea- viest expenses, is not increased, and is therefore rela- tively less than that for the current year—thus verify- ing the expectation stated in the last annual report that an increase of the army would not be attended with a proportionate increase of expense, In fact, an undue expense in proportion to numbers always results from not keeping on foot a suflicient force. “If the force is too small for the line it protects it must be kept mov- ing. The result is that stated in the Quartermaster- General's report. The cost of transportation comes upon the war scale, as for armies in the field. ‘The means of transportation have, in some instances, been improved, and it is hoped further developments and improvements will still diminish this large item of our army expenditure. In this connection, waiving other considerations, I again invite attention to the advan- tages to be anticipated from the use of camels and dromedaries for military and other purposes, and, for the reasons set forth in my last annual report, recom. mend that an appropriation be made to introduce a small number of the several varieties of this animal, to test their adaptation to our country. I think it but an act of justice to the officers of the army again to call attention to the recommendation made in my last annual report, relative to an increase of their pay.’ The present rates of pay were established more than forty years ago, when money had a much higher value, as measured by the price of food; even as late as 1845, the cost of the soldiers’ ration was 1234 cents, whilst the estimates of the Commissary Genera for the present year are based on the price of cents for aration, The necessaries of life generally have hat a like, if not always an equal appreciation, and, under such circumstances, it would not be just that salacie should remain fixed which were originally graduated to aflord the means proper to the oflicers’ support. The justice of au advance in the salaries of public of- ficers, corresponding with the increased cost of the means of living, has been recognised by the government in the recent laws {or increasing the compensation o most of those employed in the civil departments o the public service. These considerations apply with greater force to the case of eflicers of the army, many of whom are compelled, by the nature of their ‘duties, to reside in parts of the country where even scanty sup- plies can be obtained only at exorbitant prices, If it was deemed necessary to offer other considera- tions than those of justice and equality, many would present themselves appealing alike to the pride, the lib- erality, and the gratitude of the American people, to sustain a proposition whieh onlyg seeka to relieve ‘the military officers of a discrimination alike onerous ‘and wounding. It can require but little refiection to convince any one that a policy which confines so large a body of intelligent and instructed men to a rate of Seer tp cope below that given in the ordinary avocations of life, must tend to drive from the military service ite more active and effi- cient officers. If, as I doubt not, there will be many honorable exceptions to this general proposition result ing from strong professional attachment to the army, they are exactly such exceptions as would claim in- creased consideration from every one who can estimate the patriotism and elevation which should ch: terize the officer to whom the honor and flag of his coWntry is entrusted. In the law of the last session of Congress to increase the pay of the rank and file of the army, the terms used to designate the grades of enlisted men are construed to exclude those of the Ordnance Department. At this ex- clusion is supposed to be accidental and unintentional it is suggeated that an explanatory act should be pas: to extend the increase of pay toall enlisted men of the army. The pay of ordnance laborers and mechanics would still be much below the ordinary wages of such employments. T would again call attention to the propriety of addi- tional legislation which shall place the widows and or- pbans of the officers and soldiers of the army on an eq ity with those of the officers and sailors of the navy. The subject has been repeatedly recommended by the Commanding General of the armyy and it {s again brought to notice in his report of ear. In some important particulars, our military Jegisla- tion, in regard to rank and command, as well as to or- ganization, needs revision. In armies, it is essential that it should be known, uuder all possible circumstan- ees, who is the officer entitled to command. Doubt as to the source from which orders are to emanate is des- tructive of discipline and subordination, and might, on many occasions, compromise the safety of troops. On this important point our military law is exceedingly vague and defective. Much of the mischief it otherwise would have*resulted, by the care of the department in keeping asunder officers whose claims would come in conflict, and by the patrintic self-denial of the officers them- selves who, in many instances, have waived claims to command which they believed to be wll founded, and served under those whom they considered as their juniors. Nevertheless, many unscemly controversies have arisen, engendering jealousy, rancor and insubor- dination; and the decisions in such cascs, eo far from putting at rest the questions involved, present a mass of conflicting arguments, from which no general princi- ple can be educed, and which serve only to furnish to every disputant the means of maintaining his own course. So numerous and contradictory have becn the decisions of the highest authority on ques- tions of rank, that no executive regulation or judgmen of a court martial could now establish any certain rule or fix the interpretation of the law; for either of these would be met by as high authority’ for a contrary doc- trine, and would probably be in turn overruled. Con- gress only can apply the soued , and whatever rule they may in their wisdom adopt should be simple in its terms and universal in its existence. One fruitful source of difficulty arises from double rank, In our service, as in the English, an officer may have one grade by brevet in the army, or at large, and supther in @ particular regiment or corps. The ittempted to define the cases in which one or the other of these commissions shall take effect, and it is to the defect®ve and sh this ia done ufficient manner in whicl that much of the confusion above alluded to is due. The statutory provision ‘on the subject is copied from the English. Even in their service it has proved a source of much trouble, and, as in ours, there is a class of com. has been prevented | | forth confined to a round of special duties. | with much of that part of its staff busi missions not known to theirs—commiasions