The New York herald. [volume], December 18, 1853, Image 7

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THE ARMY.
OUR MILITARY RESOURCES.
Annual Repot t of I he KccrtUry of the War
Urpui Uuitiii,
H.n- r tu Dec- 1. 1853.
V t ,t ' e honor to submit the f diowinp
report of the nj? rations of this departs nt dtiriu>
the pest jear. Ibe authorised htrengtb of the ar nv
low po?ttd) ii 13, .21 - oilier, and men Kt Yt
?<'<'"Oip?u?jDg Uble, prepared in
that .?i!U . i"6 8 offlc?.fau? the returns,
that the actual btivngth is only 10,417. Ol this
number, 8,378 are employed in Ida iroutier depart
ments, or are d- w on the route for then. It gives
Hie pleasure to t-ay tb-*t the measures t?ken for the
protection of the inhabitants of our frontiers have,
i i!? r ir ^''ecti " of i*b!e hd<J aealottH commanders
beeu more than u.su illy mmwM. TU tmopj have'
tieeo act v.-iy Mud cousin tiy eaplojecL
indn-n depredations have been couuijr?.tively unfre
quented excep'. in California and Ore^o*, hive
lot attained a more than looal importance. ]?, th?
Indian country in.m..iialc]y not of the Mi?sissi??,,i
cumd.? ?r ttJr"e iU8ttt,,oew of col^?oa iiave oil'
Arrangements ore now in progro-a, wh^h. by th%
establiobnier t or i.? vv posts ju more available nrwi
bow. Will enable the depurtmea?^oea* with L'
nnriiber of the biiiblier ,nd le,s important p? to
give increased security to (bat frontier, to emSv a
greater force for .be protect! >n of the eX J
cro.-hinp tbe great pl?in? of the W?,t, and at theSm!
tune materially diminish the exnenJ?7r< t 7, J i \
estai.iibbmei.t . ia jl ut part of tbe country. in Texas
ndiao hostilities Lave dimiui-hed iu frequency and
wen b ugbt to the nonce of t'ie department tin
res K, ir 'rrr'r * usr?S;
i, -As the Rio Grande u the bound
h ^ ^iW?CfcU try and Mexico, and the posi
tions to be occupier) on it for the pr>tectioa of that
frontier and tbe fulEJoieut of our fre?tv iiuulati
?nth tbe republic or Mexico w.ii, inaU ?XSu*
to permanent, tlie ron-e on that river has bees con
siderably men tttd, and arrangements are now bei m
J??<3e, under the o.iedion of Major GeneK Smit?
o f ti. 7 an/'x,eriftn'''jd ?ffioer ol engineers to se
hew^ b!^ trMU0U lor lbe attainrliC'iit of
or U,eiJdef1nce.d ,0f ^ <* *W w*ta
i,rA^t ,"'e astern, orders bavs been given
vJwi . m^ut of a strong pnat ontUelli?
. l<!e Mexiean town of E! Paso, ia
?.. ^''shporho^td ol which indma hoetuitjes ani
oIlisioDH between the troatier inhabitants of the two
oui.tiies have occurred. It ia also ia contornnia
ion b? ewtaWifh a Inr^e post at tlie p unt where tha
wl nth iCum^clie Indian j crosses the Rio
>rande. Other dispositions for the coutrol of the
ndiuis on the northern frontier of Texas are alsn in
.rogre*, and when tliey are comp!e^d the Denart
rent bojies with conhdence to give a very ifreat
rAmii fw - Mtxico has been comoarativelr
e^ The ?ewDt hit ?lstur^n;?^ during the pa*
?? traced to
Those to which they nomiaally belong have given
^wances, which it is beiieved th?,y are end-avor
firelJ^nh n Cdrry 0llt, 0f ta,",r inteQ'if"? to
pieiieud and deliver up these marauders, aa i re
mjb the propeity plundered by thtm.
Ihe Indians ot Calitornia and Oregon are nume
Oi Mid gyjikc, but a. ttV were UloZS
3"cn' having no general head, and
Iwi dest.tuto of firearms, their
utilities m previous jears were not important.
^w-h"wover- the rapidlj extending settle
?.nt?of thoce countries are driving the Indians from
fcir accnst<)nied haunts, and crowding them into
\ lhlZ ?n 9 formed i,lto combinations^
th fonL dab e and frequent. Within the past fir?e
ars, their hoetilit ?, tne result, in many K2
the intrusion arid aggression of the whites, hare
jnaJmost uninterrupted ; and it is officiaUy kno wn
itin Northern Calitornia more than ene hundred
huudied Indians have been sacri
rrl , collusion between the twi races.
Ihe foroe in that country is not now, and never
twen suffice nt, and, impressed with the idea of
entue inadequacy, the djpartment some time
ice ordered a regiment of wtrhsry to the Pacific,
I d<*igue?l to send them an additional re*i
,nE?^ % 'I "'afl fjund th*t the state of
fervice would not then .'nor would yet admit of it
BTheflfttmail from the Paeidc, subWqwnTto ihl'
^liiU iVwhVhb^Ug\Vtateili*enw of "newed
?unties, in wh ch more than forty lives were lost
the zeal and activity of Gen. Lane, delegate from
Id0*! . ti 111 ??1IB,Buld of a volunteer force,
V ?, v w r^.uUr troops that were in the
^n.'r hostilities were suppressed, and the
Jians compelled to sue for peace. These opera
fo have been conducted with great enor
ond judgment ar.d in the final cn.flijt Gen. bane
trn^n \ ('h? latter in command of tneregu
?u Wefe ^?'h u?p]y mounded while gal
tly leading a charge againht the Indians. There
however, no assurance that peace can be main
?? ?nlesaa force adequate to the control of the
ions is stationed iu their midst. It is the inUu
of the department that this shall be d .ne and
soon as possible a considerablo additional force
fSifrftfci P<1C'?C, aatl 0,18 of the brigadier
traU of the army ordered to the command.
he vast territories between the Rooky Mountains
the Sierra Nevada are inhabited by numerous
IndSuf" .Ho3tililies we now exist
DetweeB them and the inhabitants of Utah terri
rand they axe constantly occuiruig on thee ni
uon routes through the country, from the Western
tee to our Dossessions on the Pacific. It is due to
citizens who are settled in, or pass through those
Drot^u.1dD8hntUththt!lr llVM artd l'r?PertJ' should
P??W..b,U department is without the
s of fulfilling tlus duty. The measures adopted
? Department oi the Interior under the last
'Tta^pi ^ i u re.mov?1 ot few Seminoles
i . 0r':-a buV1Dg ftt,led' jt was considered
?nt 'r.uho fontro1 of these Indians to
department, it r tbe purpose of emigrating them
f? country we.t of the Arkansas. A /expend
,tir ?eJ?rin*' 0 I,*?11 piainted with their
their eontidenee. has been
^th thU duty ; and witi a view to
.then his eflor.s, and at the saaia time be pre
to use coercive measures, if such should be
Ur.'ia ?__?r(jei ?f nine companies of
,he P?nmsul x of Florida. Ir. is
a that the mea-tires thus taken will be attend- d
favorable result j.
lie appropriation of March 3, 1853, for remouut
Ithe four additional light batteries authorized by
act of March ;>, 1 17, has been found imnfftolffit
bdi' nut but three or them. It is recommended
, in the appropriation for tne support of the army
Sie next fiscal jear, provision bo made for re
itu?g and equipping the remaining company,
be details ot the movement of troops during
astjtar. ami their DNWit disposition, nftNIM
ptctfsliy Biade to the repor . of the cointnand
stne al, and the accompanying tiOles, which
lansraitttd herewith.
be disposition and employment of the army mint
end upon the necessities of the servicc, but if no
ig unforeseen should occur, it is proposed to ar
jre t iro of the regiments ot artiliti^ to the Cauad*
tier, and to the Atlau'ic end Gulf coast 4, the
" to the ? Iiio Grande boundary, and the fourth tu
?ac flc coast. 1 he troops on the seaboard will
Muentrated as much a? pos-ible, and at each of
|pc.-M occupied by tbemiviH be provided the
is i eoeseary /or the inttrnjtioij of officers and
in an the duties ot their profession. The same
se will be ndopud, as far as practicable, at the
Is Ob the Mexican frontier and Pacific coasts, oc
ed by the artiikry , and generally whenever it
be done consu>tei.tly with a proper degree oi
pony.
