S: In conformity with your instructions, I proceed to lay before you a brief statement of the various operations of this department for the past year, and such suggestions for the improvement of the several branches of the public service, committed to its care, as experience has dictated; and, in exeeating this task, it is due to the services, exertions, and fidelity, of the officers at the head of the respective bureaus of the department, that I should acknowledge their able assistance, and the important benefits I have derived from their counsel and co-operation in the administration of the concerns of this highly responsible office. During the past season, the hostile aggressions of the Sac and Fox Indians, upon the borders of Illinois and Michigan, required and received the prompt attention of the Government. The executives of the States of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, and of the Territory of Michigan, co-operated zealously and efficiently in the measures of protection. The regular troops in the vicinity of the theatre of hostilities were concentrated under Brigadier General Atkinson, and brought into the field; and the militia of Illinois, and of that part of the Territory of Michigan exposed to danger, promptly repaired to the defence of the frontier. Such was the nature of the warfare and of the country, that it was difficult immediately to protect the long line. of scattered settlements, and to bring the enemy to action. As a precau tionary measure, and to place the result of the campaign as far beyond the reach of accident as possible, the garrisons at some of the posts upon the seaboard, and upon the lakes, were ordered to Chicago, under the command of Major General Scott, to co-operate with the force already employed under Brigadier General Atkinson. The celerity, with which these troops moved, is creditable to their character and discipline. One of the companies reached Chicago in eighteen days from Old Point Comfort, a distance, by the route necessarily travelled, of more than eighteen hundred miles; and the movement of the whole was marked by the greatest despatch. UnfortuDately, their hopes of being useful to their country were suddenly arrest ed, when highest, by the appearance of the cholera; and probably few military expeditions have presented scenes more appalling in themselves, or demanding the exertion of greater moral courage. The occasion was met by Major General Scott in a manner worthy of his high character, and the example he gave to the American army in that period of trying responsibili 3 ty, is not less important, than was his gallant bearing in the presence of enemy during the late war. His efforts were well seconded by the offic and no practicable method seems to have been omitted to stay, or to cure pestilence. Of about fifteen hundred officers and men of the regular tr ordered to the northwestern frontier, not less than two hundred died by cholera. General Atkinson, with the regular troops and militia under his comm pursued the Indians through a country very difficult to be penetrated which little was known, and where much exertion was required to prod supplies. These circumstances necessarily delayed the operations, and w productive of great responsibility to the commanding officer, and of g sufferings and privations to all employed in this harrassing warfare. The dians, however, were driven from their fastnesses, and fled towards the N sissippi, with the intention of seeking refuge in the country west of river. They were immediately followed by General Atkinson with a mou ed force, overtaken, and completely vanquished. The arrangements of commanding general, as well in the pursuit as in the action, were pro and judicious, and the conduct of the officers and men was exemplary. campaign terminated in the unqualified submission of the hostile party, in the adoption of measures for the permanent security of the frontier; the result has produced upon the Indians of that region a salutary impressi which, it is to be hoped, will prevent the recurrence of similar scenes. The extensive operations rendered necessary by these events, have monstrated the able organization and efficiency of the various staff depa ments of the army, and their capacity to meet any exigency, which may quire their exertions. They have also shown that the morale and disc line of the troops are well preserved, and that, whenever or wherever th services may be wanted, the expectations of their country will not be dis pointed. W An act of the last session of Congress authorized the raising of six comp nies of mounted rangers for the defence of the frontiers. Five of these we organized without delay, immediately after the passage of the law; but, o ing to the absence of the person selected for the command of the sixth, the troops employed under General Atkinson, that company was not broug into service during the active portion of the season. It is now however fi ed, and under orders. I have caused a comparative view to be appended to this report, showi the difference of cost between the maintenance of this corps of rangers, a of a regiment of dragoons. It will be perceived, that the former excee the latter by one hundred and fifty-three thousand nine hundred and thirty two dollars. The rangers costing annually two hundred and ninety-sev thousand five hundred and thirty dollars, and the dragoons one hundred a forty-three thousand five hundred and ninety-eight dollars; an excess of e penditure well worthy of consideration, unless there are circumstances co nected with the nature of the duties of these corps, which give to the ra gers, as at present organized, a decided preference over the dragoons. It my conviction, that there are no such circumstances, and that a regiment dragoons would be more efficient, as well as more economical. From th constitution of the corps of rangers, and from the short periods of their se vice, their organization is but little superior to that of the ordinary militia Every year there must be a great loss of time in the reconstruction of th corps, and in the acquisition of the necessary experience and knowledg And its constitution is so dissimilar from that of any other branch of the ay that a perfect union of sentiment and action between them can scarce y be expected. The want of these must frequently be injurious to the public service. Regular cavalry are fully competent to the discharge of all the duties required of mounted rangers. In celerity of movement, they will of course be equal, and if (which however is doubtful,) the rifle is considered the most efficient arm for mounted troops, operating against the Indians, this weapon an be placed in the hands of such cavalry, and they can