The New York Herald Newspaper, December 3, 1867, Page 4

4 WAR DEPAR TMENT. REPORT OF GENERAL GRANT, Reduction of Military Expen- ditures. Breech-Loaders and Smooth-Dore Artillery. An Inereased Namber of Cadets at the West Point Military Academy Recommended. The foliowing is Gonoral Grant's roport as Secretary of War ad interim: — War Derarrwent, Wa rox Crry, Nov., 1867 ry of War ad in eri, and the accompanying the army aud Bureaus under the War Depart- War. A long war bad entailed upon the army practices of exiravagauce totally uj. s the increase of tue Fe gular army since 2860 (now al- most the entire army) is oiticered by men whose at exporience di pot go back to that period (and the fore (boy may not Know but their indulgences at the exponse of the general government are all legitimaic), Foirenchment Was the first object to attract my attention, During (be rebeliion ambulances and mounted ordertios very Leadquarters had come into use; and since the ilion they bave been conti if not at every post erally throughout the A discon nuance of this evil was podessary both ipline and eff cy of the army and the re- Were thorefore given both its execution, was transferred to the Department, as was also the Bureau for the Excuange of Prisonors, kc, relieving from gov- eroment ployment a larze number of clerks and several ollicers Who bad to that date been continued ia service. Supplying large armies for a period of four years of bostilities necossarily led to an accumulation of stores Of ail soris far Deyond the wants of our present ostab- lishment for many years to come. Many of these articles were of a perishable nature; besides, boing borae on the returns of ollicers accountable for them, they had to be atored and guarded, alinough the cost of care per annum might bo greater than tveir yaiue. Under my direction ail Lhese surplus aud useloxs stores in the Quartermaster's Departmeat are being sold and the balance distributed for issue to troops as they may be wanted. This re- leasoa a large number of siore houses for which rent is being paid, and also discharges a large number of civil employes of government. During the last summer and summer before I caused {ospections to bo made of the various routes of travel and supply through the territory between the Missouri river and the Pacific coust. Iho cost of maintaining troops in that secuion was so enormous that I desired, if possible, to reduce it, This I have been enabled to do, to some extent, from the information obtained by these inspections; but for the present tv military estabiish- ment boiween the lines desiguated must be maiatained @ta great cost per man. The completion of the railroads to tho Pacific will materially reduce this cost, as weil as the bumber of men to be kept there. The completion Of these roads witt also go (ar toward a pormanent sot- tlemout of our Ludian difficuities, There ts good reason to hope that negotiations now going on with the hostile tribes of Indians wilt result, if uot in a permanent peace, at least io a suspension of hostilities uatit the railroads @re pushed through that poruon of the Indian territory rel of a singio company, at least army. to the di Lief of the Treasury. Order for breaking it up'and seeing The Bureau of Rebel Arcty Adjutant General’ whero they are giving the most trouble, SOMEN'S BURKAU, From the report of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands I make the following synopsis: — No chanves have beon made in the organ'zation and practical working of the Bureau ot Refugoes, Freedmen ‘nd Abandouod Landa, except such as pave been caused by au appointment of disirict commauders uader the Ke- Construction act, Tho detail of officers serving with troops Las onabled tho Commissioner to reduce the number of Bureau agents Twenty-o ght civil a,enia Lave boen discharged and forty-eight mustered out, The froediuen, as a poop: in education, in mechauc industry. The amount of abandoned tand now in possession of the Bureau is 215,024 acres, much of wc. is swamp land, avd scarcely any affording reveauo, The numbor Of pleves of Lowa property 1s 959, The business of adjusting the claims of colored sole diers has creatiy increased im* good resulta, ‘Tho total nuinber of claims preseutet during the year ts 5,535, of which 759 Lave een nally adjusted, wad 4,268 are now Awaiting action in the Treasury "Department, ‘The cled and paid to ‘claimaute has been certificates recesved by the Commissioner A, under aet of Congress approved March 0 re making rapid progress ts, aud in ali brancues of refugees and 1 freedmen, to evable chem to reach places wuere selves ‘Teachers and a, tals are being rapidly closed and dispensaries substicuied, as @ more ecouomical more of giving relief to tbe s.ck. The number of revugees treated during the year ending August 31, 1867, 18 8,853, of whom 196 died, or 2 2-10 por cent, Tho nuiuder of freedmen treated {8 135,296; died, 4,649, or 3 4-10 per cout, Tue number of commissioned meairal officers and private physicians empioyed by the Bureau bas been 173, of whom 105 wero On duiy at ive eud of the year. No adequate pro- vision has bee mado (ur ihe insane, either by State or manicips) authori'ies; but chey are cared for in separate wards of Bureau hospitais, Tho average cost of tur- nisbing mod © aud medicines during the Fear bas been $2 73 for cach patioat. res for tae medical department supplies baye been issued to a limited has been found impracticabe to discontinoe togetier. The average wumber of rations nding September 1, 1867, was 11,658 per lie latior part of wt destitution be- great that urgent appeals were made for a moro general distribution of supplies. The total amount of fupplies furnished by means of the Relief been £50,338 pounds of pork aad bac pounds of corn. The number of per we beon 233,% lief is reported to number b being to beon $445,993, a p portod of four or $3 per month. Tellef was dis- in Augest, the funds and supplies remaining on hand being reserved for those who may require help ~ months, sod in number and usefulness, are well attended, The trial, but not the Sunday scl: teachers and 120,735 scdvlars; siuce the last apaual report, Of these 1,056 school: sustained molly or in part by freedinen, and 891 build. logs are owned by them. Of tho teachers 699 are colored and 1,338 white, The average amount of tuition paid per month by the freedmen bas beeu $14,555, Finances. —Appropriations for the year ending July 1, 1868, $3,836,900 Total expenditures from October 1, 1866, to August $1, 1867 (eleven months), $3,697,397. ‘The principal items of ‘expenditure are:—For schools subsistence stores, ‘64; salaries ot agents, Medical department, $351,001; 098; clothing, $116,088. penditures, $251,190, has been pos id otber contingencies The eutpia unexpeaded appropriations of 1866, with tuo balance of the appropriation of this year, Will be sufficient for tho purposes of the Bureau during the present fiscal year, ending @ 30, 1868. In addition ebove proper expeuditores, the disbursing officer bas paid back to colored soldiers or their bers retained bounties to the amount of $51,720, and bas paid of colored soidiers, under joint reselution of “4 Spproved March 29, 1867, to tbe amount of 870. Apprenticeship in Maryland tit! holds largo nambers of colored children in virtual siavery. The evils and resulting from th # sysiem, eauctioned by the Jawa, are matters of consieut complaint. As many as two thousand cases have boea preseuted ina single county. Educalvon.