I Hi-? ruvilry regiments, or.e will be required in
?s, one in New Mexico, awl the remaining ons
western frouiier, for service on the plains for
I protection of emigrants. A fourth is needed for
Pacific and the emntry between the U->cky
nMiii3 aid tLe S'irra Nevsda, and it is hoped
Congress will authorize its organization,
me leKinif nt? of infantry are required in Texas,
on tie fhmtltr wtetoltie Misd-sippi, one in
Mexico, and the remaining one in tlm In 1 ai
Jtry of the I'aclic. In another pint of thisie
1 shall invite your attention to the necess ?y of
hcrease o. tlds foice. The companies of several
ft ngiamrta, pai'icnlarly thy tivalry ar.d ar
r, are now greatly dispersed, serving in different
i-iteiits. ai d ui der d ffereiit commanders. Ad
it pe will be takea of any movement of troops
| may hereafter liecotne neces-ary, aad without
ri<K any gr< at expense for that object aione, to
Cutrate tlie companies < f the sarr.e regiment M
|h a? possible, so that they may be under a com
commander, and subject in some degree, at
', to the control and supervision of their colonel
'piiucntal coinnt'iuders.
ith an army three times as great as ours, it
d be Impracticable so to guard ?li point* of our
Tided frontier asenliuly to prevent Indian de
lation*. It is, therefore, the It tui tion of the dc
nent to post the troops in largo bodies at com
J'r-K positions among the Irtlians, and ta
[iiiu aggression by the exhibition of a power ade
1 1 puni?h. Tiny will not be likely to tngage
bstiliteslt thrir families are in the power of the
be dunnf; tiieir absence.
le multiphci'Lm ? small p' s,t.<*, however much
ky appear to have been called for bv ?he necea
\ of tlie se'v'ce, is more ttwn ctonbtful policy,
system isexpi ? -ue, far beyond any good resul's
?are attah ed by it It is injurious to the disci
V instiuction, iu d tftii ie,icy of troops, and it is
vt d tbat it often Lvltea aggrc?ir?n, by that
?itioii of vseaknc^ which must Inevitably attend
treat disj er-iou of anv f'oree. The benefits of
posed change will be ?n improvement in in
Ition and discipline, a greater degree of fili
al and usefulness, and IMhtU diinlti-i'ion of
BC8. Tilt; Uktiibutioi^ of the matinW of WW
required for tie defence or a country or the use of in
! IJSjiaintimttoly com ede i wita the movement*
aurt position of the jer?i?,vrt of t'Jat army,
i Th?fwcilitkM of o nuuunioatlou between the depots
1 Wh? n- tl.?"e supplies ^ ""d, or on be oOUined
i u'.d the points on our stab' nr<l, and uortliero and
western frontiers, where they n-.iy hi ifquiied, are
i ho great that, ho fur astbese are concerned, no change
I is ue pieaent arrangements se-.'it.B r e?ef>tiry.
I Tue C' niuiuniouti >n with Ne * Mcxico, though te
dious and expensive, Li not habits toforeiKU interrup
tion, and would not Lr chained by the occuiren ?? of
war. The case is some what different with reg.>r J to
Ttxts, ?t?d essentially so ?> itb legard to the cun'ry
bordering on t>>e Pacific. w?ioh, frwn tts wealth, w
the most inviting, and fit in itn remoteness is, of all
our possessions, the moat exposed to tlie attack of a
forn, n enemy. In view t-f iM ever po?aiVe contin
gency i t vur, and the dilli ul'y of providing lor it '
af'er it Iihjs oc;ui red, it bcoonies importiu'. to tane, .
at, an early a period an possible, all necessary pre :au
ti^ns tor the security of our d' stanl territory. As I
the appropriations fcr the " amount of fortifi titious
f. r the last three years have eitnur been refused or
greatly reduced, under the impression that it , depeud
ed upon 'lie pro.-.e. uth.n of the " system of perma- j
Dent fortification 4," it is proper to rciflirk that ttiw
pro* Mollis not depBudmit upon the extent to whtcu
the system is cairied, but it hi indispensable to au>
system ol coast defence that may he adtyed
The construction of permanent fortifijations, ana
the citation ot trsenals and depots, is nece-saniy
ibo work of time, but the armament for the mi*t
important posts, both in Texts and on the 1 m< uc
coast, should at *he c^lVst piacticable period be
sent to them, and when iu position, temporary wnrks,
puiricient for defence agaiust Miy sudden attack by a
naval force could readily be tnrown up by the labor
of the trot its. There should also be seat to the
Pacific coast, and stored at suitable points, the
ordnance and ordnance stores needed for its defence,
and to the arsenals on trie Columbia River and on
the Bay of Ban Francisco, the machinery and other
means needed for tho construction, equipment aud
repair of i.Jl the materiel of war. Depots should
ul so be foni cd of such other supplies as are not
perishable in their cbarac'er. With a water trans
1 oriation of 111 .000 miles, and land routes impracti
cable tor the tiansporta'ion of heavy supplies, it will
oe t' o late to adopt these measures wneo the com
munication by sea is liable to interruption, and no
i, indent natiou should Uust, in matters of such vital
in porunee.to the chances of a future that no hu
n a,, sagacity tun foiesce.
many of the supp'ies proposed to be sent to
r, Xas a, d to the Paciiic, are now in depots in the
a Initio Btate?, no great expense or loss would be ;
mstained by their transfer, even if the necessity for
?|,(iruie should not occur for many years to come.
Ah a measure of prudence aud economy in the trans
portation of such as may be tent to the Pacific, it Is
sngKested that whenever naval vessels aie sent to
that coast, there be sent with them such stores as
tht y can cenvtniently carry, in addition to their owa
supplies. The state of the recruiting tervioe is ex
hibited by the occempanying reuort and tables pra
partdby the Adjutant General, who U charged with
the details of t bat service. .. . .
The demand for labor has been so great through
out all pir^s of the countiy during the past jear,
that this service has not been so successful as in
foiuervefers. In consequence of this, aud the riot
that a i umber of th? companies serving on the sea^
board have Hen transferred to " remote
where, under the authority vested in the President,
by the act apt-roved June 17,1 850 , the maximum
c rKfiiiiza'iou ebtaias, it is estimated that four wou
tana fix hundred recruits wih be required tor the
service of the tnsuing year. To obiaia these at the
present, rates of pay, and in toe present prosperous
state tf the countiy, can scarcely be expecttd, tnd it
u important that some measures should ?mmed'at?ly
be taken tor maintaining the full number of the rank
and file of the army authoriiied by law. ft w
bv an examination of the statistics of the army, front
1826 to the commencement of the war with
that the average excess of the legal over the actual
strength of the army has been, during Ujis period.
18 per cent of the latter; that the average actual
lose by dtseition has been 12j per <*nt,brdis
charges for disability aLd other causes, 7 per cent,
and bv deaths, only 4 jier cent; or that the total
leaf , independent of discharges by expiratiat of ser
vice, has been '23$ per cent ot the actual strength ot
Btoce^he termination of the war with Mexicojthe
excess of the legal over the actual sUargth has been
nineteen wr cent; the average lose by desertion,
sixteen ver ceLt; by discharge! for disability and
other causes, eight per cent; by deaths, four per
cent, or a total lo?s, inde|*ndent of discharges by
expiration of service, of twenty-eight percent. A
nart of the per centage of desertions is due, however,
to the excitcmcnt on account ot the discovery of gold
in California; the excess from that cause iu one year
alone, being 630 over the average ot the thrcesuc
ceeding \e?rs. It is found by au analysis ot the de^
btitiona mm 1825 to 1846 , that if we exclude the
excess due to local and temporary causes, in 1832
?jud 1S46 there was, as the condition ot the soldier
wa- ameliorated by increase of pay, Ac , a gradual
dimii.ution in the proportion of desertion: ^soldier
when the diflerence between the pay of the soldier
ai d the value of the corresponding closes otlabor in
tivi! life wa? slight, they were comparatively nufre
c merit, being ut two oiOerent periods only sevenand
a half and tour and a half per cent of thu u^^'a.1
strength of the army, and that they incre??e^.1?hf.
direct ratio with the increasing pro-parity ot the
?.ontry, reaching, when the disproportion was
^SSiSSiSS&'Vm to be
the number or re-enU?tments, the P">i)ortion in the
last four j ears being only seventeen per cent, while
in the tdree years immeoiateiy preceding the war
with Mexico it was twenty five per wot of the nurm
bt r of discharges by expiration of servue. rbene j
remits may be traced to two principal causes. First, ;
the disparity between the pay or the sol^er- |
^nlue oi labor in civil life. Second, the tact that
length of service curies with it no increased pay,
iHnk or nriviieue. Both these causes are the fruitful
sources of dissatisfaction and desertion, ftPd theypre
vent the re enlistment cf the most valuable men.
There are other causes that have their influence, but
do tot materially affect the general results.
