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bill may be amended so as to provide for the objects stated, up to the 30th June, 1855.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JEFFN. DAVIS,

Secretary of War.

Hon. R. M. T. HUNTER,

Chairman Committee on Finance, Senate.

BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS,
Washington, January 25, 1855.

SIR In accordance with the endorsement upon my letter of the 7th December last, presenting a statement of the cases in which the payment of allowances for fuel, quarters, &c., have been refused by the Quartermaster's department, I transmit herewith an estimate to cover arrearages for allowances to officers for which there is no appropriation available, showing the amounts due on the 31st December, 1854, and the amounts which will probably be due on the 30th June next. Also an estimate of the amount which will probably be required for the payment of similar allowances during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1856.

Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

J. J. ABERT,
Colonel Corps Topographical Engineers.

Hon. JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Secretary of War.

Estimate of amount required to cover arrearages for allowances of fuel, quarters, transportation, and per diem to officers,

for which there is no appropriation available.

Amount due December 31, 1854.

Additional amount which will probably be due June 30, 1855.

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BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, January 25, 1855.

J. J. ABERT, Colonel Corps Topographical Engineers.

Estimate of funds that will probably be required during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1856, for the payment of commutation of transportation of baggage, and of quarters and fuel of officers, in cases not provided for by the Quartermaster's department, and for allowances to meet extra expenses under the special direction of the Secretary of

War.

For fuel and quarters.....

For transportation...

$2,500 1,500

For allowances to meet extra expenses under the special di

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SIR: I have the honor to recommend that an appropriation of thirty thousand dollars be made in the army appropriation bill, now pending in the Senate, "for printing a new system of light infantry and rifle tactics, to be stereotyped, with engraved plates, and for procuring, for distribution to the militia of the United States, books of tactical instruction, including the system of regulations now in course of preparation."

With regard to the first of these objects, I have to refer the committee to the report herewith transmitted, of the board of officers by which the system of light infantry and rifle tactics was prepared and adapted to our service, and to the enclosed copies of communications from other experienced officers, respecting the value of the system.

The distribution of works of tactical instruction to the militia has been heretofore recommended in the annual reports from this department and the commanding general, and I deem it unnecessary to repeat the considerations therein set forth as to the propriety of this

measure.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. R. M. T. HUNTER,

JEFF'N DAVIS,
Secretary of War.

Chairman of Committee on Finance, Senate.

Proceedings of a board of officers convened at West Point, New York, by virtue of the following order, viz:

[Special Orders No. 131.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Adjutant General's Office, Washington, August 2, 1854.

A board of officers will assemble at West Point, New York, on the 15th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, to examine and report upon a system of rifle and light infantry tactics, prepared by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. J. Hardee, captain 2d dragoons, under the instructions of the War Department.

DETAIL FOR THE BOARD.

Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. H. T. Walker, captain 6th infantry. Brevet Major R. S. Garnett, captain 7th infantry.

Brevet Major S. C. Ridgely, captain 4th artillery.

Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Hardee will repair to West Point, and remain there during the session of the board, in order to furnish such information in relation to the system as may, from time to time, be called for by the board.

By order of the Secretary of War:

S. COOPER,

Adjutant General.

[Special Orders No. 136.]

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Adjutant General's Office, Washington, August 9, 1854. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. H. T. Walker, captain 6th infantry, and Brevet Major R. S. Garnett, captain 7th infantry, are relieved from the operation of special orders No. 131, of August 2, 1854; and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Silas Casey, captain 2d infantry, and First Lieutenant J. M. Jones, 7th infantry, are detailed as members of the board instituted by that order.

By order of the Secretary of War:

S. COOPER,

Adjutant General.

[Special Orders No. 178.]

WAR DERARTMENT,

Adjutant General's Office, Washington, November 6, 1854. The board of officers instituted by "special orders" Nos. 131 and 136, of August 2 and 9, 1854, will assemble in this city on the 13th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the transaction of such business as may be brought before it.

By order of the Secretary of War:

S. COOPER,

Adjutant General.

WASHINGTON, December 13, 1854.

The board of officers instituted by special orders Nos. 131 and 136, dated 2d and 9th of August, 1854, and afterwards reassembled at Washington by special orders No. 178, dated November 6, 1854, to act upon certain instructions from the War Department, having finished the duty assigned it, respectfully submit the following report In pursuance of instructions, Lieutenant Colonel Hardee, of the 2d dragoons, appeared before the board, and presented a system of tactics for light infantry, riflemen, and skirmishers, prepared by him in great measure from the French drill for the chasseurs a pied.

The board caused the work to be read to them, and investigated and studied its general character and merits.

The board then entered upon a more minute and thorough examination, passing carefully over, and deciding upon, every motion, command, and movement, in the several schools, which constitute the entire work.

This consideration of the theory was frequently laid aside, while the board witnessed the practical illustration of the system; and all doubtful points were tested by their execution on the field.

The Superintendent of the Military Academy, having directed the corps of cadets, and the company of sappers and miners, to be instructed in this drill, afforded the board an opportunity to see, not only the details, but also the general character and features of the entire system.

The board will endeavor to present concisely a view of this system and its general harmony with the existing drill for heavy infantry. A battalion instructed in this system can perform all the movements embraced in our present drill for heavy infantry, and, with two exceptions, in the same manner.

1. The slowest time for manoeuvring a light battalion is one hundred and ten paces in a minute.

2. Whenever a sub-division faces by a flank, it forms a depth of four, retaining the interval made by the file which stepped up to form that depth.

This latter is an admirable device to facilitate the movements of the sub-division, when in double quick time or a run.

A battalion instructed in this system can take its place in a line of battle composed of heavy infantry, and perform all the movements required in the evolutions of the line, as prescribed by our present

system.

In fact, should the movement be a change of front, with light battalions on the flanks, it would, by their quickened pace, be facilitated. Besides the method of manoeuvring which this system has, in common with the drill for heavy infantry, it has methods peculiar to itself, and which constitute its strength and power.

They consist in moving the line or column formed in quick or double quick time without halting, in the following movements: 1. Deployment of columns.

2. Execution of successive formations.

3. Formation of column to the right or left into line.

4. The various ployments from line into column.

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