—In all the schools in the District of Colum. Dia apd West Virginia thera have been 7,993 scuolars aud 229 teachers, In West Virginia the schools have dee #1 ed in part from the public school fusa, where an impartial system of free schools exista, lathe Disirict of Columbia the colored schools are also enticied to a proportionate shere of the public school fund, but the city authorities bar 4 paid the entire sum claimed. It is probable, however, that tho trustees of the colored schools will recover all that i# due, and in futuro receive an equitable share of thé public funds, in which case the colored schools wi!) be independent of the Bureau, Several instivations of higher grade than common schools have bean osinvlished avd maden jood begioning. Among these are thy jogical Instivuie, in Washington, uoder the Baptist denomination; the normal ech loge at liarper's Ferry, conducted by the Free Will Bap- fasts, and the Howard University, In the District of Columbia, which je designed to be pational and free to ail. The normal end pr ry department bas been opened with avout sixty sch being erected for other depart: i. To provide cheap homes for industrious colored men, @ farm bas Leen purchased, surveyed into acre lots aud fold at cost, The lois have boon taken up rapidly aud mente upon them promptly mad ‘Xpenditur.s have faien bolow the original estimates. No furth; Bureaa wi ie no esti ‘n case the Bureau Is not extended, it ts recommended by the Commissioner that prope: ingements be made with the State authorities for the care of indigo) Classes; that the educatiomal work be continued under the direction of the Bureau of Education or other States with fall power and means to mainiain the present system; and that the Claim Di- vision be continued in connection with the War Depart- ment as ion, ib may be deemed necessary by the Beoretary of War. This is but a brief abstract of the report of the Commis. stoners of Refugoer, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, Hpeciat atiention to the report \self is reapectfuily i+ National Theo- NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1867.—TRIPLE SHEET. vitod, No recommendation 1s made at the present time Tespecting the continuauce or discoutinuance of this Bureau. Boeing the session of Lange facts may do- requiring epecial legislation m the velop tu premises, waen tho avcessary recommendations can be made ADJUTANT GRYBRAL, port of the Adjatant General of the army shows tion and present strength of the army, the ed in each military department and dis umber of recruits enlisted and desert.ons . 1884, to September 20, 1807, and the ion of the colored troops, #6 the 20:n of September, 1867, the aggregate streugih of the army (oficers and mon) was 66,815; tue number of recruits, 34,191; aud desertions, 13,603. cruitipg service has been very successful, and men have been supphed as tast as needed. Tue greaily enlarged numbers of the army, and of the military po pees by it, render it necessary that some change shoald be made in the present systom of courts martal and of punisments, The organization of “companies of disciplins" is recommended. It is aiso recommended that, for the good of the service, thi term of enlistment be changed from three to five years. Jn the cavalry it ts Ove years, but the other arms of the service only enlist for throe. At the date of the last report 11,043 volunteers still remained in service, Toat number has been reduced, and now only 203 commissioned officers remain and no enlisted men, These officers are kept by tal acts Laeans retention of volunteers in Freodmen’s urea, The mustering and disbursing officers have all boon discontinued except at Albany, N. Y.; Philadelphia, Pa ; Colampus, Ohio; Loutavitle, Ky.; St. Louis, Mo, ; Santa Fé, New Mexico, and San Francisco, Cal, No appropria- tion is required fur the volunteer disbursing branch for the next year. Attention is called to the great number of desertions and the necessity for a change in the present system of courts martial and of punisimen: to abate the evil. I would recommend an iucroase of three assistant adjutants general. This would enable the assigement of ove to each of the major generals and brigadier gen- erals of the army, aud avoid the necessity of detaching officers from their legitimate duties to act as assistant adjutants geveraL 1 CRNERAL, INSPROTO! Doring the year there has been no change in the In- Spector Generai's Department, except that two of the Assistant Inspectors Geveral have been promoted from majors to loutenant colonels, under the provisions of the act of Con approved July 28, 1866, The num- ber of officors in this ich of the sorvice is too small to properly make the required special and stated in- spections, whereby many abuses and irregularities have crept into the service, The immediate organization of ‘an inspection department, composed of competent, ac- tive officors, is respectfully recommended to the atten- tion of the authorities THE CHISY OF THK BUREAU OF MILITARY JUETION reports that iu the Bureau of Military Justice, during the past year, 11,432 records of military courts were ro- ceived, reviewed and registered; 2,135-special reporis made as to the regularity of judicial proceedings, the pardon of milttary offenders, the remission or commuta- tion of sentences, and upon the miscellaneous subjects and questions of law referred for the opinion of the Bureau, The only change made in the conduct of the Bureau and tho status of its officers during the year has been in dotalling, by the order of the Secretary of War, of the Assistant Judgo Advocate General and four Judge Advocates for service at the headquarters, respectively, of the five military districts established by tho act of Congress of March 2, 1867. From official re- ports of the District Commanders and other communica- tons, it is believed that the services of these officers bave been of an important and valuable character. The satisfactory manner in which they are represented as having performed their duties, which have been both of an advisory and judicial character, is deemed especially to vindicate the policy of Vongress in rotainiog in tue army a sinail body of officera instructed tn miii and common law, by constituting the corps of Judgo Advo- cates a part of the permanent regular establishmeut. QUARTMRMASTER GENERA, The Quartermaster General submits full Mnancial statement and analysis of accounts tor the fiscal ycar ending June 40, 1667, showing that during the past yoar 11,150 accounts have been examined, amounting to $809,788,171, and of accouhts remaining to be examimed 1,544, amounting to $47,451,262, Sixteen thousand and eighty-six boraes and mules wore purches d during the year for the public service. ‘The sales of surplus or unserviceable animals during the ye mount to $265,572, The total sales of this character since the close of active hosillities in 1866 amount to $16,242,716, The supply of clothing and oquipage is 0 large that no purchase of these artuicies will bo necessary for the next yeai qT amount of clothing and equipage issued under the act of Congress approved July 866, to famiuies regdered houseless and desolate by the recent conilagra- ton in Portiand, Maine, 13 fully set forth in report, The fund of $1,000, known as the sheltering fund for the troops on th ns, hag been applied to the pur- poses for which it was intended. One thousand tenrporary buiidines have been sold dur- ing tho year for tue sum of $112,000, The ercetion of the fireproof warehouse in Philadelphia {3 in process of construction. The contract price for building it 1s $138,800. It will probably be ready for occupancy in December next, ihe Unvited Staies not owning any land at or near the city of Joffersonvil ., and DO Appropriation having ‘boon mado to purchase land asa site for the buildiogs, go stops have been taken to execute the provisions of rs jourth sretion of the act of Congress approved Feb- 6 ‘at that pl ‘here are JOS cemeteries in the United States In which are interred the bod os of United States sot one of these are known total number of United s teries is 251,827, of which 238,666 are interred iu the na- tional cemateries, Sevonty-six thousand two hundred and sixty-three bodies 7 cemeteries, which, wh numbor $28 090, Twenty thousat ight bandred and ‘sixty-one rebel prisouers of war bave been interred. The estimated cost for fencing the cometeries ts $709,000, ‘The amount already expended on cemeteries is estimated i $1,737,000, The toial cost of the cemeteries, when comploted, is estimated at $3,500,000, ‘On July 1, 1866, the Southern raliroads were indebted to the government to the amount of $6,570,074. June 30, 1847, this amount was reduced to $5,921,872, Tae number of troops and the quantity of snpplics trauspcried up to the 20th of September were as fol- lows:—Passengers, 73,196; animals, 7,194; public freigt, 306,576 tong, at a cost of $4,048,000. Daring the fiscal’ year there were presented 24,417 claims, amounting to $15,924, 764, of which 5,408 Claims were approved, amounting to. ...