Itmavad in the consideration of tbe-e results,
rtLd iu tie fci.ppfttue ot remedial ineaeurea, to etatc
^^^Xof'lS'ffimea.whlek ?
rlie octi.al stiength of our military establishment, as
2 pfSrt "r^fzed, there .01 te mmllT ;
existing circumstances of pay f 'dn^fv'^'J:f,h .rie ,
harucs bv'expira'icn of enlistment; 72i> discti irgei
ffSBJKS.; 330
or 3 nil vacancies annually, of which only 21 J are
fi'led by re-tnlistmenls. The actual loss to the
aimy, to be supplied by the enlistment of new men
^therefore l?3V2' 1" other words, more thw
one third of the army mutt ev<ry jenr be recruited
and traijsfencd from the depots to tbcir
ubridainK very materially the term of the soldier s
effuient service! It is found that a maj ,r ty of the
desertions, and a very large proportion ot the di-?
bilitics and deaths, occur in the hret year oi the en
listmert.
It will, therefore, be of paramount importance in
devising any mtanuies for keeping the ranis of ttie
army full, to adojt Huch mi will pievent as many
det-ertions, at d Induce afl many re-enlistnieuts, as
j ? Foible. Every feeertton tfcat is prevented, aud
tvery re-enlistment that in inducod, saves the ex
jicrise of the enlistment and transler of a recruit fr m
il c place of enlistment to his ctmpaay-1 the tim*
(ufttn of the utmo.it importance) occupied in this
transfer, and the danger of death and disability in
ten oming acclimated. 1 he r< medial measures that
immediately suggest themselves are? 1st, An in
crease ol ? per cent, of the present pay ot the hjI
<if r. '.'d, An additional inert MS fof cuc!i Miccos-ive
I < liod of five 3 earn, so l-ng u;> be shall roiaoiu in the
army. 3d, Provision for the promotion to the lowea'
grade of c 'lnnjinr-ioi ed olTict-i -? of Mich of the non
commission* d olliftr? of the ai my as rray be found
<lt.?l:fitd for. at d by their conduct, character, aud
bervices, entitled to. such advancement
The depreciation in the value of money, as mea
sured b) the Wi ges of labor and tb<s cost of all the
u ccecaiies of life, has been so great that the ne es
ti'y and propriety of the first ot these measures must
tt once be apparent. The pay of the soldiers is rela
tively less now than it was prior to the increase
giaiitid by the law of Ju'y 7, 1>38. The nece.-sity
and p'o.iiiity o; the record measure pr>po.-ed are
believed to be equally great, but in order to elucidate
ir, it will be necessary to exhibit some of the date
npen which this opinion is based. With regard to
tre jno| < fed inciVase of pay for length of service,
it is si jested : ?
1 That tvery soldier who, having been honorably
discharged from the service of the United States,
shall, nitl in ore month thereafter!' re enlist, shall be
entitled to $2 per month in addition to the ordinary
pay fcr bisgnu'efcr the first peiiod of five >ear< after
th? expiration of his first enlistment, and'a further
I sum of f 1 per mouth for each successive period of
| five years, so long ls ho ahull remain continuously in
the in my.
2. The soldiers rov in the army, who have teived
more than one cilb'mcnt, si ail be e? titled to the
benefits cf this provision according to the length of
their conlinnoos service, and thut service during the
v.ur with Mexic >, although t* a ltss period than five
years, sl ail be eennted as a live years' service.
8. The sold . en who served in the war with Mexico,
and reetivd a certificates ef merit for distinguished
services. as well as those now in the army, aid those
> who may heienfter enlist, shall receive the $2 per
! month to which that cerfitlcati would have entitled
j tl em if 'hey bad retrained c?ntinr.oti*ly in the ser
vice. Skill and expert* nee In aH branches of busi
ness ni d departments of Isbor meet their approprui e
repaid,' not only to civil life, but in all the depart
mint* of the pe>\ernment, except among tne culiob d
nun of the aimy, where tl e recruit ol yesterday, for
Ffrvijex utterly disproportioned iu fnlue receives tbe
tame compensation as the ve'eiun of thirty veins.
The ahroluto jqstbv ef fner <ring V ? Holler's pny
A^cojoing to tr r valce of 's scrvces is ?pj<ar tit, %n J
tbe economy of doing ho v suaceptitJe. it. i< ?w 'imd,
of easy demoiiM<rat icv. Wilb the exten*lm? of cur
j t< rritoty, the cost of len 'w g rerrui ? to tt? r>r r#gi
mcuU um vt??ran>wi/ iucr<*. d, ai <1 it u ewiuuatuU
p&sms srS :
m }'T('l'f"' iF? '*?**>>?>?&? oTth^r*
^ssspss
srpsrssE-it'
htul, it lt. |?- Jfvtrf lb, t it - iu. i ,be ;ourte of V*
ye ??, jn coniwti -a wi'h t>e otfi" ? U1 1
tn Pi ! C* D, al ,otia 'n tl'e 'fny fro i 35 ti 1
;,"' v f" m '? ?*' ' " ?<-?" i. iS
"l ?hVi"i' """ "?tilM "?> tiie i?cre.-,?p?
sissjft *? :
SsafflsssBja & - ?? j
rsre^xsaaarsss ,
=2&8?msffi& sjs sn;
11 cifuhcd i By, until, i? about twenty-five teare thi
52 3J5 ".A 0 ayear^Ifto KSbt'M
iLV ftv 1(lC? ffien't0 moet tLe a^u'al
ti e e(-tin ??iri per cent,) and the bounty for 1,060,
n ? Lura^ of re enlistments under the
Jn j ?? ?? J8*?1 *"' '>e $11!) iter man affaios' 4121
ft rvir- ? r!r i"e^uJ, 8>steiJI- When the value of the
rendered, the supeiior character of the m??n
and the consequent diminution of offences md th*
?Ws they entail are con.id aeT hc eS.mr
of ?l.e jroposed mrefure becomce anpareut 7
.iS tar^'SSf "*, "???? *" " practical,.
i i i fact, and are conjectural onlviutlut
?Wh relates to the wonting of the ^poSsyX?
?L i JI;Crea? Il,e ."Penffltu ?H for the p?y or the
tot&w S,fHg " ^SmlmSSL
^S^a^^Fsssasi
It '1"ke m'? "!??? by co.
th? 17??c^4? ?"?! were deprived of the benefit o
the 1 <th section of the law of March 3. 1847 IJmW
the operation of that construction, which v:rtunli?
ELK T: ?'?? ?*? "'""<? *~22u. MS
>|?W eibil i' ik?*i r"'i,B1Hei>b'e 'lior would
K?d to!bm teM"ta of *to sto""?> "
To carry into effect the third measure dtodob A it
recommended that the President ta KIrtlJ
Sl^ Ji^/ef?U'a^0"8 tobe e^ahlished by law, to confer
tl e brevet of se*<ond-lieutejiant upon such merit >ri
oiwaoricommitu-ioned offioere, as my,?? ? StS"
imtion before an army b<*rd, be found qualtfledfor
i' rtiUn,eBf??iC0IDD>iisioDed oWi''er8. ?nd to^li a certain
portion of t^e vacancies wbich may ocour in that
?rade, ax now authorized by law, by attaching such
nnn-ccmmiwnot.ed ofliceia as KUMiiumerar ? fafth.
amy to terve according to tbciTto ?t wd b?iIS
n'hi' ? BS ca itH' u,'0?;r like circumstances now are
of lonir ar*d tBit1rfi S,ass j?f ?>n coultni!?loned olBreri
wnSS ?fft?? highly distinguished
? 'i fr^'Di want of education, are not aiiali
neStl^fiftf co^^8ior.e^ (- Wcerz, but are eaii
to ap|K>b>t a limited nuntber of fort ke?-i?t-rn^ir bar
"ant foHitfip?Ht? be employed at mch of our perma^
rant fort lficatior a as are not occupied b? trooos and
fn^I* f8- t,ie civil "genteea.ploved b?th9
qoaitermaf-ter s and ergiieer'a departments re
of the1 hi^?fCn8tt1i011 ,,!,Urrafdiate between ' that
tIa Vi ? grade of nca -commiBsianed otlioera
0t 0 -t.iUVl8 7?"la 88 efficiently pTr^nuedTd
? ^ exp?DBe to the gCTernment. These
to ti!? ^D" ? ?nied 0,,t' wiu not be bardensome
S?Md ita' w?nt? u'creMlD? the number ofofflcera
r. """ e,1,e?S"e bej??d
tJn Jff?becn tlJf p0,icy of our government to main
lt A.?r * >1 fD'a1' ar?7 u> peace, but it should aL o
mJkXh 7 ^re^8red tor evente of war by
making thetarmy as efficient as possible; efficient
fob n.eJ! ?i ?Pfr*ti'infl required of it in the
bnt in *1 the various duties of a cam
5 |fdipg economy of Hfe and health, and in
arnon? t??? tm,D0!i''g instractif,n and discipline
th^ eLi whom the exigencies of war call into
the Ce'd unprepaied to meet its hardshios and
tudeef B me^r,a of ?n?din? against its vicisti
In all the operations of war efficiency and eoonomv
hit' '.?????' "fe at ,ea9t correlative te^Tnd
w ,lie most efficient will, attho same
t me, Le the most economical. To at iiu thlfeffl
that the ye^on. el of an araTr
t 1 'titelii^eLt and capnble; but it is idle to
;^?fK ? ?f ti,is character can be oMluined nn
th?v Ifou id wLtaff4 ?? proportion to that which
of uvTi S pJtH. H corresponding employments
?i? ? i- Fatriotiym or a seut-o of duty will not in
t o' peace, fill t/ie ran^s of an army, nor will nar
fleitnev Tl eChont tl'f<3!iVel0p al1 the 61(1 meu^ oflul
ucn ncy. Tie hope of ad van ; ement is the found ttion
of ptvfeM-ional zeil arid success, and this incentive
j'Jt !xwt. m *'ie "rony as in civil life. Its honor
i^?lrH8h0UJd> op6n 10 al1' that th#y ?ay
Tl L ?i bUu " a,id ?Wnwilate the zt al of ail. Io
"n^e8"'"18. 1 have had principally iu
view Uie improvement of the aimyjbutitiamv
S 1'Otit1' ? the ?Phiion of our pa.4 history '
lesults A?rfn?li?ieJH W0J al8?rod"c,; economical
lesujrs. As indicated in a previous part of this re
port,! resf-ectfully invite your attention to the neces
sity for an increase of the army, it may be instra ?
