Statement showing the number of Persons now on the rolls of the different States and Territories, and the number of persons added to the rolls of the different states and Territories, from the 20th October, 1834, to the 20th October, 1835, inclusive. STATES AND 116 2,346 1,796 4,825 Now on the Rolls. Added since 20 OC tober, 1834. Under act of 18th of 7th of 15th Invalid of 7th Mar. 1818. June, 1832. May, 1828. pensioners June, 1832. 173 788 1,236 22 13 177 617 1,342 24 2 177 812 1,614 37 33 327 1,104 2,831 23 16 505 2 125 535 36 904 214 15 144 58 231 787 1 19 397 576 10 62 1 1 8 216 543 42 39 19 25 25 76 414 23 33 35 278 14 8 10 37 1 35 10 16 1 149 236 1,547 48 192 404 1,720 40 248 663 39 18 56 22 236 10 15 72 16 156 1 9 1 11 1 20 51 49 3 3 57 52 1 Maine, 464 areen పని || 4022లు. Abstract from the several Pension Agents' reports, showing the number of Pensioners whose deaths have come to their knowledge since the last report. Revolu Revolu- Act of the 7th Act of i8 pension Act of 18 pension of June,|| TERRITORIES. March, TERRITORIES. March, of June, ers. ers, 1832. 1832. 1818. 1818. 12 16 5 89 72 83 85 48 154 232 52 10 8 2 Georgia, Maine, 53 2 New Hampshire, 28 2 Vermont, 6 Massachusetts, 45 3 Rhode Island, 10 Connecticut, 22 New York, 89 Pennsylvania, 26 2 7 Virginia, 24 North Carolina, 49 2 South Carolina, 2 1 26 8 32 65 89 8 16 5 86 103 2 1 MILITARY ACADEMY. WEST Point, N. Y., June, 1835. Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War : SJR: The undersigned, having attended the general examination of the cadets of the United States Military Academy as a Board of Visiters, submit the following report as the result of their observations. The board directed their inquiries to the course of instruction, both military and scientific, to the internal police, discipline, and fiscal con. ceros of the institution. In making these inquiries, every facility was afforded by the superintendent and members of the academic staff. In order that these inquiries might be prosecuted with greater advantage, committees were appointed by the board, with instruction to inquire especially into the portion of the foregoing subjects referred to them, respectively, and to report the result of their observations. The reports of those committees, which are herewith transmitted, will convey to you much information in detail, which could not conveniently be embodied in this report. As this is professedly a military institution, the attention of the board was first directed to the course of military instruction. Although this branch embraces a wide field, it is intended to speak of it as limited 10 engineering, artillery, and infantry tactics. Engineering is divided into two branches, civil and military, and in connexion with the latter are taught the science of war, so far as it relates to the attack and defence of military positions, and the providing of defensive means for an army operating in the field. In the course of civil engineering are taught the properties, preparations, and use of materials of construction ; elementary parts of buildings, and the art of construction generally, including decorative architecture ; the manner of laying out and constructing roads ; the construction of the various kinds of bridges; the general principles which regulate the removal of obstructions that impede the navigation of rivers : the survey, location, and construction of canals and railroads; and the formation of artificial, and the improvement of natural harbors. This branch is taught to the first or graduating class by lectures, and a series of drawings and notes, prepared by the professor from the best authorities, and lithographed at the press belonging to the institution, under the title of "Outlines of the Course of Civil Engineering." ." Drawings, illustrative of the prominent parts of the subject, aid executed by the cadets ; and these exbitit great nearness of execution, as well as much precision in detail. Next in order is the course of military engineering. This comprises field and permanent fortification. In the first are taught to the same class the principles which regulate the construction fof field intrenchments; the different kinds of lines; batteries for the various kinds of ordvance; the armament of intreschmients, with reserence to the attack and defence ; enclosed and detached works ; defence of posts, and the construction of military bridges ; perinanent fortificasion, including a complete description of the bastion front; the attack and defence of the same ; a critical examination of the principal systems of fortifications ; the construction and armament of a fortress; the liye draulic' works used in the defence of military positions ; mining ; the principles of defilement, and their application to works constructed for inland and maritime defence. Military engineering is taught from a text-book, and from notes prepared with judgment and skill by the professor--the whole being amply illustrated by drawings, executed by the students, under the ininsediate supervision of instructers. To the professional ability of the professor to whom this department is confided, the very able and satisfactory manner in which his pupils acquitted themselves in the various parts of their course at the black board, in presence of the visiters, afforded the most pleasing and ample testimony. No changes, either in the course of study or organization, are'at present contemplated, nor are any deemed necessary. The board, however, would recommend the continuance of small appropriations of money by Congress for the purpose of providing the departinent with such works and models as the professor may from time to time require. Instruction is given to the cadets of the first class iu artillery tactics during the encampment, which usually commences in June and terminates on the 1st of September following. During this time they are required to recite upon a system of field artillery, at the same time that they are taught a course of pyrotechny, mortar exercise, and target practice, with guns of various calibers, as well as mortars and howitzers. Cadets of the other classes are also taught the drill of field artillery during the suspension of the other academic studies. It is thought by the officer at the head of this department that the time allowed for recitation is insufficient, and that much which ought to be studied thoroughly is necessarily passed over rapidly. In our country there is no establishment provided by law especially for instruction in artillery. All the education our officers receive in this branch of study is, with the exception of the mere drill of an artillery garrison, obtained at this place. This deficiency would seem to suggest the importance of placing this department of the academy upon a more enlarged and permanent basis. It is the opinion of the board that it would be greatly to the advanlage of this course of instŢuction if a permanent assistant were attached to it, iustead of the inode now in use of detailing cadets from the graduating class. Io connexion with this subject, the board would remark, that the moving of ordnance on the field, by the bodily exertions of the cadets alone, is a requisition upon them of great severity, and is at the same time obnoxious to the objection, that it keeps the cadets