SEC. And be it further enacted, That the said volunteers shall furnish their own horses and horse equipments, and when mustered into the service shall be armed at the expense of the United States, and, until discharged therefrom, shall be subject to the rules and articles of war, and shall in all respects, not set forth in the provisions and limitations of this act, be organized in the same manner with the present regiment of mounted riflemen of the United States army. SEC. And be it further enacted, That the said volunteers so offering their services may be accepted by the President in companies, squadrons, batallions or regiments-whose officers shall be appointed in the same manner prescribed by law in the several States and Territories to which said companies and squadrons shall belong. SEC. And be it further enacted, That the volunteers who may be received into the service of the United States by virtue of this act, and who may be wounded or otherwise disabled in the service, shall be entitled to all the benefits which may be conferred by existing laws on other persons wounded or disabled in the service of the United States. SEC. And be it further enacted, That the pay of the said volunteers, including compensation for the use and risk of horses not killed in action, shall be as follows: For officers of all grades, the pay and emoluments of the like grade in the present corps of mounted riflemen of the United States army; for sergeants, one dollar and twenty cents per day; for corporals, blacksmiths, farriers, and musicians, one dollar and ten cents per day, and for privates one dollar per day: Provided, however, That if any mounted volunteer, other than a commissioned officer, shall not keep himself provided with a serviceable horse and with serviceable horse equipments, the said volunteer shall serve on foot and shall forfeit one-half his daily pay during the period of such service dismounted. And provided, further, That the pay herein allowed shall be in lieu of all pay allowances and bounties now authorized by law, except rations, clothing, and commutation in money of clothing, and excepting all such claims as may be valid under existing laws for wounds or disability incurred in service, or for horses killed in action. Provided, further, That the Quartermaster's department may furnish the volunteer with horse equipments at the cost of the same to the government. SEC. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to prescribe and to vary from time to time, as may be in his judgment expedient, the arms and equipments of the volunteers authorized to be accepted, or any portion thereof. That they do agree to the twenty-second amendment of the Senate, with the exception of the sum of money therein appropriated, the committee having called for estimates of the amount needed to defray the expenses of the volunteer force; and when that is furnished, propose to insert the proper sum. That they do not concur in the third, fourth, sixth, thirteenth, fourteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, and twentieth amendments of the Senate. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 8, 1855. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of the Committee on Military Affairs, a communication from the Colonel of Ordnance, submitting an estimate of funds required for repairs, improvements, and new machinery at the national armories for the next fiscal year. Approving the estimate, I recommend that the amount ($74,000) may be provided in the army bill now pending in the Senate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JAMES SHIELDS, JEFF'N DAVIS, Secretary of War. Chairman of Committeee on Military Affairs, Senate. Estimate of funds required for the national armories for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1856, in addition to the amount for that year heretofore estimated for Harper's Ferry armory. 1. For repairs and improvements and new machinery at Springfied armory..... 2. For new machinery at Harper's Ferry armory Total..... $54,000 20,000 74,000 Remarks in explanation of the foregoing estimate. The repairs and improvements at Springfield armory contemplate the rebuilding of the rolling-mill and forge, and to remove the rolling and forging operations now carried on in a very old and unsafe building at the lower water-shop, about a mile from the upper shop, to the middle-privilege, which is within one hundred rods of the latter. The present rolling-mill and forge cannot be used much longer, and an absolute abandonment of these branches will be forced, if an outlay is not soon made for these purposes. The estimate for new machinery, at both armories, is for the purpose of making new machines, and the necessary alterations to those now on hand, to adapt them to work on the new-model rifle-musket with the Maynard primer. The appropriation is necessary to enable the national armories to change work to the improved model of rifled small-arms. The accompanying schedule states in detail the machines, &c., which are required. Of the whole amount, (viz: $27,000,) $7,000 are included in the previous estimate for Harper's Ferry armory, leaving only $20,000 additional for that armory. ORDNANCE OFFICE, January 3, 1855. H. K. CRAIG, Colonel of Ordnance. Schedule of machinery, &c., required at each of the United States armories. 2 model muskets (Maynard primer).................. $700 00 2 sets verifying-gauges for the same. 1,500 00 New tools, machine-fixtures, and altering machinery 7,500 00 1 machine for facing and rough-dressing stocks.. 1,200 00 1 machine for first-turning stocks........ 1,300 00 1 machine for cutting bearings on stocks.... 800 00 1 machine for milling ends of barrels....... 500 00 1 machine for turning bands...... 1 machine for cutting out magazine for lock-plate....... 1 machine for lever punching-press.... 1 set machines for wood-screws. 2 machines for grooving bayonet sockets and clasps... 2 swedge-drops for forging components....... 