in the army | at large, not by brevet. The oats ara of the law is further embarrassed by the necessity of ay class of cases for which it was not intended. To remove this cause of difficulty, some have proposed to abolish brevet rank altogether, but there are man: stronger reasons against this course. Brevet rank af- fords an honorable incentive and reward to distinguished conduct, and enables the government to avail itself of the services at bilities of meritorious officers in higher commande t they would be entitled to exercise by their ordinary rank. Jt is time, indeed, that these argu- ments lose much of their force and application, if the system of brevet I gmitg is not discreetly and justly administered, and that the system itself cea & shifting of rank dangerous to discipline and authority. Tke main benefit of the system is in a ing selections for command; but the present law brevet rank effect in all detachments composed of different corps, avd selection is as much restrained by this rule in favor of brevet rank as by the rule in favor of ordinary commissions. To avoid the evils without forfeiting the benefits of the system, it is pro. ey to give effect to brevet rank only when the Presi- at may see fit to authorise it, As commissions are designed only to take occasional effect, there seems to be a propriety in requiring his sanction either direct or delegated, aa constitutional commaader-in-chief of the army, to give (hem effect, A Carther Limitation, bow, ying it to a | ‘ever, should be put offthem. As they are not intended, and ought not to be allowed to advance an officer in his own corps, over bis seniors, the exercise of them ought to be forbidden, wa it now is, in the regiment, the officer belongs and is mus- troop or company, where tes A difficulty of still greater enactments intended to regulate rank and command when different regiments and corps do duty together. ‘The general provision is, that the command shall devolve upon the officer highest in rank ‘‘in the line of the army,’’ but these words were new in that connection, and of undefined signification, and it cannot be deter- mined whether they were intended to include officers holding commissions by brevet, in the staff or in certain special corps. The interpretation that has prevailed in our service ia, that they do not embrace any officers of the general staf, except the Major General and the two Brigadier G Is; but this is not acquivsced in by many, and the question is still productive of frequent controversy, attended with all the evils which have been above enumerated, I find much difficult governin ig partici itude is found in the in proposing any general rule to r such @ military organization aa © to exclude from command, g to their rank, the officers of the military staff, whose duties are as important to the service as any oth- er class of military duties below the chief command, and require equal general capacity, professional skill anil ex- perience. This would, in effect, convert the military staff, 60 essential to an army, into a quasi civil corps. On the other hand, officers whose duties, being confined to a special corps, remove them from the ordiuary ser- tary command for which their special service has not qualified them. ‘This remark does not, indeed, now apply to all officers of the staff corps, in the higher grades of which are found many officers who, having long served with troops, and won distinction in‘battle, were transferred to the laces they now hold. But the principie of promotion Fas been since applied to these corpe, and, under {ts | operation, their places must ultimately be filled by Ofi- cers early separated from the general service, and thence- ‘These diffi- culties can be obviated only by a change in the organi- zation of the general staff itself; and I propose it with less reluctance, as 1 share the conviction entertained by | officers of experience that the organization is not well calculated for the duties of the staff itself. And 1 think that not only the efficiency of the staff, but the general good of the whole military service, would be promoted by some essential changes which I shall proceed to sub- mit to your consideration, Our military general staff, besides the major general and the two brigadier generals, who habitually in command of troops, is composed of an Adjutant Gene- ral’s Department, Inspector General’s, a Quartermaster General's Department, and a Commissariat of Subsist- ence. officers ot these departments, all of whom have military rank, form so many corps distinct from the rest of the army, with promotion confined to their own corps, The embarrassments in regard to rank and command, resulting from this arrangement, have been stated. But worse evila result from it in the ordi- nary staff service. In the first place, most of these staff duties require military know! , onty to be de- rived from general serviee and experience. In the second place, from various causes and accidents, errors may be made in the first selection; either the officers selected may not be qualified, or they may become dis- qualified for their special functions, and yet be fit for the general service. These are evils whieh the gov- ernment should, at all times, be allowed the means of correcting. A good stafl is 80 essential to army ope- rations, that .t is unportant to secure its constant effi- ciency.’ There are, to my mind, eonclusive reasons why the staff should not be organized into permanent corps; and experience in the administration of the War Depart. | ment bas furnished many practical proofs of them. Ii the duties of the staff were performed by. officers holding temporary #ppointments for such servics, all the benefits might be secured of a large field of selection, at all times open, of general experience in the service, and of spe- cial qualifications for staff duties. The principal officers found particularly qualified for their special duties would naturally be retained. Those who might not be useful on the staff would be replaced in their regiments. Kither class not baving been confined always to a staff corps would be qualified for such military duty or com mand as the course of service, according to their rank, might devolve upon them. Ti has been stated that our organization is peculiar. A brief reference to some of the European systems may aid in illustrating the views hereinafter submitted, of a well organized staff. The French staff is divided into two branches—a mili- tary and « civic. The military has charge of all that re- Jates to orders, movements and military operations. ‘The civil furnishes all the supplies of the army. The officers who furnish the supplies have no rank. The wilitary staff have rank, and succeed ordinarily to command by virtue of it. This military staff is com- posed of two classes of officers—the