tribes, in addition to the duty which it owes to its own citizens of providing for their safety. It appears to the board that this obligation can only be properly fulfilled by maintaining advanced positions in the Indian country with an adequate restraining military force, and that the duty of protecting our own citizens will be best discharged by establishing an interior line of posts along the western border of the States of Arkansas and Missouri as auxiliaries to the advanced positions, and to restrain the intercourse between the whites and the Indians, and serve as rallying points for the neighboring militia in times of alarm. With these views, they would recommend the maintenance of Fort Towson, on Red river, and Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas, and the establishment of a post at the head of navigation on the Kansas, and one at Table creek, on the Missouri, below the mouth of the Big Platte, as constituting the advanced positions on this portion of the frontier. For the secondary line intended for the protection of the border settlements the board would adopt the positions which have been selected by a commission of experienced officers along the western boundary of Arkansas and Missouri, at some of which, it is understood, works are already in progress, namely: Fort Smith, on the Arkansas river; Fort Wayne, on the Illinois; Spring river and Marais de Cygne; terminating to the north at Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri. They would also recommend the establishment of one or two intermediate posts between the Arkansas and Red rivers, if, on further examination of the country, suitable positions can be selected near the State line. It is not deemed advisable to establish those posts on the route of the road lately surveyed, which (especially the southern portion) is considered too far in advance of the border settlements to accomplish the object in view; but if eligible positions cannot be found along the line, then a post on the road where it crosses the Poteau river, which is not very remote from the settlements, might have a salutary influence. On the northern portion of this frontier, extending from the Missouri river to Lake Superior, the board would recommend the establishment of a post near the upper forks of the Des Moines river, the maintenance of Fort Snelling, on the Mississippi, and the ultimate establishment of a post at the western extremity of Lake Superior. The last is suggested with some qualification for want of the necessary information by which to determine the channel of communication to that remote position. Whether it shall be through Lake Superior or by the Mississippi and its tributaries, it would in either case be difficult in peace and next to impracticable in time of war. As the position has, however, important geographical relations, and would enable us to extend our influence and control over the Indians in our territory, and afford protection to our traders in that remote region, it would seem to be worthy of early occupation if its maintenance can be rendered secure-a point which can only be determined by a careful examination of the country. It is, nevertheless, recommended to retain Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, Fort Winnebago, at the portage of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, and Fort Howard, at Green bay. These posts are deemed necessary to protect that portion of our frontier, while at the same time they serve to cover an important line of intercommunication between the northern lakes and the western waters. It has not been thought expedient to continue the interior line of defence suggested for the middle section of this frontier across from the Missouri to the Mississippi river. Our Indian relations in that quarter assume a different aspect. There is no special guarantee of perpetual occupation of that country by the tribes who now inhabit it, nor can it be doubted that they will ultimately be pushed by the advance of our population to the west of the Missouri river. Under those circumstances, it is believed that the intermediate post recommended to be established on the Des Moines river, co-operating with the posts on the Missouri and those on the Upper Mississippi, will afford adequate protection to the border settlements against any attacks to which they are likely to be exposed. The board have not felt called upon by the terms of the resolution under which they act to project a plan of operations for the western frontier, nor to go into an estimate of the military force that will be required there, further than was necessary to determine the extent of accommodations to be erected and the expense which these will involve. They would, however, observe that the positions which have been designated will not of themselves have the desired influence in restraining the Indian tribes and protecting our border settlements without the aid of a respectable force, of which a full proportion should be mounted and held disposable at all times for active service in the field. To effect this the works should be so constructed that, while they will afford adequate accommodations for all the troops when they are not actively employed, their defence may be safely intrusted to a small force. With these precautionary measures, and the co-operation of small but effective reserves posted within sustaining distances of the several sections of the frontier, it is believed that peace may be preserved and the first onset of war met until the militia of the neighboring country could be embodied and brought into the field. It only remains to recapitulate the positions which have been recommended to be occupied, apportion the requisite force, and present a conjectural estimate of the cost of erecting the accommodations and defences deemed necessary at each. 1. For quarters for 100 men at the post on the Sabine where the Opelousas road crosses that river, including defences.... 