?hV? ' ? tfc? co"wder?tion of tliis tunject, U refer to
extSdSf dV , ?tr DUili!,ary e8tahlihhinent, as it has
th t ? 1 ^ perlodH. and to the circumstances
that controlled its organization.
in 1808, the lrgal Ntrecgth of the army was 9.091
which was increased in the year 1812, "for the de
fence of the Inoian frontier," to 10,3.53. The war
with England followed soon af'er this increase and
?5?*SSfll5." '?
m til 1k91^L^? and men, and so continued
nntil 1621, when it was reccctd to 6,126. This or
faiizaticn was contmufd until 1832, when it was in
aLWlfe 't?-!^.183^ wa1 ^roa^d to 7,958,
"I1?38 'o 12 131). lhese last adaitijns were
RUck H ? je^"!fUC? of Indiar? hostilities, (the |
Black Ha?*k and Florida wars,) and although Dre I
then rcccm mended with the view of preventing '
them, were not authorized until their actual o.vnr I
rtuce h,d dtmonotrated the wiVdomofthe ^
*ar ^ " tb? C,0Se the M. !
t e *fDl^ was reauced to 8,613, which number,
Jrt of iH4r fhge8' Waa ^tinned until, in the early
,ZlS r J .'L re?'nent of mounted rilJenien waa
firlonn Protection of the ea.igratioa on the
a?^k ? ' Iuak'D? 'he aggregate ol U.418.
At the close ot the war witn Mexico, its orvaniza
{ " was fixed at 10,120. in 1850 it was KTcd
hyaUBth!f Br 8Cal<'' Wh,uh admitted a toiul streuKth,
ail the coin pan leg of the army were noHt?*d at
?' remote stations," of 14,731 is They C now
posted, the author ed strength is 13,831 but for I
tn?l?nf mkl ? ?ve a,ready been explained \ fie ac- '
v,v !h? J? I 18. !8S by 3'3-6 rne,u It will t>e seen
by the above statements, that in a peiioiof forty
SuJrTt, ? ^ Ll,IltarJ peace establishment of the
b ,h/ a eu ? LUd 105,11 than 4,000 men.
the same period our country ha? incitased ia
population more than la, 000,000, and in territory a
million of fqu4re nnles. In 180H, our iLdian fron
nim 8 trcoj s k r its pratect.on was let-s ttian
1,000 mile, in extern, and there *u-e no loL lines
ol couiuiunicatiou requiring dele'ice. Now that
liont er i.as cieas:d lj more than M)00 m les and
:Z^'rL,?Vr ttK'"*1' ll,e l"diuu coiiLtrv', tn
y>>fd uni.u iby bj tft< usands of our cit.zens nud
nil}"/11 * c"Utol'a!'1 1 rotection, to more ttmu 4,000
Onr ff a-tx aid aid foreign frontiers bive been
(neatly 'm reused, ud of the laner, over '2,600 rnilea
ure Mexican frontier, a'on,. which, he-idt* the duty
<f gnat ding tod pratectiBA an owa lnlubiUuito. w
the tni traoded obligation (by treaty,) of protecting
tl>e ii habitant* ol Mexico iroin the Indiana living
v. itbio < ur limits l'.y the anuexati< n of f* xas and
tie acquisition of Mew Mexico and California, our
iKii.n population lnn been inert oh* d fit in '210 0!)0
to more than 400 ( 10 ? v.ry lurne pinion o- whom,
ortdotcry ai d warlike in their habits, are f?r the j
time biuijibt into cost act with our people, There- |
Milt ?i thio ii< a state of continual disturbance. It j
has b( en ibe pclitj of our g..veri:raeut, by grants of j
hid ei.d ptti n ptiun rif bin, to ii.duce the raoid net- j
t <nit ut of our western wilds. This policy involves
tie dt.ty of protection. Tlse intimate contact thus |
piduieo Ittwetn ti e two tacea, the proneneaa of
tie Indian to mauraud, and <-f the whites to iutrude
upon the lncian lands, caure constant collision
Afgttcrioiii or the part of either lea 'I to retaliation, j
wbn li VLfoiti l ately latle lar more frequently upou j
tie >nt.ot cut and uncfieLding than upon the guilty, i
biul utalivtion leads to war. To repreaa these dis- :
tubal ten troops must be collected from dilleront !
point* i ltd tiumported o\er difllcut and fX|*nt*ive I
Mttf totbeicene of ti e trouble, or?be nnlina of
tl e Ctliitrj must be talk d out. In tither ease 1 eavy
tx.trdlU ris, without considering tie derangement
t in HLett- md tie loss of ife an i property, ure the
cnttqutnoe In tl c ? tnntime other por* onBofthe
fioiilitr in fctiif ped of tbe troops requited for their
di iViict , a> d iln!~ weakness invites now a^giefsiona,
and ltiidtn i i w x ti\t mints of troops ond rerewtd
t>] u d/ii re ? eces>6tj fi r tht ir fuppresfti' n. As the
lateral coifcquuioe of thit-.tbe expenditure* of the
liin.y hie in- piost proportion to i'* s'rongtb. A roa
st i i.bie i?ti? ate ot the army, if it d'd not entirely pre
vt i ? time dumii atte*, would ut lea>t di j.ini-ili Hair
'nqui>< j\ Mid ( ictn c? rit< in uicnte paving of money,
I h | ?hj ui d life. lie oi-j t-t-itioa < f the army and
?t o utui i nit lit of tn < j 'o th- frontier depuruimot
Iih bri.n itttld n ilMttr l ilt of this report. The
?< r.t a'lf t*ed to taeb t.-< maniltstly imidtipate. it
i Botu tie iniieaitd in pn\ of them without wi' h
t'mwii g *K cj s frcm the points where their | meace
i? i qi.bll) 1 1 1 1 sMti y .
Your atUntiou i* reapt cHu!!y invittd to the itcoin
n.itcut.ou of lh? coaia.?uuu g geju.i?l in icluUoi^ t
this sublet. In the views expresce d by him I fall*
concur, except thai I h n of oj.iniou that a porti in
of the Uiwiase wh-cb he reoiniinendit ahiald wi at r
tantd by tbe addi ion of a not tier regiment, rather
* "?? * ?* Prob b*" ' iiidifamof th* oomiiatjr orviiii
izatu*. Alter a full con-ideration a what ia now
and probably will War e? be r..jui e ! of the ai.nr
earnestly recoiii ' mend t?ut v* uiLi.uum oiWi
zation of ail corapacieti i?e fixed, as m tie niouote.1
r'"ln,V1l- bt M*'J !0ijr Privates ?i,j that there be add
i d to the prwuat military jt. rN,0 re^i
"'U1',0', ('ra '?? aml lw" '? ? i "o?'U of r flA.Doti
Thtaincicwek matuMl-j,!^,, tli a hat recom
ir ended by (he coinmitnoiijg -<w 01 ?|, ami ia con
sidered abKilutely iudis|M>ne.>.bl? u, the proper efS
cier cy <f tbe military service. I< will Kive a nnui
ii.iiiii 01 gait >2aii<>ii i.i li>,.r>28 olTIo> r-> ami men out
may l?t expanded i' the limit fix. .1 by the la'* ol
June 7, 18?0 be continued, to 17,414; aLd on a wir
establishment of 128 private-, pt-r o itnpany t
^7>lfi? giving for a state ?>f war an effective in
crease of IV om 10 COO to 12,000 men, without the
creatii n of new reirments. The experience of t!ie
last for y yeirs has demonstrated the wisdom of
ineiLtauiiig in r euce a mil't uy establishment that
i# capable of tbe gi cat* st exptiision in war. The
increased enicen jy and economy of co.mmmes thu?
expanded in war, from a Lucleus of experienced and
disciplined men, more than oomoensato for the adrti
tionel erpense of maintaining skeleton regiments in
time of peace.