easily be trained to its use. Besides other important objects, it is desirable to preserve in our military isten the elements of cavalry tacties, and to keep pace with the improvements made in them by other nations. The establishment of a regiment of goons would complete the personnel of our army, and would introduce a aree which would harmonize with, and participate in, the esprit du corps so essential to military efficiency, and so easily and certainly created by miLitary principles. It seems to be now conceded, and it surely may well be, that mounted roops are absolutely necessary for the defence of that part of the inland fronter in contact with the Indian tribes. Our permanent military posts, garrisoned by infantry, exert a moral influence over the Indians, and protect important and exposed positions. But to overtake and chastise marauding parses, and in fact to carry on any serious operations against an Indian foe in the level regions of the west, horsemen are indispensably necessary. PreFaming, therefore, that some force of this description will be retained, I have the honor to suggest the propriety of the conversion of the corps of rangers into a regiment of dragoons. The report of the officer, at the head of the Engineer Department, presents a comprehensive view of the operations assigned to the corps under his superintendence, in its three great divisions of fortifications, internal improvement, and military education. In the construction of the various works of defence upon the maritime frontier, the progress has been as rapid as was compatible with a proper and economical administration of this important duty, and with the numerous calls upon the officers of that department. So much delay and loss are experienced, not only in this branch of the public service, but in almost all others, requiring the disbursement of money, by the late period at which the appropriations are sometimes made, that I am led to introduce the subject here, in is not the only injury, particularly in all the works of fortification and interthe hope, that it will engage the attention of Congress. The pecuniary loss nal improvement. The operations are necessarily discontinued during one part of the working season, and too rapidly prosecuted during another, and the result is, consequently, more or less unfavorable. The numerical strength of the engineer corps is not now sufficient for the performance of the duties required of its officers. They have all been actively and zealously engaged, and their scientific and practical attainments eminently qualify them for the discharge of the various functions they are performing, whether belonging appropriately to their profession, or assigned to them by this department. For the facts connected with this subject, I refer to the report of the Chief Engineer, contenting myself with observing, that there is no demanded by the exigency of the service. Either the duty will not be per economy in keeping this establishment below the numbers formed, as has happened this season in some instances, or, as has happ in others, it will be worse performed, and at a greater expense: for it i possible to transfer, from civil life, or from other departments of the a persons possessing the requisite attainments, without previous experie to insure science and skill in the execution of these duties, and a systen vigilant supervision in the administration of their fiscal concerns. To acq these qualifications, time and experience are necessary. And the respons lity imposed by a permanent attachment to the department, and the es du corps created by it, are both favorable to a more faithful and effic discharge of the duties appertaining to it. For these reasons, and from clearest conviction, that such a measure is demanded by the public inter I venture to renew the recommendation contained in my last annual repo for a moderate and gradual increase of the engineer corps, and to express full concurrence in the views presented by the Chief Engineer upon t subject. The Military Academy, as will be seen by the report of the board of vis ers, is steadily pursuing its course of usefulness. As an institution natic al in its objects, its administration, its support, and its pupils, it merits t fostering care of the Government, and the kind regard of the public. F a series of years, it has undergone the rigid examination of the most respect ble citizens, selected from every part of the country, many of whom ha arrived there with strong prejudices against it, but all of whom, I believ have returned with a deep conviction of its importance and admirable ma agement. As a school, where the various sciences, auxiliary to the art war, are taught, and taught most thoroughly; as a camp of instruction, whe the practical duties of the soldier are acquired, and where the difficult art governing is learned, by learning first the duty of obedience; as a place deposite, where all the improvements in military knowledge, throughout th world, are ascertained, preserved, and investigated; and, as a point of concen tration, where young men are brought into friendly contact and emulation from every part of the Union, and are sent out to defend their country, with their sectional prejudices diminished, and their views enlarged, it is among the most valuable possessions of the republic, I coincide in opinion with the board in the suggestions they have made, and commend them to your favorable notice. From personal inspection, I am satisfied that the additions to the buildings, pointed out in the report," are required by the public interest, and that they are essential to the comfort of the professors and pupils, and to a due prosecution of their duties and studies. And, especially, am I impressed with the importance of a proper place of public worship, where all the persons attached to the institution, amounting, with their families, to more than eight hundred individuals, can assemble and unite in the performance of religious duties. In a christian community, the obligations upon this subject will not be questioned; and the expense of providing a suitable place of worship, especially as a chaplain is maintained there, cannot be put in competition with the permanent advantages of a course of religious instruction to such a number of persons; a large portion of whom are at that critical period which determines whether the future course of life shall be for evil or for good. The reasons, heretofore urged, for an augmentation and more efficient or ganization of the topographical corps, still exist in full force. The duties assigned to that branch of the staff, require extensive scientific attainments, together with much experience. They are productive of important advan |