ried out according to its provisions; and the expirations of the terms of enlistments, discharges, and deaths, will soon reduce the army below the number authorized by law, so as to require enlistments of recruits to keep up the number. That law abolished the office of one inspector general, three paymasters, two surgeons, and two assistant surgeons, and directed that number of paymasters, surgeons, and assistant surgeons, to be discharged within one month after its passage, but gave no such directions as to the discharge of one inspector general; and, consequently, both are yet retained in service, and the appropriation acts for the last and present years provided means for the payment of the compensation allowed by law. It is respectfully recommended that so much of the 4th section of the act of 23d August, 1842, entitled "An act respecting the organizatian of the army, and for other purposes," as abolishes the office of one inspector general, be repealed. The services of the two valuable and experienced officers filling those stations are deemed essential to the well-being of the army.

The first section of the same act converted the 2d regiment of dragoons, after the 4th of March last, into a regiment of riflemen. The regiment has accordingly been dismounted, and the horses sold. It is respectfully recommended that this provision of that law be repealed, and the said regiment be remounted and continued as the 2d regiment of dragoons. This can be effected at a very moderate expense. An advance of perhaps twenty per cent. on the amount for which the old horses were sold will furnish them with new and better horses. Their uniform has not been changed, in consequence of the quantity of dragoon clothing on hand, and a hope that the result now recommended might be consummated. The extended frontier on our entire West is subject to Indian incursions. Many of the tribes are mounted, and it is impossible either to overtake them, to protect the inhabitants, or repress the marauding of the savages, by the small body of unmounted soldiers which would be stationed on that frontier, or in the Indian country, or brought to act against them. Celerity of movement is required, and is of the utmost importance to the security of our citizens. This can, it is believed, alone be completely effected by dragoons; and the single regiment in service is not sufficient for the purpose.

Some further provision is believed to be necessary effectually to prevent duelling between officers of the army and citizens, many of the officers who constitute the military courts holding that the provisions of the 25th, 26th, and 27th sections of the rules and articles of war have relation only to officers of the army in disputes among themselves. The propriety of this construction is at least doubtful; but explicit legislation on the subject would put the matter beyond all doubt. The practice is a barbarous one, and should be suppressed in a civilized and Christian country. To the credit of the army, it must be said that it has been almost if not entirely abolished among the officers, and their gentlemanly and decorous conduct towards each other has prevented disputes and trials for alleged offences in an almost unprecedented degree.

The officers and men have been kept in a constant state of employment, and there have been but few removals of troops from one post to another. The state of our relations with Great Britain has enabled the Commanding General to withdraw from Forts Fairfield and Kent, on the Northeastern frontier, the troops there stationed. Their positions were such as to render subsistence very expensive; and to have kept them there would have involved the cost of cutting a military road to those posts from Houlton, at an

enormous charge, and without any adequate or corresponding benefit. This movement led to the change of some other troops 'stationed in the Eastern States, so as to bring the 2d regiment of artillery more immediately under the command of its own colonel. Several companies have been removed from Florida to other posts, there being no apprehension of any danger in that region from Indians, the number of warriors remaining being now reduced to less than one hundred, and they evincing no hostile disposition. The estimates for the army proper for the ensuing year, it will be perceived, fall $90,648 10 short of those of the last year, although it embraces $27,364 70 for the expenses of recruiting, which was not required last year, in consequence of the reduction of the army, and $9,420 for the three months' pay allowed to the men whose term of service will expire during the current year, and may re-enlist.

To the many valuable suggestions contained in the report of the Commanding General attention is invited. From his known ability and experience, they are entitled to the highest respect. The statements from the office of the Adjutant General, accompanying that report, give, in minute detail, the state and condition of the whole army, arranged with system and order.

The quartermaster's department is to be classed as a part, and a most essential part, of the army proper. The report of the major general in charge of this branch of the service contains his views in relation thereto. To his suggestions, as those of knowledge and experience, I respectfully ask attention, and especially to so much as relates to the importance of the officers of the line being detailed in order for the staff duties of that department, thus making them more proficient in both branches of service to the propriety of erecting barracks and defences at Forts Gibson and Brady, and also to the necessity of furnishing other buildings than casemates for the quarters of the men, as well as for hospitals in the regular fortifications which have been erected. This is a measure essentially necessary for the comfort and health of the troops, and for which appropriations will be necessary.