$5,440,041 6,513 claims wore not allowed, amounting to.. 3,613,866 12,496 claims are awaiting action, amouating to... sereteecseesesecersees $,870,855 seeeeses eee 613,024, 764 On the Ist of July, 1868, the organization of ‘the De- partwent cousisied o! 67 officers and 12 military store- keepers, (olai 7%, By the act, approved July 28, 1866, ent was reorganized, and now consists of 4 16 military storekeepers with the rank of captn, making a total of 92 Five Aasstant Quarter. masters General have been retired. The number of voiuntoor vificers in the Department has been reduced from 107 u Those remaining at the close of the year were fully employed upon important duties, It is found that the namber of officers of the Quarier- master’s Department, ag authorized by the act of July uthorizing the erection of freproof build- r in 23, 1866, is insutficiont to the prompt performance of the duties devolving upon them. It 13 therefore respect. f mmended that a portion of section thirteen of rm the act approved July 28, 1866, be ‘and that there be added ‘to the Guatartiesierre Depuetnens 60 Inaby assistant quartermasters, with the rank, pay and emoluments of captains of cavalry, as will raise the number of officers of that grade to hfty; and that the vacancies thereby created in tho grade of assistant quartermaster saail be filled by seleciion from those Persons who havo rendered meritorious sorvices in the Ttmilitary service of the United States as assistant quar- termasters of volunteers in the late war. All of the officers of the department are highly com- mended for the able, conscientious and faithful manner tm which they have all discharged the highly important duties devolving upon them in tho various details of business portaining to the Department, com! The Commissary Gei during the past yoar y have been procured in the usual manner, by advertising for pro iq im the larger markets of the country, Efforts bave been made with considerable success to ob- tain supplies frem tho producers and dealers establisned near the point of consumption. The completion and er- tension of the Union Pacific Railroad already afford great facilities for reaching and supplying distant oceupiea poste, heretofore supplied by trains of wagons at tal seasons of the year. Recent reports from the military division of the Pacific give assurances of success in the eiloris to supply the troops of that division with made on the coast. This article has heretofore sbipped from New York, Tobacco bas been supplied to the enlisted men of the army under the sixth section of the act of March 3, 1865, to the amount of $104,895. Subsistence to tne amount of $882,664 has been fur- nisved by this department for the fiscal yoar ending June 80, 1867, to freedmen and others under the pi aud authorized demands of the officers and agents of the Bureau of Refugees, men and Abandoned Landa, The total ‘cost of subsistence stores issued Or transtorred for the sudistence of Indians for the decal i= ending /nne 30, 1867, is $644,459, The penny ie eseuted a paid under 7 ine ; lution No, $6, aprroved July 25, 1866, up to Septem! 12, 186%, was 2.u09 udted to $116,187, The bum ber presented pase for payment under eettion tm Yo of the act of dara 2, 1967, was Gve, and amounted 0 ‘The vial number of claims received under the third section of the set approved July 4, 1864, ts amounting to $2,493,257; of which number thore have been oxam nod and approved 482, amounting to $146,149; oxamived und rejected, 1,981, amounting to $1,071,194; prans for Ngai action and decisiog 2,563, amounting to The uumbdor of claire examined and decitod since tho jast anoval report is 1,190, amounting to $480,436; Of which number there have been approved 248, amount~ ing 1, O42, amounting to $419,030. mont have ail performed ye All of the commisseries of Mibeistence of volunteers “fp out except Gee Ay od by on duty fa the Bureag { Freedmen av®@ Abandoned ioods, ; esis No appropriation havipg been made to meot the larco expendiures necessary to carry ovt the provisions of FeCl 25 of the act approved July 28, 1566, an order was issued perm!itiug Suliers to coutiaue to trade with troops until further orders, The law authorizing (ho appointment of commiasaries Of subsistence bavyiug expired, ‘tis suggested that it be recommended to Cou ste*s (> au horize the ral com> manding the arroy to appo ot from the lientenante of the Hine, on the recommendation of (ue Commissary General ot Sul C8, a8 Many essisinot cominisearies of sub- sistence as the service may wt bot to exceed thirty. two, wach officers to be paid $20.a'month In addition their proper pay and emoluments, but without loss of the fourth ration, and to hold their ap cancelled by their promotion to the grade of by order of the General, It ts algo suggesied that it would be highly boneficial ' to to the service could there ba commissioned offivers vo be called post commi-sary ser. eeants, 9 be selected and appointed az aro ordivence { reeamts, and to have the same ramk, pay and emvia- Menlé—the puaber HOt LO excood oas Lo each miliary thorized a grate of non. i ment and the regimental quartermasiera, Tho same should be required from assistant commissaries aa is required to be given by the tatt The additional pay would on'y be aliowed wh the duty of a: missary was performed, and they would never perform that duty at a post of leas than a (ull regiment when there was present either a commissary or a regimental quartermaster. 1 would recommend that mo appropriation be made to execute the requirements of section 25 of the act of Con- gress entitled ‘‘An act to increase and fix the military eace establishment of the United States,’ and that pub- lio resolution of Congreas No. 33, approved March 30, a 28 promulgated in general ordera, bo continucd in force, SURGEON GBNERAL. From the report of the surgeon General it will found that Of these, & of Asiatic cholera, in the month of June of the present year Asiatic cholera appeared among the troops at various points in the West and Northwost, and for a time tears of a wide- spread epidemic were entertained. Recent reports from the infected command show that the disease has aub- sided, or bas been eradicated by vigorous hygienic mea- sures. The valuable medical and mortuary records of this department were transferred to the fireproof building on Tenth street in December, 1866, During the year official evidence has beea furnished from these records of the death or discharge for disability in 55,500 cases. Four thousand and eight monthly reports of sick and ‘wounded, 315 special reports, 598 folio records of hos- pital records, 2,365 bu: and 1,262 hospital muster and re rolls have beon received during the year, The alphabetical registers of the-doad, as far as completed, contain the names of 244,747 white soldiers, 29,796 colored soidiera a! 204 rebel soldiers. In the division of surgical records tne histories of 45,551 wounded men have been traced out and enterod upon the permanent registers, The number thus en- tered now amounts to 207,941. Tho histories of the graver injuries, and of those cases in which important Operations were performed, are