I also recommend that auot'ier company of sin
pers and miners lie added to the engiaew corps tor
tbe purpose for which the present oommny Was
organized. The usefulness and economy of this
claw of aoloiers Lave been practically demonstrated
both in peace and war.
1 lie duties ot hospital stew.-rds are of a very im
portant character, requiring a considerable decree
of intelligence and general knowledge. There is no
prevision for their enlistment, and it is sometimes
difficult to find suitable persons among tie enlisted
men of the anry. It h recommeude 1 that authority
be given for tLe enlistmont, under tie direction or
ti e oui^eon General, of an ia*ny as may be necea
sary l<r 'be public service, to receive the same com
pcnsotion a.* is now authorized by la?r.
I concur fully in the views expressed by the com
manding general ia relation to the extension of tbe
pension system to the widows and orphans of offi
cers and soldiers of the regular army, and commend
the subject to your favorable conaioerati >m
The experience of every year gives increased force
to re>w mmendations heretofore made for a retired
li-t lor disabled and supeaannuited ofli(*rs. The
camia;ties of the war with Mexico have greatly in
creased the number who are incapable of the per
forniance of any active duly. The plan recomtuend
.?M3' Predecessors for several yeara past would
retirefthem on a just com pens ?tion, prom iteelHceut
cffii ers in their stead, and thus treatly sontribute to
the good of the service, without any new charge
n/jon the treasury. 8
The pay of offiwrsof the army was established
many years ago, when the v^lue of money was much
greater than at this time. What was then ouly a
reasonable and just compensation is now entirely in
adeqnate, and 1 accordingly recommend to your fa
vorable consideration, tbe propriety of its being in
creaaed i? propoiU in to the increased cost of living,
.hi* is only a measure of ju^tioe to ail, but is espe
cial y due to those whoee duties require them to
serve at stations where the comforts and often the
necessaries of life command such exorbitant prijes
as to place them beyond the reach of those who h*ve
no other means than their pay.
The 17th section of the act of March 3, 1847, au
thorized the President to attach non-couimUsiouod
officers who distinguished themselves in the war
with Mexico, by brevet of the lowest grade of rank
to any company, and to bestow certificates or merit
npon soldiers who were, in like manner, distinguished.
Many of the non-commissioned officers who were re
commended for distinguished conduct, were not
attached, in consequeiice of a wai/t of qualification,
but would have received a certificate of merit if the
terms of the law had not precluded it. It is respeet
fully rt commended that tbe President be now autho
nzed to Bjrant certificate of merit t# non commis
sioned officers who were not considered eligible for
the position of commission sd officers.
I recommend to favorable consideration the sug
gestion of the Quartermaster General, in his report
submitted herewith, tor the increase of the comtortof
troops in bai racks, the augmentation of the olio*
ai ce to soldiers when unavoidably employed as me
chanics, tcanstere and laborers, and also tne pro
postd changes in relation to storekeepers and bar
rsck-it asters, and the settlement of the accounts of
disbursing (fficers.
, The act of lb08, for " arming and equipping the
whole bedy of the militia of the United States "
makes an appropriation for supplying the several
States and Terrifies annually with such arms and
equi, meiits as are used by tho United 8 cites troop*
?the quota due to each lieiog determine o by appor
tioning the whole anouut according to the return of
the miliMa made to t ie Adjutant General of the
aimy. T^ese returns are furnished irregularly by
some of th$ 8ta<es, and by others not ;< all, and it
results from this inequality that the ac',ual supphe
of arms and equipment luruL-hed to the Str and
Territories, under tne l?w of 1^08. are not distri j
iitt (j as prescritied byth it law, '? in proportion to
the number of tho eBtctive militU in each/ iiwr it
probable tl at the regularity a d uii: rmity ia these
rt turiiS, requisite to appoitioii t'ic.ie supplies as the
law requires, can lit attalied. T!it only roix-edy for
tbis stems to be. to auopt the ai jt of apport ouing
the arms and equijimefitc to tbe several states aud
T?riitories authoiized in tlie c>seof the State of
Io^a, by tbe act of March 3. I>j3, which was accord
ing io lepreser.tafion in Couyre>s.
In conLection with tbis subject I respecfnliy in
vite your attention to the importance of providing
the nnlitia of the country wi;u the proper books for
tactical instructions. '1 lie> aro furnished with anus
at tbe expense of tbe United States, and although
tley are required, by existing laws, to observe the
sj stem of instruction adopted for the regular army
no provis.on has yet been marfi5 for supplying them
with the nece?ary books for that purpose accord
ing to the estimate of the General in-chief an annual
appropriation of $20,000 for a tew years would be
sufficient for this object.
For the condition i f the Military Academy T refer
to the report of the Chief Engineer, and toe accom
pany ing highly commendatory repor; of the last
h. aid of Vis 1 -ers, in which y< u will find further con
firmation of tl.e estimate placed on the value and
efficiency of that institution. The recommendation
of the Board, to increase the academic term to five
years, is one which has been frequently presented by
preceding Boards of Visiters, and which is believed to
Le sustained by inportart considerations.
The low standard of acquirement now fixed to en
title a cadet to admission, must wftcn lead to tho in
troduction. of those whose previous education has
bten very defective, and tbe study of the scientific
and militaiy branches, included in the course, leaves
little time for the acquisition of tbat knowledge of
international law, of languace.and of literature, de
manded by the interests of the seivtce. The officer
of the army may often be required promptly to de
cide i pon questions of national law, where errors
would be seriously injurious to his country, und his
repoits and memoirs are the channels through which
deed# most 'llnstrnting his souutry's history are trans
muted to other people and to other times. To rai.-e
tLe sUncard of acquire mont to be pos-eited previous
to auuiistion to the acauiiuy, would, in some degree,
deprive the institution jt i's present popular cbarac
t?r, by excluding those who, irotn tha ??ant of early
tnxtitages, eouJU not pass tbe pieliminary examina
tion.
Tbe giade c>f rudit, l>eing the lowest in commission
known to our ivrn > , ^bcuitl be, as it now is, within
tho leaoh i.f youths in ev<-,ry condition of life: and
this, togetliu with the tact Uiat, by the mode of ap
I ointment, all sections and all pa.ii&i are L-irly rep
resented, gives to the imtituiion that character
wbieh shoi;!d belong to it us a part of trie milit iry
eitaiil shm< nt of the United States. It, then, a more
finished idueat.on than that wnich is to be obtained
by the course now prescribed bo desirable for the
cfliv ers of tbe army, the recommendation of the board
for ai increase of the a<adem:c term presents, it is
belevrd.the bast objectionable mode of effecting
that object. The estimates submitted for the current
year aie rtcomn ended to favorable consideration.
'Iho impropriations made at t >e l u-t session of
Cotigicss ure all in the cour-e of application to the
sevitsl work* lor wticb tlwy weru r?s|?ectively
granted These works were designed to protect in
tiiestsof great value ; but there are o'Ik r point- of
eea coast aud iuteiior Ironticr, wldch equally require
piot< cth i , and the istimates submitted for theoc,
also, are rec intneniitd to favorable coosiJerdtiiQ,
i nt er the belief that, wbc-n completed, those fortifl
cations wib 1m tbe n.ost rdii.blp.and by far the n\ost
iconomlcal, mode of f'eiei ee the government could
provide. An opinion has to some extent jirovtihd,
tlat tLe crewth of our country, tbe increased facili
ties ol transportation, tbe application of steaii to
tlic piopulsion of war vtsfels, und tbe improvements
iu implentiitn of war, bave lessened, if thev have
not removed, tbe necessity for fortifications upon
our fruitier. Ibis is on opinion which is a at to re
sult trim a long continued state of peace, and which
Listory tenches bus lieen usually abandoned when
nations have btcu submitted to the tost of defeusive
IV fir,
Fresidffit Moiroe ? than whom few will be con j
?iotttd lii^her authority on this nnlijcct ? in aapeoiil .
n.ft-Mfc to Cotigrtw*. March 26, 18r?, urged the com- !