highest positions in it are filled by selection from the gencral officers of the army, so aa to secure the best capacity and experience in the service. For the subordinate and more routine duties they have a special corps. But the functions of this corps are of much importance; and to supply it with fit officers, they have provided a special military school and a complete system of instruction in all its duties. This system is simple, with many ebvious merits, It brings all the military staff into one line and under one | head. It secures the double benefit of experience in the eneral service, and in the special duties of the corps. jut it is a system only practicable in a large army. The permanent corps must be such as to afford a sufficient | time. >) field of promotion. A small establishment does not allow of both selections and permanent appointments. Nor is the reparate sehool and corps for the staif needed in our army, in which a large proportion of the officers are prepared for such duties by the complete course of ilitary academy. This is an advantage which our service has over those services whore the size of armies does net permit the education of officers by government, except for those corps in which it is indis- pensable, and has attracted the attention of foreign officers and writers. Instead of one corps to which allthe military staf business is assigned, the English army has two principal wiftary staff departments; the Adjutant-General’s and the Quartermaster-General’s. The chief officers of these are generals of the army, appointed temporarily on the staff; the inferior are appointed, in like’ manner, from the regiments. Neither class gain rank by these ap- pointments. ‘The Adjutant General’s is the department of military orders and regulations, of the recruiting of the army, and of aH correspondence connected with the discipline and equipment of the troops. ‘The duties of the Quariermaster General's department relate to the marching, embarking, transportation, bil- letin F. encamping and cantoning of the troops, and the distribution of their quarters. It is the offiee of all cor- respondence relating to military science and topography, maps and plans. Besides these military departments of the staff, is the ordnance, which, though not strictly a staff department, and having many important functions not ef the staff yet provides many supplies for the army, and is charged ess. Both these systems, it will be observed, avoid the mis- chiefs indicated as arising from sorps organization like ours, limited to permanent offices. As to which is best where they differ, the Engiish in dividing, the French in uniting, the military functions of the staff, there seems not much room fot doubt, if the purely military business of the staff only were in — The advantages gain- ed by unity of responsibility and authority in military operations overbalance those of oo experience and skill that arise from division of labor, But there are a mass of staff duties, not purely military, connected with army supplies and equipments. _ All these cannot be ac- cumulated upon one military staff; and an which provides only a single military staff, % neces- sary the employment of other agents for supplies. But supplies are as easential as the movement of troops to the operations of an army. To separate the furnish. ing of army supplies from the other staff duties, is at last to destroy the unity of military administratien in point where it is always useful and sometimes necessary to preserve it. Amd to confide the supplies to civil agents is to lose the control where it is so important to in it, which commanders exercise over military off- It was in his first great campaign to the frontiers of Russia that the Emperor Napoleon found the great utility of giving a military organization not only to his artillery trains, but also to the general equipage and transportation trains of his armies. The civil machine- ry of the French staff is now censured by some of their able military critics as too expensive and too much removed from military control. In these respects it is contrasted with the Prussian system, where every branch of the army administration is brought under military supervision ani direction; to which is at- tributed that admirable efficiency and economy which enable Prussia to maintain so large wn army in pro- portion to her revenue. In liew of this control the French system substitutes as a machinery of paper checks a mase of writi and an smount of bureau labor, whieh have been justly condemned as hardly pos- sible in war, and as really rding no efficient security for the fidelity and economy of the expenditures. In a comparison of the relative expense of the two systems, the French is stated at more than $1,020,000 a year in salaries, and the Prussian at $19,000. It is not recommended to bring our military staff into one corps, or to Lei the Emap om hazards and ex- pense of a se] le corps for supplies. On the con- trary, itis thought that without attempting so entire arevolution of the system to which we have been ac- customed a staff organization may be devised, which will avoid the evils of our present system, and will se- cure the benefits of the Freach and Eng! systems, with others which neither of them affords. One priaci- pe however, should 1 sr in any system that may adopted—that of throwing open the appointments on the staff to selection from tle officers of the army at large. in dotail, the nization T now proceed to state, somewhat more organization recommended, GENERAL OFFICERS, ‘We have now one Major General commanding the army, and five other 1 officers commanding as such by brevet or other commissions, the five jhical departments, and one Brigadier General at the head of the Quartermaster’s Department. It is proposed that the Brigadier Generals shall be nine in number. This will give one for each department, as now; one for Quartermaster Gencral, as now; one for ‘Adjutant General, and two for the Inspectors General, being an addition of three to those who now, by bre- bia! or \ pasion have rank and command as Brigadier jeneral. ‘The duties of the Adjutant General of the army are those which in other s¢:vicen bel to the chief ot the staff. It is obvious that he should have as high rank any other member on the staff with him and as the de: partment commanders. Congress marked their sense of the duties of this office by a special act, allowing to the late at General the exercise of his rank of Bri- geadier eral Inspectors General have different fanctions in war and peace, It ix impossible for them, and so the regulations of the French service explain the employ- ment of these officers to exercise thelr inspection func- tions with troops im actual campaign. There, the Gene- eae eee ante the condition of the oops. But, im peace, with scattered garrisons, and in ® service distributed like ours, the inspection service is highly important. By taking, in’ ca of peace, ins from officers of tho gra Generals, they will havea proper rank sod auzhority for the apection service when so employed. Their duties nug ie sseueiseee cee why the mould not —ooo permanently and eoiely (or thal eve- ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. Besides the tant General of the be peeded in branch of the “staf taken from the regiments and ; headquarters of the army, one at the office of the A tant andone at each de it or district headquarters. Oue of these would probably be availa- ble when any important detachment may be collected for actual service; or if others are needed with armies oe field, they may be authorized as occasion may re- quire. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT. The ordinary service of this department in regiments, posts and detachments, should be performed by the de- tailof capable officers from the command. A limited number of experienced officers will be needed to per- form the more important duties of the department with large commands, or at the principal stations, and to su- pervise and control, under the generale in command, the operations of the inferior officers in the parts of the country most remote from the seat of government, and from the direct authority of the Quartermaster General. Ten field officers would probably be sufficient at any It in doubted if so many would be always re- quired. Selection and temporary appointments will re- gulate the umber employed by the actual wants of the service. COMMISBARIAT OF SUBSISTENCE. At the head of this service there shuld be a Commis- sary General, taken trom the field officers of the army, with the pay-and allowances of Colonel, as at present. A few officers would be required for the principal sta- tions and duties; but the ordinary business of the de- partment, being mainly the care and of the rations to the troops, to be performed at posts, and with troops on the mareh by proper officers detailed from the subal- terns. ‘The officers of this department should be charg- ed with the supply of clothing for the army. It may be proper again to advert to one effect of thia lan of details. That in selecting a sufficient number of junior officers to perform the ordinary service of the staff in the field and in garrison, most of them still serve im- mediately with the troops, and will not cease to be in- strueted in regimental and field duties. MEDICAL AND PAY DEPARTMENTS. It in not proposed to disturb the present system as the pay of the troops and the hospital service, Hospital supplies may undoubtedly be best procured b medical officers who administer them; and in this busi- ness no other agency is needed for economy or efficiency. ‘To maintain a separate corps for the mere payment of the troops is an expense rather disproportioned to the strength of our army. But our troops are distributed over so great an extent of country that the pay officers on the establishment seem to have sufficient employ- ment. When troops are assembled in campaign, the paymasters might have additional duties imposed on them ; as the care of the military chest, and the pay- ment (as to some extent in other services) of money upon Orders and warrants for other branches of the military administration. TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS. Toy phical services being included in the functions of the Corps of Engineers, and of officers of the General | Staff, it is not deemed expedient to retain a separate organization for the topographical corps. Engineers should be instructed, by proper practice and employ- | ment, in all the various and important duties of the engineer service; and that organization is very objection- able which makes a permanent distributio# of duties which should be equally shared and practised by all, and appropriates a sarge portion of officers to one, and tl ordinarily, a less important portion of its services. In this connection it may be in place to remark, that as the duties of engineers require a continued study and experience of a special kind, they require a permanent body of officers. But no injury can result from entrust- ing the command of troops, rding to their military rank, to officers whose functions, in the language of our articles cf war, appertain to ‘the most elevated branch of military service.’ It is therefore recommended to give effect to the rank of engineers, as of other officers charged with military duties, in accordance with the tule which governs all other service. ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. The remarks relative to the specialty of the duties and studies of engineers, in some measure apply to those of officers of the ordnance. But advantage will be found in giving on the une hand to the officers of ordnanee the benefit of a previous service with troops, and on the other hand in giving to the officers of troops the oppor- tunity of acquiring useful practical information relative to the construction and preservation of their arms and equipments. With this view it is recommended to re- tain in the ordnance corps only a small number of per- manent officers for the more important ‘arsenals, and duties, and toassociate with them, as assistants, junior officers, taken. by detail, from the regiments and corps. The Judge Advocate’s department has now only one permanent officer. Officers to officiate as judge advo- cates at courts martial, are appointed by the officers who order the courts. This duty requires legal stud: and experience, but it also requires a familiarity witl the military laws and the customs and regulations of the service. It is thezefore proper that judge advocates should be appointed from military officers, which is the system now practised. In the ptoposed organization, it is not intended to give increai rank, by virtue of their temporary ap- pointments, to the officers employed on the military staf. Their rank woula remain according to their commissions in the army. It may be inexpedient to narrow the field of selection Led defining the grade from which they sholl be taken. ‘They should receive the ca- vairy pay lowances of the next higher grade. ‘This organization removes all grounds of controversy | and objection to the rank and exercise of command by - haste It leaves military rank to all the military | staff. Tcannot doubt that an organization upon these prin- ciples would materially incrense the efficiency of the staff | and promote the general good of the service. It would require, of course, a greater number of officers in the regiments than the law now provides, to furnish the ne- cerrary details and appointments on the ataff, as well as for regimental duty. No injustice or undue hardshij would probably