fully recorded. Fitty-nine thousand five hun and uineteen cases of wounds and operations occurring previous to the — system of registration and return of injuries we been compiled, and will be entered upon the per manent registera, The average annual stre! of white troops is repre- sented by the reports at 41, I The’ number taken on sick report for diseas:s, wounds and injuries, 122,131, an average of nearly three entries on sick report for each man, The mortality during the year was 1,527. The average annual strength of the colored troops, aa shown by the reports, is 6,561. The number taken on sick roport for disease, wounds and injuries was 19,694, an average of three entries on sick re) for each man, The toral number of white and soldiors dis- charged during the year on surgeons’ certificate of dis- ability is 618, The Army Medical Museum was removed to the bui!d- ing on Tenth street in April last, Eight thousand five bundred and forty-two specimens have becn catalogued, and a small appropriation will be required to continue and preserve this invaluabie collection, In September, 1867, a medical board was convened in Now York city for the examination of candidates for the position of assistant surgeons in the army and the pro- motion of assistant surgeons, which resuited in the ap- r and three pointment of forty-seven as assistant surgeons in the army, and the promotion of fourteen assistant surgeons, Of artificial legs, arms, &c,, there were issued during the past year, to wounded soldiers, (ene ‘The funds of the Medical and porien part. ment for the fiscal year euding June 30, 1867, consisted of a balance remaining the Treasury June 30, 1866... woe 5s $2,546,457 Amount issued by the Treasury in June, 1866, to disbursing olficers, but which bad not come to hand July 1, 1866....0.0.s.ee.-+0+ Balance of appropriation for artificial limbs 87,000 under act of July 16, 1803 640 Appropriation for the’ yea: 1867, by act ot July 13, 1866 500,000 Amount derived from the sale of plus hospital property 293,002 From boards of officers 827 For care of citizen patients in Unite Hospital at Louisvilie, Ky 1,270 Refunded from TO) lunded from approp : ie 446,139 $3,826,159 751,555 employés. For expense: purveying de) s 102,250 For artificial limbs for soldiers and 35,206 For care of sick soldiers ia 8,229 For miscellaneou: partment, 43.835 For mternal 2,133 Rofundment of amounts in the previous year. 125 ‘Transferred to the pay ‘ment of coutract surgeons. 200,000 Balance of appropriation for tarned into the surpins fuad..., 1 Batavce tn the treasury June 30, 1 2,909,615 Amount of previous disahowanci ted, proper vouchors being fu: Tn the hands of disbursing office Amonnt chargeable to disbursing susponded voi and correction Total. Deduct Total. . ASTER GENSRAL, The Paymaster eral reports that at the date of the Jast annual report there were 25 paymasters of the old establishment, and 58 additional paymasters, making total of 83. There have since been 35 ay din the permanent establishment, the complement authorized yy the ‘Act to reereaso and fix the military peace estab- shment,”’ approved July 28, 1866, making of regular pay masters created and now in service 60; reduction of additional pay masters during tbe discal year, 37, leaving euill Saget 21. Tota: of both ciasses now in ser- ation given in the last annual report of the necessity of continuing in service some of the additi The balance on hand at the beginning of the fiscal yoar of. . $23,941,899 Received from treasury and other sources during the year........ cesvee 94,033,053 Total. ..+ oe +. ++ + $58, 875,658 Accounted for as followa:— Disbursements to the regular army and the Military Academy,...... $14,399,243 Disbursements to voinuteers, 28,389,213 Requisitions canoelled..... 100.000 Amount retunded to treasury, i Amounts of paymesters’ balagces on deposit in Merchants’ National Bank at date of clos ing, not heretofore accounted for, 107,614 Unissued requisitions in treasury, 550,000 In hands of paymaziers........ 4,821,286 TOUR... es sseeeecseccseeee eeeetens oe $58,875,668 The total disbursements of each ciass during the Gscal rear is as follows:— Sloop 10,615,000 8,765, Total. . seteseereeess + $42,758,657 There have been received and Setsber 20, Tecorded 1867, 407,867 bounty claims under the act of Con; approved July 1 Of this number, 105,375 have been fully settied and disposed of expenditure of $9, CA ; $02,479 claims remain on to be settled. Thitly-one thousand claims for ordering bounty and arrears of pay have also been settled and disposed of witbia (be year at an expenditare of $3,363,203, Under the joint resolutions of the one ap- od March 30, 1867, and the July 19, 1867— 1,500,000 was appropriatod for expenditure in the 0 ilttary Districts of the South, this amount U has been drawn from the Treasury 1,454,729, leaving @ balance in the Treasury of ico balance 1, is to the credit of the Second Matiery District, CHIRY ENGINERR, ‘The corps of engineers consists of one hundred and seven officers and the battalion of engineer troo; Seventeen officers are on detached duty, serving on the staff of the Geveral of the army, the staffs of ti Mi military divisions general commending nd departments, at tho itary Academy, on Board, in th interior “Light-hoare and went. The remsinder are engaged under the orders of the Chief of Engin upon the permanent defences of the country, tho survoy of tho lakes, improvent of rivers and harbors and the surveys relating thereto, upon explorations, in the command and instruc. tion of the engineer troops, and in Rho charge of public buildings, grounds and works in Washingt’ The work of strevgthening the permanent defences of the country and of adapting them to receive more powerful armaments, has been continued during the past fiscal year, Experimental targets and other structures have been in the course of coustruction for the purpose of deter. the further modifications which seacoast defonce indergo iu view of the great power of modern ce, aud tho best and most economical manner of (rou a# shields or scarps, or in other modes, for h@ improved means of naval warfare and perations, or where the Increased strength re- juired can be secured by simple means, such as greater thickness of the earth covering, &o The headquarters of the engineer bat! with three coneegins, bare been establisbed at Wil eb | t 80) a deen fixed at Jettervon Ba a third pear tes | J San Francisco, with one company, tachment from the engineer battalion is at tne Academy, to aid in giving wetruction io practical ané a de. woe the dicipline and t{n- the enxineer recommended by the and appears to be required, hamayes y relating to reconnéiseances mercial aod i “tivers and. harbors,” have es ‘ogressed during the fiscal year in a satisfactory man- r. Tue maps of the country from the Mississippi to the | Uc, prepared chiefly from the first named surveys, | indispensable to the troops now occupying that re- gion, The explorations and surveys now iu progress and those in contemplation wil! contiuue to supply such wants, and to furuiah besides information of great | value to the country, The surveys for river and harpor improvements sup- ly the information essential for legisiation, as well as - se bd booger locates and sores ion CA re ross They should be contin: eapeci upon the ern | rivers, whero cree the channels and bars and others obstacles to navigation are constantly going on. — The survey of the lakes bas made satisfactory progress in the waters of Lakes Superior and Michigan, to which attention has been con for the most part to meat the demands of commerce now boing developed upon the borders of those waters, The report of the Chief of Engineers and accompany- ing papers contain all the inlormation required to by the of 1866 and 1887 making appropri- apd harbor improvements and Surveys, These works have boen carried on in a bighly