; pit tii n tl lli? sjhtem of defmcew, w'jich was adopted
> tameiiiftfl) afitr, &td in vw * of tlie effects of U10
<? 1 1 oi 1H2, and uped bis reco?nu ndation by the ,
(iitimut . iLe wiiste of life aud prouerty,
aid the pert-nil dia*res?of tha oountry, wnloo hud
iin. ttd iani ibcvntof aveb prepiiratkuvi be'ove 1
?. hf c "i>n ei cenu nt of that war ; and he further given
1 Ibin lirpiCrHve tdmonUUn. : " Should another war :
cci'Bi bi li te it ia compwrtd, the experifuce of tlie
j aal n nika. in cbaraowm too t-tr??i?R to iie mistaken,
ia i; tv't?l>> cot'F?t}nencea ; Ktul should inich wir
f!<C? r, ut>d lind u? ocpt spared f>r it, ?rh,it will boo-ir
I ji Hif.ci ?:( n to tb?*? nlighU ii( d body whom ire r."p
i muit,liir n < boxing computed theao defences
I )be inrrtuueot c.i r population, atwnded by extra
, f>nHouj fToorrfa in nil the tiurmii'a of jieace, hun '.i0~,
< ltd to any change in the policy of our goveruutent,
wbicU irouM uidivaU ia tue tuturq a purpwq tv wi
tain a Urge military establishment, or to wage kg
greecive war.
If, then, in the future as in the past, the pdlcy <-f
our govertmeut is to be; that of peace, a'>d tun citt
wns of the country are to be rel'ed on for Its defence
wfieneier wa- shall occur, it is not perceived h >w
? be past or prosjiectivc growth of our conntry o.an
re j ove the necearitv or propriety of the pr tposed i
de ern es. the Paixnaii pun, und other improve- 1
u elite int^c implen ei ts of war, a*oJ the applijatioa
o! steam to the propulsion of w %-eI. of war, ?sem to ;
me r tier to p;ive incensed turn diminished the |
value ot forlili 'uUurn. 'Che rspld progress of a sbwi 1
(!t et, by dimmi-hing the opportunity for prepara- i
lion, utter the point of ettiiek in determine'', In
creases the neeyvsity of forti'jing t>>p uiatr> avenue i
ol appr< ?cli. the Peixbau ^uu adds to the efficieu
cj , i nd cor wqutntly to the valua, of fortifications;
tor tbe fire ( f large uhe''s Is more formidable t > the '
timber* ^nd ritigirur of a ship. then to t'.e masonry
of a lort; aiiO ? feteim ve?.s> 1 inns'i etpo# % lir jtf
tn rface subject ?o injury thai* u sail vessel of t eMm
ila'H.
'J be report of t ie fVcretu-y of War. in anw *r t ) '
the resolution of the House of Repre?c?tatives, of th<)
lid of March. lt>61, ootitaiuing the vie-arsof the chief
engii cier of Urn army, aiid oilier officers of thatoorpi
.ii j -J of Uie navy. iiieaents the wno'e aahjest unier
consideration so fully tnat it in not dee oed neoesairv !
to add more on tins occa-siou.
The aati n of Congrew a" its last, session is coa !
altered as Indication of tne Intention to continue
thin system of defence, und gi ves rea^a to ho|>e
that the appropriation a-ket* lor at this session for I
the further prosecution oi these works will not bu
withheld.
The exposed and defenceless condition of t le Pa
ciflc ccaBt claimed and received the early attention
of the department, aiid prompt uitas'iibs were taken
lor tbe application of the appropriations laaie at
the last icssion of C<n/resa for the defence of tbe
harbor of San Francisco. But t he miuutc examiaa
tioi s requisite before ths commencement ol the works, i
and the irquiriesto be uiiue r?s to the pla'HM of sup- I
ply, and the mfcmw ol procuring nnuiritls, have
ll'.uitcd operations t > tLe preliminary preparation
lor conftruetion, snch as erecting the najessary ac
miim< dari-m f.>r workmen, levelling niton and in a
king the detailed surveys for tte lortidcatioeis.
?At the last session of Congress an appropriation of
fli. 0,000 w is made to ascertain the most practi jubla
und roononiicttl route for a railroad from tbe Mis-ns
i-ipp' river to the Pacilic ocean, and the act required
(hit the several reports relative to the explorations
should lie lail before Congress on or befare the ilrat j
Monday of February, 1854. The time allowed and
the inorey appropriated, it is feared, will prove in
HifQc cLt for the complete soluti m of this important
problem. A vast extent of country wit to be acou
ruK ly surveyed, ai d numerous hues, thousands of
utiles in extent, to be examined; an lit is hardly,
therefore, to be boped that such data can be collect
ed as will satisfactorily answer the question proposed.
Cut it is confidently tolievetl that much information
will be added to the stock previously possessed ? per
haps enough to determine the practicability of the
proposed euteiptise.
The following general sketch of the country to be
explored will give no ne idea ol the magnitude ol the
? xnmiiiuiioo lequiied: ?
The western portion of the continrnt of North
Ameiicu, irrespective of t<-e rnouatains, is traversed,
(roin lorth to south, by a broad, elevated swell, or i
p': teau of land, which occuptus tiie greater portion '
of the whole space between the Mississippi river and i
the Pacitie ocean. The crest of this pUteaa, or the (
watershed ot the country, is nearly midway ttetweea |
tbe Pacific coast and die Mississippi. It may be
represented on tbe map by an uud iUting Hue,
tr*c<4 between the head- waters of the streams which
llow ea-twfird and those which flow westward It
Divides tbe whole area between the Mississippi aud
the Pacific Into two nearly equij pirtions, that on
tbe east being somewhat the hrger. This crest of the
watershed has its greatest elevatl?n in Mexico, and
tbenee dtcliues to its lowest point aboutt he luitude
of 32, where it has a height ol about 4,500 feet, be
tween tbe waters of the Rio Grande and taoae of
the San Pedro, a trifruta?y of the Gila. From this
paralell iit increases in altitude northward, and
reaches Its maximuih near to the thirty-eighth paral
lel, where it is about 8, COO leet high. Thence it
declines as we pass northward, and la latitude 42 24
has au elevation of say 7,000 feet, and in the lati
tude of about 47 deg. it is reported to be at least
1,000 fett lower. The heights here ' ven are those
of the lowest passrsrtivcr the crest, o watershed. of
the great plateau of the country, at* d not those of
the mountain peaks and lid^cs which lave their bise
upon it, and rue, iu some Cises, to tbe height of
17,000 feet, into tLert^iou of perpetuil snow.
Tte slope of tbe plateau oil the east and south, to
words tl.e Mississippi and the Gulf ol Mcxiio, is j
comparatively gentle and in Texas is by several
st? ps, of which tbe highest is that Known by the j
name of ?' Lltno Estrucado,'' or Stake 1 Plain. It is i
travernd by the Missouri, the Platte, the Arkansas,
ai.d iitlitr large rivers, which rise among the inouu
ibiiiH near tbe crest, and llow eastward und south
ward, id channel* sunk beneath the geuerul surface j
'eve I i f the plants.
In lalitide 12 C?k., near the sonrcc of the Platte, it
ha- in elevation of a oouo 5,000 feet aVive tide, and
ii. the same latitude en tbe Mississippi about 1,000
if < t. Towards tLe sources ol the Arkansas, in 1 iti- |
u( e 30 dcg., it has a height of 4,000 feet, and in the
> sae latitude on the Mississippi 275 feet. These
? legations jjive an average declination eastward, to j
the whole plain, of about 4J fttt per mile, aud south- '
ward of uliout 2 J leet.
ihe coast of ti e plateau, and neatly the whole of
i?? west rn portion '.o the Pacilic, is occupie l by a !
>iroat mountain system, the continuation of tiie
AndeB of Sc.utb America. It has a variable brvadth.
narn weet wit'iin our piossess.ons near the Gila, In '
latitude 32 degrees, where it lias a width ot about j
COO miles, and attains its greatest expansion iu the
parallel of 43 degrees, wl.ere it occupies a space of |
about !'00 milts On this mountain base, as has
been f-uio before, are situated a series of elevated '
5<aks, ridgis, and ranges. Those on the easurn
? uie me nearly coiitliiucus for about '.<00 miles, aud
known by the name of the liocky Mountains; those
< ri the western side are, perbaos, le-?s contiauius,
sJtbough equally elevated ubove tbe bss?, aud nesii<
nated as the Sierra Nevada, Coast Range, Cusc.ade
Mountairs, Ac. I he whoh" space between tuese ex
trerae ranges is o;ciipied by high peaks, and In
va.ious diucth.ns by a scries of ridges, including j
? 'evatiu valhys, tnd forming great basins, having n> !
outk-t. to the Fea. The most important of these is
Salt Lake Basin, hiving an elevation of 4,100 teet.