result to individual officers of the present staff corps in assigning them to regiments. If the law for the retired list sball pass, there will be no difficulty on this hea But, in any event, the interest of individuals must yield to the public good. The present organization of the regiments is also capa- ble of material reforms. In the artillery line we have now a larger body in pro) ion to the strength of the army, than can be «; for bag service of artil- lery. In fact, most of our artillery has always been armed, drilled, and employed as infantry. As, however, it is necessary that every regular army should have a proportion of artillery, armed, instructed, and ready for service, it is proposed’ ‘to reduce our artillery to the size which our service requires and can maintain. The regi. mental organization is now given to t, but in the field our artillery serves by batteries, and itis proposed to organize | it into one corps, of such size only as may snffice for in- struction and for necessary service in the field and in the fortifications. The officers and men now in the artillery, not required for the reduced corps, to be converted into regular infantry. A sufficient artillery would be about half the strength of the present four regiments of artil- ped eS would leave enough to make two regiments of fantry. The cavalry ferce of our any being all required for active service of the same kind, there appears no pro- priety in making a permanent distinction in the desig- nation and armament of the several regiments; it is, therefore, proposed to place all the nts of cavi on the same footing in these respects, and to leave it in the power of theexecutive to arm and equip them in such manner as may be juired by the nature of the service in which they ma: employed. The remarks just made in regard to dragoons and mounted riflemen apply to Hy case of infantry and foot riflemen. In increasing the force of foot troops it | is propored to designate them all as infantry, leaving to the executive the selection of the arms and ‘mode of in- struction applicable to their service in the field. ‘A strong reason for this arrangement exists in the fact that, with the recent improvements in small arms | it is probable that the distinction in the armament of | heavy and light infantry and riflemen will nearly cease, | especially in our service, where the whole force is lia | ble to be employed as light troops. In the Prussian army, even before the adoption of the new arma, the service of skirmishers Lid troops regu- late the instruction of the whole body of infantry. | It has always been difficult to devise a rule of milita- ry promotion by which the interests of the State may | be secured in advancing none but competent men, without affecting the just pride of the officer or vi lating the consideration due to long and faithful service. Undoubtedly, if it were possible that the inti power should always exercise a perfectly ig] ned and impartial judgment, the rule of | lection might be advautageously applied in filling up all the grades of the army. it, in no military service has it been thought safe to adopt'this rule to such an ex- | tent, and in our army the difficulty of its application is vastly increased by the usually scattered condition of the forces, as well as by other considerations. ‘The appointment of fit men for commissions in the lower grades of the army may be, in a great measure, secuged by requiring, in all cases, a presimiuary exami- nation, a8 is now required for the promotion of cadets and non-commissioned officers. But, with every preeau- tion in the first appointment, some officers will be found unsuitable for discharging the duties of the higher grades, or they may become ualified in uence of the infirmities of age or other disability. The pro: sed organization of the general staff provides a rem 'y so far as relates to their important duties, by open- ing a wide field for the selection of general and ‘tall off cers, and for replacing those who may, on trial, be found to want the pecuhar qualifications nisite for those duties. This principle may, perhaps, advan- br b= Al extended to theselection of officers for some other it int stations in the army, just as it is now by law to the appointment of # com- corps of engineers, It is neces- wary, therefore, in order to maintain an efficient ly of officers, that some |e shall be made for the cases alluded to, w! officers may be dis- abled or alified for . The only means for effecting this object without injustice to taithfal public servat is, to tired list which may provide nts the means of retreat for disabled officers, like that which the institution of a military asylum has afforded to other disabled soldiers. This measure has already Pei the ae oes of ur branch of gress, an inal adopt w m- mended,’ an being absolutely: essential to au efficient reform. Its adaptation to the service may be tested by restricting to a short period (one year) exercise of the power to place officers on the retired list, and requiring the renewed authority of law for its conti- nuanced; and as to the expense, though that is not the paimary consideration in a question which involves the efficiency of the army, it need Rf be remarked that, by the present Inw, the disal Officer who renders no wervice draws he would receive a much smaller allowance. relutes to them, the ere system is that which keeps them on full 4 jatever military establish. ment & nation maintal should be kept efficient; and it never can be so if the higher ranks are occupied by offi- tore ineay of service. The only choice is to retire them on some reduced allowance, or to disband them. ‘The last in a remedy (oo harah to be applied to faithful officers, disabled and worn out in a baying rag For detailed concerning the Military Aca- demy, Tree te the of the last Roard of Visiters, and to that of the Chie! et ), inspector the academy. The subm! im my last an- oval ‘to increase the academic time of cadets by the , haa been matured ond put inte effect by dividing the clase last admitted inte two pacts, the rst (@ pursue (he formes course of Cour | | } | ‘and companies; and all classes here- be instructed according to the plan of studies arranged for the five years course. In — terms it may be stated that the scientific course not been increased, and that the additions made are those the course of aeecanceg national law. additions were deemed necessary to qualify military offi- cers for the bigh and delicate duties they are sometimes required to og form ; and they could not be added without increasing the term or subtracting something from the thence scientific education included in the course heretofore pursued. From @ recent inspection of the academy, I can bear testimony to its successful administration, and themany and decic improvements which have, from time to time, been made. Additional means of greatly facilitated the acquisition of knowledge, and better arrangements in the quarters and recitation rooms have materially contributed to the economy, comfort aud order of the corps. I concur in the recommendation of the chief engineer for the establishment of a new professorship to replace that of ‘Ethics and English studies.”’ The chair is now filled by the chaplain of the post, and if it was ever de- | hould also bea mem. | sirable that the pastor of ts ber of the academic staff, the wider range recently given to'the study of philclogy, national law, and the centem- plated addition of cognate branches renders it impracti- cable for one person properly to perform both duties. T also concur in the estimates of that officer for an ap- propriation for the commencement of the construction of additional quarters for officers on duty at the Mili Academy. The necessity for this is fully stated in the report of the board of vVisiters and the chief Engineer. ‘The total cost of the proposed buildings is estimated at $44,054 46, about one half of which is asked for the cur- rent year. The condition of the sea coast defences is stated in the report of the chief engineer. The grant of appropria- tioas for these works at the last two sessions of Con- gress, after their suspension for several years, during which the policy of continuing them was very fully dis- cussed, is regarded asa final decision of the question, and I advertgto the eubject only to say that recent expe- rience in Europe has placed beyond doubt the wisdom of that conclusion. No defences can long avail a people who cannot meet their foes in the open field, and our fortifications are not intended to serve as the refuge of weakness or as the strongholds of un- popular power. ‘On the sea-board, in advance of popu- lous cities and important harbors, they are designed to arrest the progress of hostile fleets, and force the in- vader to abandon his attack, disembark his troops, and pursue his attack by land. The capacity of sea-coast defences to eflect this object against the most powerful urmaments that have ever been placed afloat, is amply demonstrated by the results of the late military opera- tions in the Black Sea and the Baltic. Happily we may profit by the experience of others without suffering the evils that attend the practical solution of such problems. Though our arms have heretofore been considered the best in use, recent inventions in Europe have produced | changes in'small arms which are now being used in war | with such important results as have caused them to be noticed among the remarkable incidents of battles, and indicate that material modifications will be made in the future armament of troops. The eaenarey of the grooved or rifie barrel and elon- ated ball, nown, yet the difficulty of loading this weapon has hitherto, for most military purposes, counterbalanced its advantages. To overcome this difficulty, two me- thods have been proposed; the first, by loading tne ep at the breech, has been for some time in use, but as defects which all the ingenuity expended on it has The second method, which led to entirely overcom has produced the important results above indicated, is to use an oblong ball of such diameter as to be readily introduced into the piece, but which afterwards is ex- panded so as to fillthe cahbre. This at first done by providing a rest or support at the junction of the chamber with bore, as in Capt, Delvigne’s method, or by means of a solid pillar in the axis of the barrel, upon which the ball rested and was expanded by blows from & heavy rammer. This was the plan of Col. Thuvenin, of the French army, and is known as the item dla which bas been extensively used in their service. The same object was esa analy attained by inserting into the rear part of the ball a conical iron Mon which, being driven unto the lead by the explosion of the reget acted as a wedge to expand the ball. This is the plan known by the name of its inventor, Captain Minie, of the French army. Still more recently, in England, the ball has been improved so as to expand by the force of the powder alone, without the aid of the cup. This is known as the Pritchett ball, having been brought into use by Mr. Pritchett, a gun maker of London This idea also had been suggested by Capt. Delvigne. My attention being drawn -o the subject, I directed experiments to be made by the Ordnance Department, both as to the proper, shape of the ball and the best mode of grooving the barrel. In the course of these trials some important conclusions were reached, agreeing, as was aiterwards ascertained, with the results of the in- vestigations then making in Europe. Although our experiments have been confined to our service rifle, and are yet incomplete, they confirm the at supe- riority claimed for this inventlon abroad. They show that the new weapon, while it can be loaded as readily as the ordinary musket, is at least equally effective at three times the distance, and the foreign experiments indicate iat Pen er superiority of the new arms. ‘These results render it almost certain that sniooth bored arme will be superseded as a military weapon; but great caution is requisite in introducing a general change in this important element of national defence, for the waste of public money is not the greatest of the evils resulting from the adoption of an erroneous system. The strong probability of a change, and the fact that we have al ready accumulated so large a supply, more than bali a million of muskets and rifies in the arse- nals of the United Statas, besides about 300,000 in pos- session of the States, at a cost of near ten millions of dollars, render it not expedient to continue, at this time, on a large scale, if at all, the manufacture of small arms of our present patterns. But, until experience shall enable us to decide on the merits of the new improvements, I am of opinion that eur expen- ditures for small arms should merely be confined to the making of such as are required ror fully test- ing these inventions. I have, however, asked for the usual appropriations for the national armories, in the hope that our experiments and trials in actual ser- vice, and the experience of the present war in Europe, will enable us soon to decide on the value of the recent modifications, and to continue the manufacture of arms “YGongrers; ative inet sean grers, a st session, made an approy tie for the purchase of a number of the py attinte | ing rifiea, To ascertaig which among the many that have been invented are the best, public notice has been given through tt.e Pewspepers of the appropriation and its objects, invititg all invengors to furnish sam- ples of the arms. When all who choose to compete shall have submitted their arms, a number of each Kind deemed worthy