satisfactory manne! Emoarrassments have boon experienced ia the exeou- tlon of the acts, moditioations of which aro suggested by the Chief of Engineers. A large number of detailed maps, intended to ilius- trate some of the principal cam; and batile fieids, have been prepared, and others are in course of prepara- tion, They contain tpformation not only useful for the Purposes intended, but bighly valuable in connection ‘with otber objects, military aud civil, The Chief of Eu- gineers reat bende aj jangmnorgen of $50,000 for the ‘engraving and printing of the most importaut, a recom- mendation waich is concurred in, ORDNANOE BUREAU. The expenditures of the Ordnance Bureau duri: past fiscal year were less than one-third of those the preceding yoar. They were applied chietly to work pre. viously begun and partially executed, to the setile- ment of war claims. Tho estimates for the next yoar are for defraying expenses of ordinary peace operations, and peers ch works as have authorized and di- rect law. The pl at the arsonala have been confined to the manufacture of iron gua carnages and implements for 2ea coast cannon and of articles required for issue to troopa, the reception, caro and preservation of ordnance ordnance stores, the breaking up of unserviceabio ammunition and the construction of authorized build- ings and other permanent improvements, The hired men employed at the arsenals bave been reduced from last year by about seventeon per cent, and the reduction is in further There were, at the end of the year, nine hundred and eighty-seven oniisted ordoance men omployed at the arsenals in guard, police and other military duties, and as mechanics and laborers in the workshops, magazines and iaboraiorics. A title to the propertyon Rook Isiand, Ill, having been acquired, the construction of the arsenal and armory at that place, in accordance with the act of Aprit 19, 1864, bas been carried forward rapidly, Tho estimate for continuing that work during the next fiscal year is in accordance with its character and desigo as authorized and dirocted by law. The conditions cou- nected with the riation in March last for the ero. Preys — at Island hevisa. petget eee fay railroad company, no pat aporopt ation has been expended. From correspondence and Degotiations with the railroad aay ny in reference to the guarantee required from them by the Appropriation -~ it is anderstood that the company will agree to pay and will satisfactorily guarantee the paymont of balf the cost of building the Tilages across the main channel of the Mississippi river and across the slough on the Illinois side, and is anxious to have the bridges built as goon as prac upon conditions, As (bere is some doubt whether the guarantee which the company is willing to give would (uilil the exact requirements of the law, this subject is recommended to be brought to the notice ef Congress for such further legislation as may be deemed and proper. It is vory desirable that necesaary the bridges should be built as soon as practicablo, mulated at the Southern arsenals, excepting one in Fiorida turned o' @ by the Freodmen’s Bureau, and one at Littio Rock, Arkaneas, occupied station, have been repossessed, and aro 001 tho Ordnaace Department. The build public property at these arsenals should decay and in oe preservation, and the estimates include the amount necessary for that purpose. ‘The arsenal at Augusta, Ga., from its position bealth- fulness, is peculiarly suitabie for a large arsenal of deposit, and its advantages in this respect should be made avail- able as it may be considered necessary und proper to store arms in the South, The establishment of an arsoual at a suitable point between the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, for suppiying troops serving in that region, is considered necessary, and an seynereiive for (bat purpose is recommended, Tne sale of the small arsenals at Rome, N. Y., Vergennes, Vt., and Liberty, Mo., which may Le soon abandoned without disadvact- age to the public service, is also recommended, as well as the coment the cn eo gar emonel tho aoe armory, and the powder works at August wi wore captured from the rebel cm har land and other property at Harper’s , formerly used for an armory, not now required by the Department, and their salo is recommended, if it be decided that it can be done under the goverament title. If not sold, it is suggested that it b> leased for a term of years. ‘Thero wore 23,083 Springfield rifle muskets converted into breech-loaders during the t fiscal year at ihe bo muskets, ware’ 3 and other kept from ordnanco national armory, and and .sabres were cleaned and ropaired thero, All the converted arms bhi beon issued to troops, aud nearly ali the infantry 1m the Departments of ihe Missouri and tbe Platte bave been armed with them. Monthly reports received trom the commanders of the companies so armed bave been highiy favorable to the arm, and furnish abundant evideuce of its excellence and fitness for the military service, The almost unani-« mous opinion expressed by the officers ia, that the musket is simple, eirong, pot lable to get out of order, id extremely accurate in firing. Nota single oificor ‘the opinion that the calibre (reduced from muzzie-loader) is too small, while a few have recommended a further reduction, arms have dono ,excelient service in an Indian campaign during the past summer; very few of thom have been reported as rendered unserviceable, and of these unserviceable through care- more were made lessness than from all other causes. 1868, the Sccretary of War directed the conversion of 25,000 eid ~rihe muskets into breech-load- ‘ Sprit ers, and the preparation of an adoquaie supply of proper ammunition. He afterward ordered the conversion of these arms to be co continued, without Gxing a limit as to number; and the work was carried on rapidly until August, 1867, when it was directed to be suspended, after 50,000 arms had aliored. That number is nearly completed, and there have been the requisite number of tools for converting about four hundred mus! which rate their conversion can be rest tice, It a confidentiy believed that no converted this country or in Europe bas been breech roduced juperior to the converted Springtield musket, altered at the armory, aud that none equal to it in rviceable qualities can be produced Jess cost, In view of the fact that the 50,000 converted muskets will very soon be issued to troops, leaving no breech-loading muskets on band in store, i is recommended that the conversion of (be Springdeld musket be resumed. The chief difficulties which have been interposed against the produciion of a good breech-loading musket by the Ordnance Department bave been the immediate claim of almost every improvement under some of tho many patents Wnich have been granted for improve. ments im firearms, and jthe extreme eagerness and strong ettorts of some inventors and others interested in patents to bave their particular inventions used in the government military service, There are many claims of patent rigbts im the methods used to convert the SpringSeld muskets, Sevoral partes, in some instanvea, claim to hold patents for tue same thing; and every im- provemeat, it is believed, is claimed by more than one inventor. The validity of such patent claims for the im- provements used athe national armory in con the musket bave not been acknowledged by the - nance Buzeau, which believes that the ‘course for the various claimants to tako is to establish their re- spective rights, and then apply to Congress for remuner- ation for their use by the government The cartridges for breech-loading arms are known ag ‘central fire,” about 7,000,000 of which have been fabricated. Extensive trials of them, made by troops and im proofs, resulted in an average faiiure of only one~ third of one per cent, ‘Smooth bore cannon of less than eight inches calibre deing