2. For quarters for 100 men at the post on the Sabine where the Natchitoches road crosses, including defences.... $20,000 20, 000 100, 000 180, 000 3. For permanent quarters and other accommodations for 500 men at Fort Towson, including defences.... 4. For permanent quarters and other accommodations for 1,000 men at Fort Gibson, including defences. 5. For quarters for 300 men at the post on the Kansas river, including defences... 60,000 6. For quarters and other accommodations for 500 men at the post at Table creek, near the mouth of the Platte, on the Missouri, including defences.. 75,000 7. For quarters and other accommodations for 400 men at the post on the Des Moines river, including defences.. 60,000 8. For the enlargement and repair of Fort Snelling, to fit it for the accommodation of 300 men, including defences. 30,000 9. For quarters for 400 men at the post at the western extremity of Lake Superior, including defences.. 50,000 INTERIOR LINE. 10. For quarters for 200 men at the post between the Red and Arkansas rivers, including defences... 50,000 11. For completing quarters and other accommodations for 200 men at Fort Smith, including defences.... 50,000 12. For completing quarters and other accommodations for 200 men at Fort Wayne, including defences.... 50,000 13. For quarters and other accommodations for 200 men at the post at Spring river, including defences..... 50,000 14. For quarters and other accommodations for 200 men at the post $50,000 50,000 895,000 JOS, G. TOTTEN, For the board, WASHINGTON, April 23, 1840. CANNON. Estimated cost of ordnance of all kinds required for the armament of the western frontier, embracing cannon mounted and one hundred rounds of ammunition for each piece. CARRIAGES. 18-pounder guns, medium. 6-pounder guns. 12-pounder how itzers. 8-inch light mor tars. Total number of cannon. For medium and field cannon. For 8-inch light mortars. 18-pounders. 6-pounders. 12-pounder shells. 8-inch shells. PROJECTILES. JOSEPH G, TOTTEN, Colonel Engineers, REPORT ON THE ARMORIES, ARSENALS, MAGAZINES, AND FOUNDERIES, WHICH ARE MENTIONED IN THE THIRD SECTION OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE IN THE FOLLOWING WORDS, VIZ: "The armories, arsenals, magazines, and founderies, either constructed or deemed necessary, with a conjectural estimate of the expense of constructing such of said establishments as may not yet be completed or commenced, but which may be deemed necessary." The necessary arsenals and magazines will be first considered, as armories and founderies, being manufactories of arms destined for general distribution, do not pertain exclusively to any particular frontier. Arsenals and ordnance depots will be understood to include magazines in the general sense of the term; and these establishments will be rated, according to their relative importance or magnitude, in three classes: I. Arsenals of construction, which embrace also repairs, and for deposit. III Depots, or places for deposit and safe-keeping of arms, and other ord nance stores. I. On the nothern frontier, from Lake Superior to Passamaquoddy bay.— An arsenal or ordnance depot will be required at some suitable point on the Upper Mississippi; and Fort Crawford, at Prairie Du Chien, offers a good position, particularly with reference to supplying the line or tract of country extendding southwesterly from Fort Snelling, through the Territory of Iowa, towards the Des Moines river, as well as northwardly toward Lake Superior, and eastwardly through the Territory of Wisconsin to Lake Michigan. The expense of constructing this depot, on a scale commensurate with the probable importance that must be given to it, will be not less than.... forming an arsenal of the third class. The Detroit arsenal, on the river Rouge, twelve miles from Detroit, now nearly finished, is an arsenal of the second class, destined to supply the lake frontier from the Sault de St. Marie, the outlet of Lake Superior, to Lake Michigan and Lake Erie............... will effect the completion of this arsenal. Alleghany arsenal, at Pittsburg, an establishment of the first class, is also available for the supply of the lake frontier, as well as the western frontier, through the western arsenals. Rome arsenal, of the third class, is the place for deposit for stores required at the posts on Lake Ontario. Champlain arsenal, at Vergennes, Vermont, also of the third class, will supply the posts on Lake Champlain and the northern part of Vermont. But the whole lake frontier, and the arsenals in that region, may be supplied from the Watervliet arsenal, near Albany, which is an establishment of the first class, and admirably located for the preparation and sending forth of ordnance stores, not only to the northern, but likewise to the maritime frontier. The periods of free navigation of the New York canals and the Hudson river are used for the distribution from Watervliet of such supplies as may be required in the winter season. The Kennebec arsenal, at Augusta, Maine, of the second class, is designed to supply the northern and eastern frontiers of that State, and part of New Hampshire; but arms would be furnished to the frontier of the latter State from Springfield armory, and $70,000 20,000 |