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If the present regulation in regard to travelling expenses is found to work oppressively, it can be changed or modified by the Secretary of War without further legislation. It was adopted by my predecessor, to correct what was believed to be an abuse of the former system.

The Quartermaster General's department is efficiently organized and faithfully administered. Its importance is manifest to all military men, and I think it cannot be diminished without essential injury to the interests of the service. In regard to the staff of the army, it may be laid down as a sound rule, that it should never be regulated by the number of troops in the line, but by the extent of the country over which the army is spread. Hence our staff must necessarily, in time of peace, be more disproportionate to the number of troops in service than that of any other nation on the globe.

The business of the Subsistence department has been performed with great accuracy and method. The troops have been well and regularly supplied, at reduced cost, and the accounts, as the Commissary General truly states, have been promptly rendered.

The report of the Paymaster General exhibits the state of that department in a very satisfactory manner, and shows that its head has kept up a

strict system of accountability, and caused the troops to be paid with as much promptness as their scattered positions would admit.

The report of the Surgeon General exhibits a gratifying evidence of the fidelity with which the medical branch of the military service has been administered, and shows that, by the observance of a strict system of economy, compatible with the care and attention due to the sick and infirm, a considerable reduction has been made in the average cost of medical supplies per man.

With this report are submitted the meteorological reports from the various military posts, and the report of Professor Espy in relation to the observations as to the progress and course of storms, &c., taken at the same and other places. These furnish numerous important as well as curious facts in those branches of science, which, when tested by further observations, may lay the foundation for definite knowledge on subjects heretofore little studied and understood.

The observations of the Surgeon General in relation to the use of casemates for quarters and hospitals at permanent fortifications (which subject is also alluded to in the Quartermaster General's report) are respectfully submitted, as showing the existence of an evil which sound policy as well as humanity requires to be remedied.

The report from the Engineer bureau gives in detail a statement of the operations of that corps, as well to the fortifications, which are directly within its province, as in relation to the military academy, which by act of Congress is placed under its immediate care. The business of this department, in the construction of fortifications authorized by law, has progressed with spirit and efficiency; and the utmost attention has been given to the work, as well by the commandant who has supervised and directed the whole as by the several officers in charge of the respective works. This is manifested by the progress to completion of many of them, and the progress towards it in others, within the past year.

The report of this department cannot well be condensed or referred to in detail, but is recommended to attention, as containing a very full and interesting account of the state and condition of our works of defence, the necessary repairs to be made in existing works, and of the appropriations deemed necessary thereto. It also contains recommendations for the purchase of the State works and sites on Staten island, with a view to their reconstruction; the commencement of fortifications at Sandy Hook; at Sollers's point, in Maryland; on the coast of Georgia; between Mobile bay and the Rigolets; on the approaches to New Orleans, described in the report; the closing of Hog Island channel, Charleston harbor, South Carolina; the continuation of the Cumberland road through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; and the payment of the sum of $1,359 81, incurred in making a survey for the continuation of that road to Jefferson city, Missouri, under a resolution of the Senate of the 30th of January, 1839: all which are respectfully recommended to attention.

It is deemed proper to add, that the construction of military works upon the Dry Tortugas, Key West, and Biscayne Key, or such other positions on and near the extremity of the peninsula of Florida, as on examination and survey shall be found most eligible, is deemed of great importance, if not essentially necessary, in our line of coast defences.

The military academy at West Point exhibits continued evidence of improvement in the course of instruction, and the academic board are en

deavoring to keep pace, in their system, with the advances which science is making in all parts of the world. It continues annually to graduate a number of young gentlemen, taught, at the public expense, those branches of science which are deemed essential to military operations. By the act of 3d March last, Congress directed that no board of visiters should be selected, as had for many years been usual. To enable the department to have correct information as to the discipline, course of studies, and general state and condition of the institution, on the 24th of May last I detailed the following officers of the army to compose a board of inspection of that institution for the present year, to wit: Major General Scott, Brevet Brigadier General Brooke, Colonel Bankhead, Captains Mordecai, W. H. Swift, Brewerton, L. J. Beall, J. C. Casey, and W. G. Freeman. This board assembled at West Point, agreeably to instructions, on the 5th day of June, and attended throughout the examination of the classes, and inspected the institution thoroughly. The performance of these duties occupied a period of eighteen days, during a portion of which the head of the War Department attended in person.