ineffective against fron-clad war it bes been dotermined to supersede al! such now in sea- coast forts by those of heavier calibre, and by miled cam noo, A board of engineer, orduance and art specially appointed to consider the subject of arming the permanent forts, reported that 1,91 of the calibre of thirteen, fifteen smooth bores, and of ten and signing persons to desiroy public confidence in the beavy gun: vee have deen prot ded oe ena Departm: ou ? is subject, as also the en made to tost the durabilit rf innon, are stated more tail ia the report of the Chief of Ord. Xporiments have resuited in establishing cast iron cannon are tbe cheap- guns tbat are by any his is fully proved so far as the vy guns, and the same results to the rifles, so far as the teste hare y med prudent to enter upon the manufacture of these latter large extent without the previous trial of a greater number of these une, Since the delivery of the report of the Chief of Ora. ce that officor Las recsived auch information as to terially change his vi in regard to additional lation, whieh he thinks necessary to secure the rests of tho United States, before expendiag any monoy on the bridge at k Teland. we viows will bo submitted {u special report here. ir. iL COR! BIOwA! The Chief Signal Oftcer of rmy bas ge at course of tuiting im military signalling and telegraph: has been definitely established and commenced Potat; that the preliminary steps bave been ta’ Secure the arrangement upon similar plans, 80 far as is practioabie, of the studies of these d the Mili. tary and Naval Academies; that ® project for the eral communication of the army and nary, by mgnal onan We tase worvicee, ) been brought under con- jeration, that @ general order, publiah| for the equipment aod instraevien of ihe When these plans been authorized, ‘cellent condition of the institution, and bears am; testimony of its useful: They renew tho pa mendation made by the board of the previous year to increase the number of cadets, giving substanti iy, but pores more ly, the same arguments for the erease. They also recow. ad that the pay and emolu. poe ah 9 Grad Seatanentest sbould not be less than gadior Keneral, and give various strong reasons re ey be f say that “tbe con- Gnd increasing visits of official persons from country exact expendiiures je *” The erection of a idmg, for the preservation and safety of the records and archives of the acadomy, ts also reco mended, Congress to accomplish this and an additional ject, but it is found inadequate, a ropriation of titteen thousand doliars is asked for this year. Other recommendations are maade by thé Board, but for which no estimaies are sub- mitted by the tnspector, The inspector bears tberal testimony to tho unusual degree of interest and patience manifested by the Board to examine aad investigate all affairs, faults and errors of administration of the ution: aad be ‘tbat it will be the pleasure aud endeavor of the academic authorities to prodt by aud Carry out the views aud suggestions of the Board where no legal obstacies intervene. ‘The total estimate of military priations for tho fiscal year ending Jane Bo, 1869, is. $77,124,708 For office of the General of the army. . 6,000 For Adjutant Generai's office, recruiting ser- ip ioaener’ Goneral’s office. No appropri- For wilitary academ: + $146,305 For pay of cadets, de, ae 188,707 TOI. 0000 sssceseseeeerees sexe $335,012 For Bureau of hiflitary “Justice, No’ appro- priation, For Quartermaster General's Department. . . .$28,180,066 For ditto—deficiency estimate. . 18,600, For ditto—for contingencies... TOL... .ececeeeeeeeesste ce soos ee ceee s+ $4,780,060 oe ae Department. No appropri." For Medical Department. $15,000 For Pay ment, 22,412,068, For Engineer Bureaa, 10,628,769 For Ordnance Bureau. oe ++ 1,633, For Bureau Freedmon and Aban- doned Lands. No appropriation. For signal service...... be eeeees 27,000 The foreg estimates for the approaching Qscal year are taken from the estimato of tho different bureau Chiefs, without change of tne items. ‘They are based upon the expenditures of the current year, aud will probably exceed the amount which will be required. A Season of peace with the Indians on the Plains will of itself materially diminish the exppuditures of the army, rp ln al ® reduction in the number of evlisted mea jn 8 company. Attention may be attracted to the great increase of Appropriation for the bureays of the War Department asked for this year over the estimates of last year, and requires explanation, The expen es for the next fiscal year will necessarily be much below those for the pre- sent year, It will be observed that $13,500,000 of the Present estimate is to cover deficiency im appropriation of last year. The last ress made large appropria- tions for river and harbor improvements, for which no estimates were then made. The work having been ease: commenced under such authority, it is now ry to-make 1 estimates for its continuance. The ap- propriations the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, having been made during the existence of war, wero very large; {ar in excess of requirements after cessation of hostilities, This ieft a large balance, already appro- Priated, to commence the present fiscal year with, ani Teduced the estimate. No such balance will exist to commence the year 1868-9 with. The small rogu!ar army sustained by the United States prior to 1861 was kept well supplied with officers ed Gated atthe national Military Acadomy. Alter the bellion, howover, it was found necessary to increase this standing {roe about four fold, The war educated soldiers to fiil wel!, by judicious selections, this increase to the army, but not to keep up the supply. The origi- Bal vacancies created by this increaso of the army aro now filled, and appointments hereafter to fill vacancics Must goin at the foot of the army regist For this reason the time has passed, or soon will, when efficient volunteer soldiers, educated in the rebellion, will be willing to accept such positions; or, if willing, will be of ; an age making it unadvivable to accept them. While the army bas beon go much increased, no admission bi been made to the number ot cadets admitted to West Point, I would now respectfully recommend an facrease to the full number that can be accommodated without additional buildings. The present number of cadets is limited by the number of Representatives and Delegates iu the lower House of ress, and ten at large each year, appointed by the President, Four hundred cadets cal accommodated without increase of expense to the government further thao the pay to the additional number. The manner of maxing these appointments, I would suggest, sbould ba by adding three at large ad- ditional, to be appointed by the President, and by regard- ing a vacancy a8 existing in each Co sional district when the cadet representing it enters the second class. I would recommend the continuance for another year of the additioual pay allowed to officers of the army by the last Congress. ‘The 37th section of the act of July 28, 1866, appropri- ates $20,000 for the procurement of an equestrian stato o! Lieutenant Genoral Windeld Scott. It has beon found that tho work cannot be contracted for less than from three jdong hj eme 4 the appropriation; hence no Special report will be submitted hereafter of plans and estimates that have been prepared for the erection of new War Departmont buildings. By act of Congress the ten Southern States which have ho representation in the mational councils are divided into five military districts, cach commanded by aa offi cor of the army of not less rank than brigadier general. The powers of these commanders are both civil and mili- tary. So far as their miliiary duties aro concerned, they aro under the same subordination to tho Genoral of the Army and the Secretary of War that Department commanders are, In thelr civil