of trial, will be subjected to such practical test m , ee by erie? merite ea pon: hor 1e resi it probabl; will secure a substantial and simple breech loading am it eee our present patterns for the use of cavalry. The efficacy of these new patterns of arms will be fur- ther increased by an impreved mode of priming, which has been approved by the highest officers in our military and naval services. rations are now in progress to perfect the details of fabricat this new primer and spplying it to finished arms of the old pattern as well as to the new ones now in s8 of manufacture. In anticipation of an |, if not exclusive use of rifle arms by thi gland army, and because of the be- lief that the rifie or light infantry system of instruction, is best ada jo the foot militia, Ihave caused in- e instituted into the system used by the ‘of other countries, that complete light in- tantry or rifle tactics might be introduced into our ser- vice with such improvements as the experience of other — has nip. to be valuable. Seen on this sub- ject is now in course of parat and it is ex- Pected will be, in a short ime, submitted to you for such action as it may be deemed worthy to receive. Attention is again called to the necessity tor legisla- tion to provide a more certain and equitable mode for the distribution of arms a: the militia, and to the propriety of supplyin them with books of tactical in- struction, ase ontemplated in the clause of the consti. | tution, “for training the militia, according to the dis- aa.” — prescribed b; have to ask attention to the necessity for fwrther legislation for the sale of useless military sites. Ac- cording to the construction which has been m to the acts upon this subject, and which, though its correct- the practice of the department, the act of March 3, 181 applies only to military sites then held, and that Aj Til 28, 1828, only to lands “« conveyed to) the United states for forte, &c. According to views there is no provision for the sale of lands which, since the 3d of March, 1819, have been reserved from public domain ness hes been doubted, must be regarded as aad, 1 for military pu #, and I therefore recommend that the provisions of the act fiying authe rity to sell use- to reserva- leas military sites be exter ions. Mi reservations around military ©. ¢viablished on the frontier, and now Teabered ue las by e advance 0D, we great jue, not only from the Five In the Prenat lands ol po Je- ct ies, from im provemen' . them t fabor et the trgope cr st petlle expense. In diene at public sale of some of which came within the attribated, no doubt er: to combinations the bidders. I concur with Quartermaster Gene: in the opinion that similar results can be prevent. ed in fa! only by establishingjs minimum price, below which the land aball not be sold, and I recommend that ision be made for this purpose in any act that ——) passed on the subject. bs accounts of atreat Cail have been rendered with more than usual punctu: during the past year, but yet not with the = promptitule which the department desires to enforce. ny Officers, not having staff ap- Las beside the performance of their appropria' juties in the active and arduous service of the frontier, are charged with the disbursement of public money, with the care of public property. This, besides the jabor itinvolves, subjects them to some loss which no care can avoid, and which is a tax upon their pay. To reimburse tor, BSE this loss, if not to remunerate their I coneur with the Quartermaster-General in recommending that some additional pay be allowed. [cannot too strongly urge the necessity of effectual parce ae measures being taken for tl accounts of disbursing officers at the Treasury. lay to which they are now subjected exerts « most in- jurious effect by destroying the salutary im of watchful arene ‘of public ex} jares, para- lyzes the efforts of Od wre wage geod in accounting, b; it in Ignorance the true state ri cera’ actounte, ex to loss failing to give them notice defects ot eviaewes until the accidents end mutations incident te army life have destroyed tify the one or supply the other. has been the distri! ff ction have | in range and accuracy of fire, has been long | States, proves to be of great advantage to the and promises, when more perfectly understood and car ried into full effect, to obviate most of the incon’ niences heretofore en in transmitting fueds making disbursements in remote parts of the count It preserves the control of the department over the Lie moneys till the moment of their expenditure, enables it, in the event of the death of an officer, to re: claim its funds without waiting for the appointment on administrator or the settlement 0@ his accounts. also removes, in a great measure, those temp which the possession of large sums of money in active speculative excit t cannot fail to present. Ibave again to invite attention to the necessity some general provision for the prevention of snits im: volving titles to lands and other public interests, com| mitted to the charge of this department, and for the tlement of accounts for counsel fees, costs, and other ex. nses incurred in maintaining the righta of the t ‘tates in such cases. In the absence of any pro of law on the subject, this department has been subj to exorbitant charges, and has experichced much | barrassment in the conduct of suits. Jn pursuance of the views stated in my last annua} report, in reference to river and harbor improvementa| the department has adhered, in the directions it given, to the design of making them as complete as sible, without any operation being undertaken would be dependent for its completian upon future priations. Some works have been completed in o formity with these views, but by reference to the t of the colonels of the two corps of engineers, it will b seen that a large majority are unfinished, and that, many cases, the balances of appropriations applic theréto are not sufficient to effect results of much va Ine. As 20 ap priations 5 were made at the last ‘easi of Congress, ee: ua further estimates at thistine. To the general remarks upon this subject, in my annual report, I have only to add that experience con| firms the opinion, that no benefit at all commensurat with the expense, has been obtained, or is to be expect ei from appropriation: ‘and applied in the eretofore pursued. gents the expenditure has 1 tterly lost for want of f er appropriations to cem| plete what has been commenced, and works co jleted have fallen into ruins for’ want of apprapril wtions to peseennn thems from delapidation by t lence of storms, the wear of currents, and the progre «f natural decay. A rock or a snag removed from a nal igable channel is a benetit gained for ever, but arti ficial etructures to protect harbors or change the cour: crincrease the velocity, of