Ibis iBouttain region Is not, as is frequently sup
iced, a single chain, but a system, "xteudirig from
a little east ot the c rest of tbe water-shed to near the
shores of the I'acifio, and occupjing about onf-half
ot all the space oetwien tbe Mississippi and t.ie Pa
cilic i cean. lie position of this belt of mountain re
pion. f.tie",chi'.c from Lvnh to sout'i, gives rise to a
peculiarity of ilimato and soil. Fertility depends
priiicijial y upo^the degree of temperature i'io r,iic
ami ni t oi mols'hre, both of which are much sff-o'ed
by incrcuse or elevation, aud tfie Utter u!*n d' .> u Is
on the direction of the wind. The upper or r-t uu
cuneiit of the trade wind Rowing ba< kwiint' towir N
tie Lortheast, gives a prevalence of wojter)y wi 1 ?
in the north temperate zone, which tends to n; n- u|
the moisture from the Pscillc over the western pur
tit.n of cur vcnli< eiit.
?tee wiids, ho vever, ascending tbe wfiste -n slope
of the mountain rid.es, are deprived ot tii r mols
tint by the diminished temperature of tbe u was.-d
tlevation, and l eiice it is that tbe plains and vtlleys
an the tairteru sides of the ridges are geamaily
parched ni.d barren, and that tie m untaln My-te;n?
the highest chain of which is known us the Bocky
D.ountaiLS, b} prest nting, as it were, a screen agaoist
tbe molK uie w^th vnh'cb the winds of ihe west come
laden? has fur its extern margin a sterile belt,
which piohatiy t> tends along t)ie whole raii<>?, with
an uveidge wbi'h of ab.-mt 2..0 miles.
riese genual views, derived as they hive he->n
f't rii Impt rieci dats, may yet serve to gue some idol
ot the .mmense. nia^nitude of the work necessary to
cMMiuii a railway from tl e Atlantic to the Pacific.
No work lor nriillclel ct-nimunicatum has ever ex
tfedul it in ex*tnt a. d pbycical difT' -u'ty. Its oxe
cn'loti, however, i.? witaiu tuo means aud power o
thb American people, 'ilie degree of practi "ability
auo ttu. conipnii'tivr economy aid eligibility of rmtes
cur. rot be determined Aithout accurate lustriuimuta
s ivf jr. Ai. e<n r in the selection of the route may
i (he the ui.oue tj; eiuiituie of many miilious und
the liltimu'e viili.e ol iLe work ; for this choice shculd
ixt depend alone upon apparent ea.-? of eoiietriie
tii n, hut also upou the productive character a id
ptierul lesournsof the couutiy thnjugh which it
{.ll-US
Fi ? ni the foregoing sketch. it will be perceived
lliul He lii en ot exploration mufct i reverse three dif
ferent divisions or re.'<i< us of ci'Uiitry, IjinR lurallel
to each otber, a?d extending north and south,
through the vbnic of the western iKt*sessu>U8 of ilio
Unt? d bUU". Tho first is thai or tijo o ?imtry he
tTtc?u tie MisMstiipui arid tbo en stern eil^o <>i the
htciile belt, bdvliiK a varying width of from five to
fix buudrtd dh'c.s ; ibe record is the sterile region,
varying id wioth tioin t w?? biirjdn d and fifty to ihreo
buiidri d uiilrH, and the third tbe mountain region,
bavii'g breadth ot t'rorn fivo to nine hundred mbe*.
Fxploi at lorn show that the inrfao# of the first di
vision, v 1th few eiceptiorg, fulls In Reutlo slopej
tlOto ts v, ( r-n-rn boundary to the Missuai.ipi, at the
rate of nbnnt ?ix teet to tie nnla, and thit it offers
mi in*Urtsl obstacle to the construction cf a mf'TAy.
It If, ttMmfoft, weatof this tuu the dlfflaoitt? mm
to be overcome. T)io concurring testimony of rou
ble obnrverh p<-c*es the second divison, or that
cal^d the sterile wigloti. to tn> so interior in vcjeta
ti- n ar.d il ariCVr of K& that it has rei-el ved, ttd
1 robably diretvcs the mine i f the do ert. The on
itu cti' n of e, rail*Hj through this region will l>e at
tendtd tvittdbc aiies tvhioh, tb tifth not liuurmmnt
hb.e, will #e rcar.+iv less tiiflioult to overcome than
tie etev*tu>i h in. the moui.Uin passu ui the next di
I vision,
, l<?|X>! t uVo gives tbe character of pxtirre sterility
i t<? ti tub <t t e cotir.tr) embraced in the mootain
Tfgii c; 3 f t iu ti e toi.flict oi opinion on tus subject,
?rs t>m ? the vnrie y o! otu ts which have i.?eeti
ftlvt a of i', doubts r*vc uri.cn in t/ie mi ,us of many
as to ttc p<**ih<lity of tae existence of such exten
sive rogioM within our pwosaiou, uuqu t?d to tbe
' I!
pnrpoaeeof nin. To nettle qu stioa with wtrioJl
!?? f ? '/"way i# connect^,
?n Pi^ ^Hve befn lnt*wo?e<1 to collect all the fee*
which may nave a .taring on tie caoacitv of tlie<?
re, Iocs to RDirport hum*a life. "?e<a
?7*T'yJ ^ dtte?ioin7 w- a' routes
wfci h J'' 2Bd.' e"',ln? iu'rmtti a
"1Jrt ad-T '**n obtained. Ool? t'liee nr
1 es had extruded their explorations wi'.i jroner
j> tr?Dd "mo ??m ib?e V,"SBiHhiPK' Hacifl ??
II S 1 1 !u r ,rn. by the way Of ?b*t >?
? ailed I the Himth Pans a'-d the Sierra Nevids- the
tfe^Sa ^"trnl th 'Vh ?'* P?Pr*r Mines aal *'?<K
?d t? 'cSJiiSo rd b> u,e w-* ?f Za?
Other surveys have hee? mad<> witb b*ro?eta*
Jfve's over detached pontons of the re i?? t> be
cx?lor?d. 1 be information thus obtained. thourb
limited. is specific as far as it goes, and rives itwt
jili ms ot the elevations aid otlier obstacles to t* sor
11101 luted. Mich valuable and reliable information
b?s also been furnished by the M#xi;ao lioaalarv
nurvey. *
4 '! ,e ?'JtP'(i,ra|i"ii8 of L*wi>< and Clarke, who crowd
0 t.'?f y *citlc, nail those ot Col. Lo*jr, wlnl# (her
toio# liii.ca light on the get cml geography and to
H^r'pby of tlie ooun'ry, a-id have wed to Indi
cate t,?e routes to bs ?xplared, do aot give profilee
ot t' e it*t Iods pi^wd over.
J.ef.orte frouj traveller* *ho have gone over the
contiient entire 'y aithoutins riwneute. areas va-tou*
and cod Dieting as the routes themselves, and even
mv ,1* 'iU10 nr"'te l,,wl|y different ac wants arj
given. Any iiiforiiatoii othei than that based oa
aci-tirn.e idsUuc ei tdl ineiwuremen;, though it raav
. 1 f-me 1 m r tance In indicating routes to be sur
veyed, is of httle value in determining the ouesti at
t V^r " J h necessary for 'bis purpose to aave
,' e <Ti/iitied facts, aud nut vague impressions.
lj<,,,i3 aud Clarke slowed the
pioliabiltiy of a considerable indentation ui the erect
of the water shed of tne continent, near the for-y
sevei tb para lei of n -rib laitude, aud indicated ube
probability of a railway rou'-e in thi- region, from
the head waters of the tr.butiriea of the Ativan,
aenwa 10 those of Clarke's river.
The pa'ty first organized under tlie act of Con
f re?. h?s the one to exphm. this line, wb-ch claimad
t.ie earliest attention from tli<s ku>?rn (even ;y %od
u-i 1 < tii ot the winter, and the necessity ot c rnnone
iog operations early in the year, li w is 11 aoed in
charge o! (Jovemorrtteve*is,of Washington terrifcjrr.
wno Mas d'reoted to oi^rate from rit. i'aui's or aotna
ellfcib e punt on th-* Upper Miisis.-ipji, Unvirdi the
(;rea? tend of iha &lis-ouii river, and theoc>? ou tha
table hjud iwtween the tributaries of the Missouri
V?1 i?, t, ., lll'klt,',uwa'n 40 eligible
" j j If "jjpky Mountain* \ second pir'-y, o >ia
I'lHiided by Captain McOli l!un, under the uue';tioa
01 (.overnor Stevens, wjh d-recUnl t? pr>ooed at
oecc to Puifkt S?jiirid, a id explore the pax-x s of the
(.usrtde range ueetng the eaatera party between
thut ran^e and the Rockv Mountains.