capacity they are entirely indepondent of both the General and the Secretary, exe; in the matters of removals, appointmenis und detaits, whore the Goneral of the: has tbe same powers as have District Commanders, It is but fair to the District Com- mandera, however, to etate that, while they have been thas pendent in their civil duties, there has been one of them who would not yield toa positively expressed wish, im regard to any maitor of civil admin- istration, trom either of the officers placed over them by the constitution or acts of Congress, so long as that wish was in tho direction of a proper execution of the Jaw for the execution of which they alone are ra- sponsible, Tam pleased to say that the Commanders of the five Military Districts bave executed their ditlieult trust faithfully and without bias from any judgment of their own as to the merit or demerit of the iaw they were executing. FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT. comprises the Stato of Virginia, Brevet Major General J. M. Scho! commandivg. In assuming command, the principle was announced by Generai Schofield that the military power conterrei by act of Congress on the District Commander would be used only so far as was mecessary to accomplish the purposes for which the power was conferred. Tho civil government was in- terfered with only when necessary, and the wisdom of the policy has been demonstrated by the result, The instances of complaint of the action of the civil couris become exceedingly rare. Still, the evil which existed prior to the act of Congress o! March 2, 1867, though mitigated by the increased etfici- of civil officers, was not removed. It was an ovil in the jury system, apparent at all times and fully do- ve by the natural antagonism between loyalist avd rebol, or tho prejudice between white and black, exist- ing throughout the South since the rebellion. The first idea was to admit blacks on juries and prescribe a test of loyalty. But as tho requirement of a unanimous verdict must give very inadequate protection where strong pre- Jadice of class or caste existe, and as® military change of jury system would be but temporary, it was doter- tained to leave its change to the Convention soon to meet, and be content wine system of og Nome sions. Such commissioners were inted offl- cers of tho army and Freedmen’s for the differ- ent citios and counties of the State, with of jus- tices of the peace, while the State was divided into sub- districts, under commanders whose powers wero ulti- mately increased to those of Circuit Jadces, taking jur- isdlotion only in cases where civil authorities failed todo jusuce, The sysiom has given a large measure of pro- tection to all ¢ of ‘with sligut interference with the civil courts, ‘Since the publication of the act of March 23, elections have been suspended, Existing State, ¢: aad municipa) officers were continued in office. V: cies bave been flied by the Districts Commander. number of removals bas beea five, aud of appointments to Gil vacancies 105, Jo executing the registration @ board of officers was fret appointed to select registering officers, Tho selec. tions were mado with great care, and the Moors 90 90. jaty in Jected have, with few exeoptions, done their e most satisfactory manner, Care(ully Fy te Nye a were fou as ae 4 usiform tone for the boards made as apec isement si In pre. scribing thew the District Commauder controlled by the belief that tne law made him 1@ for ita cor. respons! rect interpretation, as weil as ite faith ful execution. Tho results of the Grat session of the reg boards One bun “yoo Were all received on September 15. Aftcon thousand aod sixty-eight whites, dred and one thousand three b two colored dred and w thirty-two colet ne 1866-67 (not quite complete) returns about ope hu dred ond thirty-six thonsand whive male adults and Sighty-seven thousand colored male adoliv, This indi. cates that the aumber of whites disfranchised, or who ‘© failed to register, is about nineteen thousand, and t mh reg may bo inferred that pearly all colored, not di ch ised, have The prioc pon which ¢ Apportionment was ade Was to give separate representations to the smail- et practicable subdivisions of the Stave, and where awe retmained Sony to 80 ie counties in 4 tion districts as to justly represont those portions is believed to be the fairest mode of apportioomeat practicable under the law. BRCOND MILITARY DISTRICT comprises the States of North Caroliaa fand South Caro- lina, Brevet Major General E. R. 8. Can’ Nein a jajor General Daniel BE. Oeeie, wee was origiaally assigned to the command of this rab, wi veved, and General Canby assigaed by order of the Presiden, In order to secures more efficient sdministration of Justice it was deemed necessary to place all Sheriffs and other municipal officers under the immediate contro! of ly ali sucha officers were and laws of Congress. Ono hundred and sevanty rogiss; rectncts w established ia Nora ta ee undred aud aine in South Carolina, Jo North Carolina there were registered 103,059 whites, and 71,657 blacks; and iu South Carolina, 45,733 ephe, aud 79,585 viacks. Regtsiration proceeded very ty on account of slowaess of communication wiia one pete of lt mone oo ae $64, » Of the appropriation ie eress 802 have Deen expeud.d, and outstanding Mabiliiies wil exceca the balance on baud $192,302. The present condition of the district Is 20 sat: 98 lo warrant the belief that after eiectioas the number Of military posts iy both States con be diminished, THIRD ADLATARY DISTRICT Comprises the States of Georgia, Viorida and Brevet Major General Jobo Pope ‘commandiag, On assuming command an order was issued by General Pope continuing ia office State ollicials, but forbidding their opposing the Kecoustruction acis; prokibting elections except under those acis aud giving notice tuat all vacaucios 10 civil offices would be Lied by the Dis trict Commander, Becoming satisfied subseq ently thas oftclaliy, by t ane , eee the order porsonally, yes DAE, Cacouraged papers oppose ing the Recoasiraciion acts, an order was issued (urbid- ding ollicial patronage to such rs, 1g consequence of the mot at Mobile an order was is- sued boiding city and county oficers reapousibie for the Preservation of at all public meotiugs, and re- quiring the United States wo them Whon called on. No disturbances have snco occurred, Under the laws of the State no colored person could be admitted to tue jury box; aud there was no surety of Justice to Union wen, to people trom the Norta (and es pecially ex- Union eoldiers), or to-volored persons, rom Juries mdamed with hosiiuty toward such classea, is @ vory large number of cases of wrong perpe ch juries in tue district on file, Accordingly an order was issued di mga Bourds jon, ‘ery few civit officers bave been removed, and thoze, im almost every case, were removed for refusing to com- ply with orders. Appointmonis to fill vacancies have Only been made where the daily business of the people nee peo of Georgia, Alabama eo State vers and Florida have been ordered to make no payments afier the ap- propriations of the present fiscal oe, bave expired, Save on warrants approved by the District Cominander, as ft ts believed that a new legisiatufe will not conticue or improve mapy of the appropriations made. In executing the registration {1 was deemed advisable that no oificer nor soldier of the United States should be employed, and accordingly each Hoard of Registration ‘was appointed trom among the ciizens living im the district, and to consist of two while men and one colored, A fixed sum was puid for regisioring each name, the average for the district being twenty-six cents Per bame. There were registered in Geo 95,214 whites and 93,457 colored; iu Alabama 74, whites and 90,350 lored, aud in Florida 11,180 whites and 15,357 colured. pee expended in registration, &c¢, bas been The appointment of