currents, muat undergo de terioration, which, however small, be constant, tever policy may be hereafter adopted to such it will be imperfect unless it embrace not only thei completion upon the plans selected, but their preserva tion from the operation of the natural agencies w! tend to destroy them, as well as from injury or occu} tion by trespassers. No means will be adequate fo these objects, unless accompanied by a cession of exclu | sive jurisdiction over the site, or at least ownership the soil. Questions have risen which seem indicate the difficul which must inevitably occu! from the want of jurisdiction and title whenever th powers 1.ow necessarily exercised in the protection these works shall come in conflict with the rights or terest s of individuals. The survey of the northern and northwestern le steady progress, and tlhe documents ace panying the report of the Colonel of Topographical gincers show an unusual progress in this work acco plished during the past season. ‘The roads in course of construction in the Territory Minnerota have been prosecuted with the means at th disposal of the department, and a document in the re port from the Topographical Bureau will show the tem pursued an progress made in their co q tion, With regard to those in Oregon, Utah and Ne Mexico, special instructions have been given from th department, of which copies are appended, designed, it each case, to secure, in the first place, a practical wagon road between the termini, with such impro ments afterwards as the balance of the appropriatio would allow. ‘The roads in New Mexico, from Tao Santa Fe, and from Santa Fe to Dona Ana, autho by the act of Jaly 17, 1854, have not ek been co menced. The location of these, or at least of the will depend in a great measure upon the success whic may attend the efforts to obtain water along the rout by wells, for which the aot makes provision. cheapest method of obtaining it will, it is believed, be boring, for which purpose implements could not be tained in that country. Measures have been taken procure the necessary tools and apparatus in connec! with the examination and trials to be made for the suy ly of water by Artesian wells on the routes for Penitic railroad. When these have been completed, same apparatus can be economically used for the well on the military roads. Bince the date of my report of February 6, 1864, municating to Congress copies of all reports then recel; ed from the engineers and other persons in plorations and surveys to ascertain the most praetie, ble and economical route for a railroad trom the Mi sippi river to the Pacific Ocean, the six parties engs 50 in those surveys have Seuss their field duties, recei ports of four of them have ived and der a resolution of tye House of Repecteateliess, p at the last session. The two remaining reports, it is pected, will be ready for the printer the course next month. No provision was made, by the resolu »bove cited, for engraving the maps— out them reports are comparatively useless. In making surveys of this character, the maps and orts being hastily prepared in the field and gen at night, after a day of fatiguing duty, require ¢ revision in the office, and are considered aa mere! liminary to the moreelaborate results which finally faiq their place. Hence it has been found necessary to retur ome of the reports for revision, and in some cases te lot the work and make new maps. When all the re) and maps are received, they be laid before gress, with a general re; and map exhibiting a utes, and such prot p exhibiting all the routes, and such pi soe as will be necessary to illustrate subject. f An Cy pie greed having been made at hen, last sess for continuing these surveys, a been ong: ized to make further ex] daralanon bottien the Los Angelos and the waters of the Bay of San to determine whether there be practicable route for railroad through the mountain passes of the § Nevada and coast range, which extend to the sea at Point Com:eption. A second party is making tions for testing the practicability of procuring water means of Artesian wells, upon the arid plains cl pe ceo Lap yak ye go Licking of the a1 vady made |, when assem! and compared, bably Todieate the direction in which farther @ tions shall be to take the it. work. by the difficulty of obi saficient sup of napeans bet advanced. The walls of the Senate chamber sentative hall are eee and these rooms present winter. sacl pena, by the meeting of egress; but the delay in the supply of marble miy retard the completion of the dors depending thereon, as to pied so early. The style of the werk, both in finish and ene ies ohoetncs han wae cuamenaene he but the administrative o city and professional skill of the officer ia charge, ha’ 80 kept down the expenditure that it in believed the o will not exceed the estimates made for an inferior ing. Fhe modifcations made in the interior plan of t structure are now so tar completed ties, optics, and ventilation, construction of the Ilall of Re fee tions on the work di to supply this a with water have been su: for want of funds. is hoped that appropriations will ne longer be from this imy it work. I have seen no reason change the opinion that it was judiciou: located. My confidence is strengthened com) at a coat within the estimate, and will sect be t ane Sr meere Ser alate aud, taking permanence of the work, its ity to future wants, and the abeence of machinery ili annual ex any » more e mode that fire proof building at ath streets, b= ry Ba in common by bureaus of the wy and War Departments, The lease held expired on the 30th of June, and had given the department due notice, fused to renew it for a less rent than $30,000 per which Congress had refused to appropriate. A r) survey of the buil was made by competent neers and builders, who estimated ita value in its condition at $197,042—$197,907—and $108,342, tively, and after some negotiation the owner ag t accept the amount of the a ‘tion mm it the building and in satisf of ail claims fer ges, and also for arrears of rent accrued since owner, who 3 i Hd ne would have been equal; sensiny | government vacated the building, instead ¢ purchasing, a* the lease provided that the buildia should be ‘restored in a good state of repair. ‘The cei] of the additional improvements will hardly exceed ‘amount of the rent that was released in the contract purchase. It is hardly necessary to remark that the purchase this building in no vegree obviates the fore frequently presented, of the Saran aacs apaaad ee structure. ‘The recompanying reports of thé Commanding of the army aad’ the chiefs of the several branches the military service, contain ful! and exact in relation to the duties with which atone! ly charged. To these I refer for such al uot be embraced in this report. . | Ley re RE pee ‘To the President of tho United Statey, nO |