for that number of animals, at the rates at the several posts at which the troops are distributed, the cost would be $2,128,611, and as the present regulations authorize straw for the bedding of public animals, the cost of which, if furnished, would be $50,000—

That sum has been added, making

From which has been deducted for periods when the animals will be grazed, and either receive no forage, or a reduced allowance.....

Leaving.

For which an appropriation has been asked.

$2,178,611 00

628,611 00

1,550,000 00

The sum paid for forage in the last year was $1,414,461. The expenditure will be greater this year, and if operations equal to those carried on this year be continued next year, the whole amount estimated, probably more, will be necessary.

For the milage of cfficers when travelling on duty, without troops. or supplies, ten thousand dollars has been added to the estimate for the last and present years to meet the increased expense under the new regulations, and the increased travel caused by the greater extension of our outposts.

The estimate for transportation is much larger than any other estimate since the war with Mexico. This increase is necessary from the greatly extended operations of the troops. The amount paid on account of transportation for the army and its supplies, and for means of transportation, as far as accounts have been received, amounts to $2,900,915. The cost for transportation in the present year will greatly exceed that sum, and next year it will not probably fall short of the estimate.

Our army, though not more than fifteen thousand men, performs more duty, and carries on more extensive operations than any hundred thousand men in any other service in the world. Long, rapid, and expensive movements have frequently to be made during every year to supply the lack of numbers.

I submit herewith a military map of the United States, on which are laid down most of our important outposts, with the routes to and between them. On this map will be seen a dark line, extending from Fort Wilkins, on Lake Superior, to the mouth of the Sabine, on the Gulf of Mexico. That line connects all the extreme outposts of the country occupied on the 30th of June, 1845. Within that line there were only two posts of two companies, each supplied by land transportation, and on lines shorter than from Baltimore to Philadelphia. We now occupy the whole territory west to the Pacific, and south to the Rio Grande and the south boundary of New Mexico. Most of the territory now occupied is, in a great measure, without resourcessome of it with nothing but a scanty crop of wild grass; and some of the lines of land transportation are from twelve to fifteen hundred miles in length. Where active operations are carried on in such a country, (and to defend the frontier constant operations are required,) a vast outlay for transportation is unavoidable.

Efforts have been made, and powerful influence brought to bear upon the War Department, and upon this office, political as well as military, to force the purchase of a steamer, to be employed on Puget's Sound. I have steadily opposed the scheme as a military measure, because if a steamer be necessary there it is required more as a means of defence than of transportation; and in that view, it seems to be more properly a naval than a military measure. The army is bound to defend the land, but it is the business of the navy to prevent attacks by water.

In 1848 I sent to the Pacific, by order of one of your predecessors, two steam-propellers, the Massachusetts and the Edith. They, with several sail vessels sent out at the same time, it was believed, would be sufficient, or nearly so, to perform all the sea transportation of the army on that side of the continent. The President directed that both should be turned over to the navy, which was done. The Edith was wrecked, but the Massachusetts has been in the naval service ever since. If we are to be taxed with the expense of running a steamer on the Pacific, I hope the Massachusetts may be repaired, and turned over to us in a condition equal to that in which she was when transferred to the navy.

Should it be decided to build or purchase a steamer for Puget's Sound, an additional sum to the amount estimated for transportation will be necessary.

In my last annual report I adverted to the necessity of additional clerks for this office. The increase of the army, and the great accumulation of business consequent upon that increase, and the vast territory which the troops occupy, render, at least, four additional clerks necessary, for the prompt and critical examination of the numerous accounts, returns, and reports received at this office, and to keep an account of the large amount of property purchased for the public service, and the disposition made of it. Books should be kept in which we should be able to show, at any time, the whole amount of property received, disposed of, and on hand. Lack of force alone has prevented me from causing such books to be opened and kept.

Owing to the heavy expenditures last year, which will be charged upon the appropriations for the present year, as well as the expenditures for the Cheyenne and Utah expeditions, neither of which was contemplated when the estimates for the present year were presented to Congress, a large appropriation for deficiencies will be required; and if similar operations are to go on next year, these appropriations will be necessary early in the session of Congress; for it is now time that preparations were being made, in order that operations be commenced so soon as the grass shall be sufficient to support the horses of the mounted troops and the animals of the trains. Our little army is not, in fact, a peace establishment; the larger portion of it is constantly in the field, or on distant frontiers, ready for the field, where it is necessarily incurring the heaviest war expenditures to maintain the efficiency required in the onerous duties it is obliged to perform. A view of the accompanying map will better show the vast

extent of territory its operations cover, than a volume written on the subject.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration and respect, sir, your obedient servant,

Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD,

TH. S. JESUP,

Quartermaster General.