entirely uuskilled in the only mode of using the field-piece employed in actual service. The board would, therefore, suggest the propriety of procuring a number of borses sufficient for artillery exercise, and also for instruction in cavalry tactics. The same horses would be used for both purposes, and the number required would not exceed forty. Cavalry tactics have never been taught at this academy. Cavalry, as an arm of national defence, is confessedly of great importance. It is submitted whether instructions in that branch might not be advantageously added to the course of instruction at this institution. The ordoance stores furnished for the year are good in quality, and sufficient in quantity Some field-pieces and guns of different calibers are wanted to render this departinent complete, which are particularly detailed in the report of the committee on this subject. On drill, and in firing in the field, the cadets exhibit a thorough knowledge of the manæuvres aud evolutions in this important arm of service and in their drawings and mathematical demoustrations at the black board they evinced high proficiency in the theory and practice of gunnery. Their target firing, and accuracy of ihrowing shells are very commendable, and afford unequivocal evidence of great zeal and ability on the part of the instrucier, for which he is entitled 10 much credit. The corps of cadets organized as a battalion of jufaptry exhibits on the field a perfect knowledge of infantry tactics, and performs all the levolutions of the line and of the battalion with facility and accuracy. Their appearance in dress, in the condition of their arms and accoutre. menis, as well as in soldier-like bearing, is highly gratifying, and deserves much commendation, whilst it reflects much credit on the experienced officer wbo commands them. With regard to the course of study in the other branches which are taught, agreeably to the regulations of the institution, tbe board was well satisfied with the abilities and zeal of the professors and their assistants. Besides the branches already mentioned, the cadets of the first. or graduating class, were examined on moral and political science, and on mineralogy and geology, on all of which they exhibited attainments that could only be the result of much attention on their part, aided by skill and perseverance on the part of the professors and their assistants. In snoral and political science the first class was subjected to a satis\factory examination The familiarity they evinced with the several sys. tems of ethics propoundled by distinguished masters at different periods, showed that their minds bad been effectually, directed to the distinguishing characteristics of those systems, and their relative merits c!osely compared by them, and familiarly understood. The examinations on the subject of government and constitutional law were highly gratifying, with room, it is true, for slight shades of difference in opinioni ; on the latter topic, the discussions and replies of the class were such as showed a just comprehension of the nature and objects of civil government in general, of the peculiar and unique and happy system under which they live, qualifying themi at once for a participation in the pursuits of civil and political life, and teaching them duly to appreciate the blessings of those institutions which, as soldiers, they may be called upon to defend. The second class was examined on natural and experimental philoso. phy, on chemistry, and drawing. On these branches, the proficiency of the cadets was quite creditable to themselres and to their instructers. The knowledge which the pupils seem to have acquired in the important branch of cheinistry, not only of its general principles, but of their application in detail, was gratifying. The specimens of drawing by the cadets, exhibited to the board, showed a practical acquaintance with this branch, which desnonstrated that they are fitted at oace to apply their acquirements to purposes of practical utility. The third class was examined in mathematics, in the French language, and drawing. The fourth class in inathematics and the French language. It has often been remarked, that in no school is the mathematics more thoroughly taught than at this institution. The correctness of this remark was quite manifest during the present examivation, whenever mathematics or any other branch dependanton that science was under consideration. The examinations on the French language was very satisfactory. То) those acquainted with the language, there appeared by the course of instruction, to be imparted to the student a thorough knowledge of the principles of the language. Some of the members of the board had an opportunity of witnessing the proficiency of the cadets under the instructions of the swordmaster. It was thought to be quite creditable. Whilst the instructions of the swordinaster secure to the officer and soldier the best means of personal defence, the exercise connected with them is well fitted to improve the bealth, and to inpart to the muscular system tone and vigor. As connected with the course of study, the board has thought proper to remark that a good library, a chemical and philosophical apparatus, are essential aids in imparting scientific instruction. It is believed an important benefit would be conferred on the institution by adding to the library some of the periodical works which contain the earliest, and, at the same tinie, the inost learned dissertations upon the improvements of the day. The situation of the professorship of chemistry, it is thought, might be placed on a better footing. At present, it is subsidiary in every respect. It is recommended that it be placed on an equality with the independent professorship, and that there be two assistants, one of whom should be the professor of mineralogy. The whole course of stu'ly as conducted, it is believed, is well fitted to create a fund of information which cannot fail to be of inestimable value to our country in a civil as well as military point of view. The allentiou of the board was directed to the course of religious instruction. This course necessarily' of vital importance. During the present visitation, the chaplain, to whom this department is entrusted, has been under arrest; there was, therefore, 10 opportunity of witnessjug the manner in which the duties belonging to this department are performed. The importance of the duties to be performed by the chaplain. has induced the Board of Visiiers to recommend that the Secretary of War institute an inquiry into the causes which have led to a suspension of the performance of those duties. With regard to the internal police, it is entitled to high approbation. The condition of the hospital is fully suited to the object of securing to the ca is all the comforts and all medical aid that they can require in ordinary cases of indisposition. Clean, well ventilated, and properly attended by nurses, nothing need be added on these heads: recent circumstances, however, have suggested the propriety of enlarging the number of surgical instruinents. The south barrack, which is the oldest building of the kind at this post, is badly constructed. The rooms are too small, and they are injudi. ciously disposed. It is recommended that they be rebuilt. |