delegates was made in for state Sevatorial districts, and in Alabama tone Gentative districts, fixed by an order. Polls were or- dered to be opened at each county seat. prises the States of Missipeipp! i} and Breve: ‘comprises ta Arkansas, is Major General KE O, C. Ord commanding. ‘The Reconstruction measures of Vongress are unpopu- lar with a majority of the white people, but their execu- tion has met with slight opposition, tue ignorant avd Jawiess, from whom some trouble was to be apprebend- ed, having been kept in order by the troops distributed through the States, The civil laws have not been interfered with when equally administered, except to remove from the civil courts cases of crime charged against persons who, being oppozed to the rebellion, had roasou to fear pre- judice, Also freedmea’s whore the courts were ipraetionli. closed againat them, and cases of horse steai- ing and violations of acts of Congress, (or all of which military commissions have been organized. ‘The officers of the Provisioual sinte Government have continued in office, except wbere they have failed to per- form their duties, It is ditficult to hud competent men who can quaiify to fill vacancies in civil offices, some of which aro, consequently, vacant, In consequence of the indisposition (ag manifested of late) of the civil authorities in Arkausas to take action in offences of an aggravated nature against freedmen, orders have been iasued for the trial of all such cases by military commission, and for =. action to be taken for the punishment of civil officers who fail to msue writs against oflenaers committing assaults, &c., ageines fecdmen, and prohibiting bail for the appearance of such criminals. The extension of suffrage to frecdmen has evidently iment of hostility to the colored race aud in many parts of the district which anu General 0:4 is convinced that a larger force ihan is now stationed tm those states 10 preserve orderfnd organize Conventions, will be required hereafter to protect tuem and secure the freedmen the use of the suflraga. 1a a majority of the counties of this District there are very few men who can take the test oath, and these are not disposed to defy public opinion by accepting office unless supported by a military force aiterward. The wilt of the colored peopic may be in favor of sup- porting loyal oflicehoid but their intelligence is pot Bow suflicient to epabie them to combine tor ‘he execu- tlom of their will. All their combinations are now com- ducied by white men under the protection of the mille tary; if the protection is withdrawn the white meu now controlling would withdraw with it, and some of the Southora peopie, now exasperated at what they deem the frecdmen’s presumption, wou'd not be very gentle toward them, so that the presence of a larger military force will be required for some tiae to maiatain the freedmen in the right of suffrage. FIFTN MILITARY DISTRICT comprises the States of Louisiana and Texas, Brevet Major General J. A. slower commanding, et been received irom General Mower, in time for the mesting of Congress, Boal . WhO Was OFigivally wa signed to the command of this district, was ri and General Hancock assigned by the orders of the Prositent. On tho decease of Brevet Major General Charles Griffin, designated as the ofticor next im rank to whom Goneral Sheridan should turn over the commend until Genera! Hancock assumed it, General Mower suc- ceeded to the command, Generals Sheridan and Sickles having been relieved betore period for submitting their annual reporta nono have been received fromthem. They have, howe ever, called on recently to submit reports, which may be expected before the meeting of ( ongres: The territory of the Wnited States not erabraced in the ~ five Military Districts 1s divided into muitary divisions / (they subdivided into depariments) and departments, MILITARY DIVISION OF TUR Muas URI, commandod by Lieutenant Gexeral W, T, Surman, em- braces the Departments of Dakota, the Piaite and the Missouri, commanded respectively by Brovet Major General A. H. hn 3 Brevet Major General C, C, Auger and Major General P. H. Sueridan. During the latter pari of the yea: 1866, the operations of this Command were embarrassed by the necessity of mustering out the volunteer tuat ped been organ- ized for the warof the revellion, before a su‘Rcient num- ber of regular troops could be raised nna forwarded to : ed, remote parts of the fronticr to replace tuem, fas winter of 1866-67 proved to be unprecaden eciy severe, so that it was a physical i panel ty to kecp open communica- tion with some of the most remote posta The garrison of Fort Phil Kearney, on Powder river, 223 miles distant from oh Fort Laramie, suffered severely from an attack made by Indians December 21, a and its escorts that bad been sent @ short distance tance from the fort to ure lumber, fa which Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. J. Fetserman and « detachment of ye ge men wero killed. In Docember other bands of hostile Indians made their appearance at Fort Buford, and ramora were received of tho massacre of the entire garrison. Ali communication being cut off by the severity of the weather, great anxiety was felt for the safety of the garrison for two mouths, when reports were received contradicting the capture of the post, oe ned of 1867 rumors were received from all quarters Ei @ senpen of Indian hostilities, Though many prov e rot tlona and attacks oo Pg On routes im creased to such an extent that it required tho utmoss activity on the part of the troops to keep open commual- cation with our torritories and protect working parties on the Important railroads now in process of construe- A village of the Cheyennes and Sioux, on Pawnee Fork, was burned April 19, as a puoishment for depre dations previously committed. t commanders visited the scenes of hostill- ties in person, and made wernt with the means at band to afford protection. ry have at times been Greatly ombarrassed by a disposition on the part of irre. sponsible ns to precipitate hostilities by false rumors sensation reports, Stace tue Indian Commision provided by 20, 1867, commenced ite Iabors, the operat! this subject, and also in efficion civil goveroment im the The following number of Sedg Colorado Territory, ‘Trains, weave ry 7 47; mialon, soe; reo, 11,006; / wo! $m } Gxen, 11,096; Rorses, 1,085; led animals, 048. . DSPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major General 0. H. Thomas commaniting, embraces the States of Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia Generat Thomas reports that with bis present fores be 10 hol fa abl ld in check the disloyal tend cies of the people, and to punish, if not prevent, ank ful procesdin, |, aithough there still r ‘to be desired in the way of protectiou to erty throughout bis command, outrages hot so prev. alent as firmeriy, Dut the (eeling of the poople is still hostile to the goveruinent, A small force is retained Heved that without it the | West Virginia, as it is be~ would not be linpartially | ex0cul In anticipation of tronble in Tennessee at the period of the August elections, \roopa were #o di as to bo able to render proper assisiance to the civil authori _ ties in suppressing riots or violence of any kind. « Tn department commander was di to tn per. fon t Mompbis, and to make the dispost “4 ee setorsak The bgp ory se] Passed olf quiotly, and the services hot required. ‘Trouble was again. ded as Neah~ Villo at the charter election in September, tak: precaut: & disturbance, cua! intrrtoas to ampoy the ope onl 6a Yon peace, not permit them to sides In polidyaa! ¢ ences, and to mobe from wy Boy oral io his preeeaco uj | tae ee ot a . commanding, om- braves, Une Gato, Thineiny Marbig aud Wi f tn tbls it have b: oupleyed ‘a eoning Wes fore ron Norsucra fromter, / i) 188 DEPARTMENT OF WasurxatoN, \’ Brevot Wajor Gqperal W. B Emory vommanding.