'J'akeniu geograpbical order, the next mirrov or
tiered to be made was that entrusted to Cant. Ganni
k>ii. corjai of Topograpbieal Eogineers. lie w*a in
aruc ed to explore the route netr the 38th parallel
of latitude, by the Huerfa..o river aud Cooclio-to-oa. a
or some other eliKible pa-s, into the mount liaoaai?
gmi ol the Grand and Gri en rivera, and westirardl*
to the \ epas of 8 in'* Glaus and Nicollet's river of
the Great Babio, and thence t north ward to tlie vioiaV
ty ?>i Lake Utah. Unliable "iuiormation furuished b?
l-eraous who baa baen extensively conoectad with
the western explorations of tne government, craw
mcb aepur?B<*j mat uo railway pass could be found
not In of Kern river ii to either the riacramenta or
? fc>iui Joaquin valley, that it was not deemed proper
to expoijd any pbrtof the limited means appropriate i
in such a search; and hiviig learned that the Mur
toons of the Great Salt Lake were making a aunrww
for a railroad from their settlement to IVa'ker'a Paw
Cupt. (lunnison, whose former intercourse with their
engineer would enable him to obtain whatever infor
iiiation he po?.sebsed, was directed to procure a re
port of that Burvey, thus connecting his liae with
tLe .survey to be ordered near the :i6th parallel.
1 ^tpe ning for luture operations, if further aur
veysBhau be ordered, the exploration or a root#
ftvni the Halt Lake across the B erra Nevada to Um
va.'ley of the Bacramento, C aptaiu Gunnison was di.
rected to return from the Great Bas.n throura the
Tlinpanajo Canon or other pa?es, and across the
;N t . ?'id lBe?r rivers b> the coal basin, to suott
point of du-bandment as h s discretion might direct.
Ihe next line is that near the tUrty fifth parallel,
which is 11, charge of Lieut. Whipple, of tfeecoraa
ol topographical engineers. He was directed to
eeud the valley ol the Canadian river, to pass around
Hi- mountains ol eaM- Rio del Norte, and eater ^
vull. > of that river at some point near Alburqueqne.
tlunce to extend his explorations west through 8f
< ;ia Aiadre and the mountains west of Zuniand Mo
qui countriee to the Colorado or the West, and pro
c.s oing in the direction of Walker's PasB. to 000
tii)i.e his survey by the m> >t direct and practicabla
ine to the Pacihc ocean. Much testimony ia favor
ot the practicability ol this loie indicated it as a
projitr route for exploration.
Another line further north is that puggested by thm
fuiveys of Major Emory in lK4fi, and those ot the
hounaary line of the 32d parallel. It pa?es around
1 he extremity of the Gaudalupe mountains of Texas
in about latitude 31 dtg., and crosses the Rio Grande
tear Dona Afta, or Frontera, in about latitude SS
, and tbtnee follows tlie tab 'e landn west of
bau Pedro river, aud thence along the Gila river
to lt? mouth. A portion of this line pfWHe.4 tbrouflrli
, r? ?' Mexico, aud auotber portion is north
ol tlie line or operations of the boundary commission,
and, consequently, the*e were not included ia the
bouneaiy survey. The gaps thus existing in this line
a r to lie blled un by the survey of Captain Pope,
ali i that under the ('irectioa ot' l.ieuteuint Parka
lx ti< ot ihe corfis of Topographical Eugitesra. Tha
jDSinictionH to the latter were sot giveu until reoeat
iy, because the curvey with which he is chafed re
quires a part of the line to be run within the limits**
Al exico '1 he M exican govemment have , ho wever.
removed the diflicnlty by grunriug authority to tha
l liitod Hlatw to make all ex^l >rdtiooii uccansarv to
o it em. ine the practicability of a railway route ia
this roffic u. J
j Bevtral partial routes on the Pacific side, to nnnnoot
as bt-foie described with those fi-om tho east were
nirec ed to be surveyed by Lieut. Wiiliimsoa, of Ma
< or| s of Topographical Ku/tinoers. He wa< iustruet
tt to examine all the pares eastward from the val>
ley of Ban Joaquin and the Tulare lakes, aud Hutue
quintly to exUore Walker's and other parses vhioh
exist in the high lange of mountains apparently tin.
southern continuation of the Sierra Nevada.
Ihe experience of almost every party which has
cr^ed the continent allows the necessity of fittiac
eut a separate party on the shores of the Paoifia to
exp 01 e the Sierra Nevada and other elevated range*
litm that coast. Parties reaching tbe-e Rreat bar
i?ns rrom toe Atlantic side are too muah fatigued
ui.o cxhauhted to mekc elat>orate surveys it is also
iM eusary that these parties should coatnence opera
i;i us tally iu the spring, iu order to complete tj?
W' rk bei ore the neavy snows in'erruiit -irog-aaa.
Copies ot tho iiihtiirskions given to all the parties
me tereio appended. I-'roin these it will aoiiear that
' kicerh of 1 he uill'.reut expeditions b ive been d?>
reeled t i oUerve and note ad the objects aud pha
1.' uiena which have an imiediate or a remote be v
1^ ji uiio'i the railway, or #hii h may nerve to develop
>i.t resources, pesuiiartties and climate of the oou^
try. I< or this purpose thry have Ik m s ipplied witia
lull eets ol uistruineuta for ceteminunr tlie latituda
at:d lmgitude of places tu conrses aud ois'-auoea of
1I1 touies, mid ot Vie t j.< ;:raphy of the country oa
1 1 uber side wiu.in aoce. ril/le di>tances; with tha
, uieai.s of axertaii.i/.g the variation of atra?spberi?
I primi re aud other njeteorologicil phe-iome^a; aad
I two ? f ihe parties with instruments to determine
tiie direction and intensity of the magnetic force.
T! iy buve been diiected to observe the prevailing
dirt etion 01' the wmd, the amount of rain, tlied?
gree ol temi era1 ure and humidity of the atmosphere;
in? y are alro required to rc|iort on Uie ceoiogy of
the count jy, to father specimens of the different
rocks and soils, to make collections of the plants and
animals, aid to collect statistics of the Indian tribe*
winch are found iuthe rc^i irm ti iverstn).
1 be iiiforn-Rtiou which will be derired frou this
s;ri s < f ebservat'oii. will be of much vake in esta
| ui -hiiiR tiie tap Hi t v of the country to sustain pr>pa
j it 'iontnd furnish articles <?' commerce. The astro
1 L- lui'bl ubservatidns are hidL^penaahle in fixing tha
I ; t ; M( hical p< fi i u or the pr nci|?il points of the
I M.i.u.oLci lor improving the map of our Western
1 ' ssfirsiers J he magne ic obscrvati >os are of
.1 1 01tw.i t iu accurately tracing tlie line betneea
r?o p' iit.s cet? uuiuf-d by a^tronoDnical ob^orr^
i .i. h It is wi 1 kuu ?n that the mi Miotic needle
: ut ho lingular ntid some irues fitful variation,
nmoonting U> a diffirvnce of eiglitean degrees be*
i* ea Watblbgtou city uud tbe western coa?t of
Oic*on,pnd the law by which ?tiw variation la io
cn uF?d <* timiui he?l b u r ot be< n aacert lined.
The meteorology of the count r had a iliract bear
ir g I'D die ques'iou of the construction of a rail iray.
T( e r.aoui.t of ittw which -nil probably bo found
nit i'|i the tou'e should b? a-ctul.uiu-d and this wll
t'tpcnd f-u the temperature a id humidity of the
pluec. ^ we advance to ttiu north the amount of
v >]>? -f d'rait.isheH, and hence the quantity of brow
? huh tails will lie leas; but, on the other hand, II
will lie longer, 01# aoconnt of the diminution of ttn
l i n ture. It was, tlierr-foie. deemed proj>er that the
bj I'rcme'rical p'ht* of the atmosphere should be
uinnl by HuiKMf irih*rum< i:t?. a*.d the meaa tem
perature a?certain"d by thernmnetrical observation?
ot the soil at a few feet bei"W the surface.
A knowledge of the geology of the country is tm
poitant, as ufl>rding eerentlsl data relative to.tbe
construct!* ii ?nd me of the railway. It teaohea, ia
advance of onr expe'.iMve experience, the obstacle#
wi tch * ill te presented by rocks to be excavated,
ct d tlelr flincps for sn in mamnrv, and Jt*cii?e?
the p*e?etice of paid. wlOrh.may drift over the track
or iianiage tbe rubbing part* of the machinery.
From the character of trie geological formation lata
be inferred the probability of tUe existence of coal,
and from tbe dip and atreia of the rock, the feaaihiU
tj of procuring water by \vtesian wel's. for the as*
of the engines- and whether or n 't tbe supply
be extended bey on! tbb? wai t, and happily herT? r^I
the irrigation ol the lund Bttoald this last reeuli ne
obtained, it would furnish the meaaa to wwi?
twile waste iaW a fccttl* region, wi njd *?