Whilst I fully concur in the importance of continuing the practical instruction in artillery, cavalry, and infantry operations, I also recommend that the views of the colonel in charge of the bureau of Engineers, in relation to the proposed corps of sappers and miners, be carried out, for the reasons which he has so forcibly set forth.

In addition to the estimates for the military academy, recommended by the chief of the corps of engineers, I would ask that a small sum be added to the appropriation, to enable the professor of civil and military engineering to visit and inspect the more recent and important works of our country, which exhibit the best specimens of dams, locks, canals, bridges, docks, railroads, inclined planes, and other important machinery or mechanical improvements, in order that they may be fully explained to the cadets, as matters of instruction and improvement.

Speaking from personal observation, I must say that the superintendent and the several professors and instructers deserve great commendation for the devotion they exhibit in governing the institution and educing the powers of mind of the youth committed to their charge; and that the general good conduct of the young gentlemen constituting the corps of cadets is creditable to them, and exhibits the best evidence of the high morality required of them. From every view I can take of the subject, I beg leave to recommend this institution to favorable notice, as in an eminent degree calculated to fit for service those on whom in emergency we must mainly rely to lead and instruct the troops required to defend our country and maintain its honor in the field. The estimates for this institution for the next year, it will be perceived, are $14,472 50 less than the appropriation of the previous year.

The report of the chief of the bureau of Topographical Engineers is one of great interest to the country at large, embracing as it does such a variety of subjects, and extending in its operations over the whole Union. The attention of the officers of this corps to their duties has been assiduous, and the results show the importance of their labors. Important and valuable as the general topographical work has been, the subject of the harbors on our lakes, and the improvement of our Western rivers, will, no doubt, especially command the attention of the National Legislature, as not only connected with the safety of an extensive commerce, but as essentially

necessary to naval operations on the lakes in time of war. Great pains have been taken to ascertain the value of the trade upon the lakes, which is exhibited in detail, as far as our imperfect means of information would furnish the facts. A trade, which two years since was of the value of more than sixty-five millions of dollars, has been since rapidly increasing, and is probably now equal in amount to one hundred millions.

The commerce of the Mississippi and its tributaries is of immense value, and a continuance and extension of the system now in progress, for removing obstructions in those streams, and improving their channels, is called for by every consideration of public policy, as due to the general interests of our Western fellow-citizens. The amount of benefit conferred by the appropriations already made is an earnest of what will be effected by continued, regular, and systematic efforts.

We have, as the report of the chief of the Topographical bureau states, "of nearly all our seaports surveys of positions for fortifications, and of entrances by water into our several harbors, which will furnish, when desired, correct information on all those subjects." Knowledge, however, to the same extent, does not exist in regard to the lakes and lake harbors.

The recent extinction of the Indian title to the southern and western shore of Lake Superior, and the value of those lands for their mineral wealth, will probably lead to the peopling of that region with great rapidity. Sound policy, therefore, dictates that means be promptly taken to make an uninterrupted navigation from that lake to Lake Huron. This can be effected by the construction of a canal about a mile in length through the lands of the United States, around the falls of St. Mary, with two locks suitable for passing steamboats, the expenses of which will not probably exceed $100,000. This will be more than made up by the increased value of the public lands affected by it.

By the commencement of topographical surveys west of the Mississippi, it is thought that assurance has been given for their prosecution. The results, as far as ascertained, are highly satisfactory and creditable to the scientific gentlemen in charge of the respective works. It is hoped that the surveys already commenced on the Platte and Kanzas rivers may be prosecuted, and that means may be furnished, and authority given, to construct a road through the lands belonging to the United States, so as to afford a safe and expeditious route for emigrants to the Oregon Territory. This could be done at a moderate expense, as there would generally be little to do, more than survey and make it out, and construct bridges over the larger streams. The survey should also embrace the proper positions for military posts, which will be found necessary for the purpose of keeping the Indians in order, preventing misconduct in traders among them, and furnishing security to travellers crossing the Rocky Mountains. At these military posts settlements would soon be formed, and travellers, instead of encountering the troubles, inconveniences, and dangers of a long journey through a wilderness, would find themselves enjoying on the whole route the comforts and security of civilized life.

Reference is also made to the necessity of correct topographical information as to the country between our principal cities and the seaboard. This information should be obtained and put on record, to be used when necessary for the purposes of defence.

The report from the Ordnance bureau shows that the officers connected with that department have promptly accounted for the moneys placed in