Secretary of War, Washington City.

No. 7.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSARY GENERAL.

OFFICE OF COMMISSARY GENERAL OF SUBSISTENCE,

Washington, October 31, 1857.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1857, and to transmit an estimate for the subsistence of the army for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1859.

The principal portions of the subsistence stores procured for the army during the past year were obtained in the cities of New York, Baltimore, Charleston, New Orleans, St. Louis, and San Francisco, by advertising for bids, and accepting the lowest bids for the proper articles.

Flour for the troops in New Mexico was procured by contract, made from wheat grown in that Territory and the neighboring provinces of Mexico. On the Pacific, whenever economy would permit, this article of the ration was procured from the mills in the vicinity of the posts.

Fresh beef for the troops at the Atlantic posts, Florida, Texas, and on the Pacific, was procured by contract in their vicinity. At Forts Riley, Kearney, Laramie, and the posts on the Upper Missouri, cattle on the hoof were delivered by contract, the department grazing and feeding the cattle until they were required for use. For the troops in New Mexico, cattle on the hoof were procured in that Territory, and kept in the same manner.

Supplies for the Utah expedition were purchased in Saint Louis; three months' supply for the use of the troops on the march, and one year's supply (salt excepted) from the time of their arrival at their destination, was forwarded.

A contract was made with Messrs. Russell & Waddell for the delivery of one year's supply of cattle on the hoof to the troops in Utah. One of the herds of this firm was attacked by the Cheyennes upon the plains, and several hundred head of cattle were lost. From the high character of the gentlemen composing this firm for integrity and enterprise, no doubt exists but that every effort will be made on their part to fulfil their engagement; but to prevent a possibility of suffering to the troops for the want of fresh meat, three hundred and fifty Vol. ii-11

(350) head of cattle belonging to the department, which were at Fort Laramie, are now in progress thence with the troops.

By your instructions, tea has been introduced as a part of the ration, in part substitution for coffee; and the desiccated vegetables of Chollet & Co. have been furnished the troops on the Utah expedition as anti-scorbutics.

Every effort has been made to supply the troops with good and wholesome provisions, and, notwithstanding the wide range of their stations and frequent movements, it is believed with complete success.

The officers acting in this department have generally rendered their accounts as promptly as the nature of their service would permit, and have generally performed their duties with zeal and fidelity.

It will be seen that, in the estimate herewith submitted, the cost of the ration is estimated at twenty-six and a half (261) cents; that of the previous estimate having been twenty-seven and a half (271) cents. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

A. E. SHIRAS,

Captain, Acting Com. Gen. Subsistence.

Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD,

Secretary of War.

No. 8.

REPORT OF THE PAYMASTER GENERAL.

PAYMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE,

November 10, 1857.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the transactions of the pay department for the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1857.

It will be seen by the tabular statement herewith that there remained in the hands of paymasters on the 30th June, 1856, applicable to payments due in the first quarter of the last fiscal year, the sum of.....

In addition to which, they have received from the treasury and other sources, exclusive of amounts transferred from one to another, the sum of.........

Making a total of.......

Expended as follows:

$534,450 46

4,466,877 82

5,001,328 28

This balance has generally been expended and accounted for since

the commencement of the present fiscal year.

The great extent of our frontier, and the disturbed condition of our Indian relations, have greatly increased the labor and responsibility of paymasters; and it is due to them to say, that they have made every effort to insure the payment of the troops according to law; but in a few instances this has been impracticable, from causes over which they had no control,

I regret to state that Major Dashiell reports that, while crossing the bar at the mouth of Indian river, Florida, his boat was capsized by the surf, and the amount of public funds in his possession, ($23,115,) for the payment of the troops in that part of Florida, was lost, and every effort to recover it has proved unavailing. I trust he will find no difficulty in obtaining relief from Congress.

The law of the 3d March last, amending the sub-treasury law, with the instructions of the Secretary of the Treasury to the assistant treasurers, caused disbursing officers much inconvenience, until relieved by your circular of the 14th September last, and, if rigidly adhered to, would render our disbursements impracticable. I trust Congress will, at an early period, so modify it as to remove all difficulties in carrying out its provisions.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, BENJ. F. LARNED,

Hon. J. B. FLOYD,

Secretary of War,

Paymaster General,