1 tilt-hammer for miscellaneous work. 6 machines for rifling barrels...... WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, March 9, 1854. SIR: The act of August 23, 1842, "respecting the organization of the army," &c., section 6, allows "double rations to the commandant of each permanent or fixed post garrisoned with troops." By the army appropriation act of September 28, 1850, (9 Stat. 504, item "Subsistence of officers,'') this allowance is extended to ordnance officers commanding arsenals and armories, and to engineer officers commanding fixed or permanent posts. There is one permanent post neither garrisoned with troops nor commanded by an ordnance or engineer officer, and to which, consequently, the allowance of double rations does not extend-that is, the Schuylkill arsenal, under the Quartermaster department. The commanding officer of this arsenal has responsibilities more than equal to the average of the commandants of other arsenals and fixed posts not garrisoned with troops, and I recommend that a provision be inserted in the next army appropriation act extending the allowance to him. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. JAMES SHIELDS, Secretary of War. Chairman of Committee on Military Affairs, Senate. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, June 7, 1848. GENERAL: I am directed to communicate the following instructions for your guidance, as soon as you ascertain that the treaty of peace has been ratified by the Mexican government. It has been determined to augment the regular force now in Upper California by four companies of dragoons, and to hold Santa Fe with a like amount of cavalry and one company of artillery. Accordingly, on receiving authentic intelligence of the ratification of the treaty by the Mexican Congress, you will immediately put in march the nine companies for the destinations indicated, directing those intended for California to pursue the route which will lead to the headwaters of the Gila, being the one followed by Major Cooke, and believed to be the best. Should the three dragoon companies (1st regiment) under Major Beall, serving with General Price's column, be still at Chihuahua, they, with one company (A or E) of the same regiment, must be sent to Monterey, Upper California. But should these companies have left Chihuahua for Sante Fe, and proceeded beyond striking distance, these companies, A and E, 1st dragoons, and two of the companies of the 2d regiment, attached to your column, will be ordered to the Pacific; and in this contingency the force to garrison Santa Fe will consist of the remaining company of the 2d dragoons, and one company of the 3d artillery, to be drawn from the "army of occupation," and the three dragoon companies (1st regiment) serving under Brigadier General Price. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Washington, 3d artillery, who is hereby assigned to duty according to his brevet rank, will command the troops for Santa Fe, and on his arrival will act as governor of New Mexico until further orders. I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Bvt. Maj. General J. E. WOOL: R. JONES, Adjutant General. Commanding Army of Occupation, Monterey, Mexico. Official extract. [Orders No. 165.] ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, June 27, 1854. SETH WILLIAMS, A. A. General. [Extract.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION, Marine, Mexico, June 27, 1848. Company C," 3d artillery, two companies, "A" "E," 1st dragoons, and the three companies of the 2d dragoons, attached to the army of occupation, will hold themselves in readiness, under the directions of Lieut. Colonel Washington, to take up their line of march for New Mexico and California at the shortest notice. WASHINGTON, January 8, 1855. DEAR SIR: In the names, and with the consent, of two members of the Military Committee of the House of Representatives, (Messrs. Bissell and Faulkner,) I have the honor to present the enclosed amendment for the army appropriation bill, which it was the intention of those gentlemen to have offered upon the passage of the bill through the House of Representatives, which happened unexpectedly to be called and passed during the absence of both of them. The object of the amendment is, to provide a very moderate compensation for the military services of the gallant Lieut. Colonel Washington, of the army, who was lost with the steamship San Francisco. After his gallant services during the war with Mexico, during which few men were more distinguished, he was selected and appointed military commander and governor of New Mexico, by especial assignment of the War Department. The difficult and important trust of organizing a disturbed and newly conquered country, suppressing Indian hostilities, and collecting revenue, devolved upon him. He established order, quieted the various bands of Indians, and collected revenue to the amount of about $8,000; all of which he has satisfactorily accounted for, reserving not a dollar as compensation. The prolonged march to Santa Fe, the unavoidable expenses incident to the commander and governor of a Territory, devolved upon him expenditures far beyond the amount of his army pay and allowances; and he returned home several thousand dollars out of pocket. The effect of the amendment will be, to give him the allowance prescribed by the rules laid down by General Kearney, known as the Kearney code that is, at the rate of $2,000 per annum from the period of his appointment and service as military commandant and governor-about a year and a few months. With much respect, your obedient servant, Hon. JAMES SHIELDS, Senator, &c. R. B. LEE. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 10, 1855. SIR: In conformity to an act passed at the last session of Congress, civil superintendents of the national armories have been appointed, and I have the honor to recommend that a provision be introduced into the army appropriation bill, allowing them a compensation equal to the pay and commuted allowances of a major of ordnance, to be paid from the appropriation "for the national armories." The grade to which it is recommended that their compensation be assimilated is that of the ordnance officers recently in charge of the armories. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JEFF'N DAVIS, Secretary of War. Hon. R. M. T. HUNTER, Chairman Committee on Finance, Senate. |