The New York Herald Newspaper, December 7, 1869, Page 8

WAR DEPARTMENT. Annual Report of the Seeretary, William W. Belknap. War Derantenr, } WaStinaTon Civy, Nov, 20, 1869, Ihave the honor to submit my report as Secretary of War, together with the regorts of the General of the Aimy and the Gifferent bureaus of the depart Ment mae since the last annual report. Itook charge of the effice on November 1, 1869, relioving the General ef the Army, who had with * marked zeal and ability performed 1% duties since the denih of Secretary John A, Rawiins, on Sepiem- ber 6, 1369, Of General Rawlins it can with trovh de said that the virtues of trae manhood character- ized his life as soldier, citizen and statesman, while on the records of the department will ever remain the evidences of his nigt honor, bis patriotism and his sagacions judgment. During the month of October the General of the Army was acting as Secretary of War, and the an- nual reports, which were by his direction addressed to the Ad)ntant General of the army, have been, with his own report, transmitted to me. As the duties of the Ofice were assumed but a few days prior to the Gave of this report few recommendations will be made at length, but the material matters of the re- Ports presented will be referred to as concisely as posaibie. : REPORT OP THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY. ‘This report gives a clear view of the administra, tion of the army and ts very full, both im the state- ment of its present condition and recommendations for its future organization, Its Importance 1g such that a synopsis cannot justiy be given, and it is sub- mivted with the following remarks:— ‘There are twelve departments and three districts, each under the command of a eneral oMicer, and the departmenis are formed into four military divi- mons, commanded by the four generals next in rane to tbe General of the Army. The regular army con- stats of five regiments of ariliery, ten of cavalry, twenty-five of infantry, the battalion of engineers and the corps of cadets, the latter undergoing in Struction at the Miltary Academy. AH the regi- ments are on daty, and the General refers to the manner tn which their work has been done, ander the exposure fo which they were subjected, a3 meriting the commendation of the country. In conformity with the act of July 23, 1866, and by the airection Of the Secretary of War, a board of officers prepared a new code o1 ‘the articles of war, which was, on February 1, 1898, trapsmitied to Congress. m of regulations was also compiled, both code aiations receiving the approval of the thea Genorai of the Army, aud on June 12, 1805, Secretary Bohoficid asked the adoption of the new articles of he repeal of S0 much of the actas directs “the existiog regulations to renain in force until Congress shall have acted on said report.” It is very desirable that Jegisiation be had enacting the rules and articies of War and approving the new rezulgtions. After the consolidation made in accordance with the act of March 3, 1869, there remained, on Novem- ber 1, 509 mnattached omicers, All of these have been assigned to duty excepuing 156, who are “await- orders.” reduction by itseems equitable and just made, that oilicers awaiting orders by t, and preierring that to active duty, claim for retention than those who applied for as Of this class there are 1s9 oMicers, Some of them, however, had special rea- sons for asking to be placed on the “awaiting orders’? lunent recognized, and which y fair that the consequences of reduc- 8 should fail proportionately on eavairy, artillery acd infancry, aud, sould Con- gress act in the matter 1t 18 proper that tius con- sideration should not be ove d. In ref- erence to tha question of Juction I concur With the report in recommend: at authority be given to retire a greacer number of ofMicers tor cause than is now allowed by law— m per cent of the ofMicers of the whole army. ‘The present maximum of the army js 522™4 en- listed nen. Relying on two-thiras for actnai service the number of men 1s 34,822, By the plan of organi- gation submitted In the report there Would be 42,659 men, Two-thirds for actual service would be 29,750 men, below which 1t would not be prudent to go, aa the necessities of the country and the great extent of terriory to be protected wii require every mau of that number, Section six of the act of March 3, 1869, provides, sThat until otherwise directed by law there shail be moO new appointments and no promouons in the Adjutant General's Department, in the Inspector General’s Department, in the bran og De- pariment, in the Commissary Devartment, in the Ordnance Department, in the Engineer Deparument ‘and in the Medical Department.” 1 recommend that the staff corps be retained at the standard fixed by the act of July 28, 1866, and that the clause pronibit- ing appointments and promotions be repealed, in order that vacancies may be flied as was tne prac- tice prior to the passage of the act of March 3, 1562. Although the army may be smaler than heretofore experience has shown that these oficers are as necessary for the smatier as the larger force, ‘rhe recommendations of the Geueral of the Army afto iis fucure organization are presenved for your consideration Without abridgment. He refers fully ¥o the reports of the heads of bureaus. Tae remarks made by myself as to these will be found embodied $n the abstracts of the reports hereinatver 1¢- ferred to. ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT. The Adjutant Geuerai submits a table of the “Organization of the Regular Army,” an exhibit of twe actual strength of the army and a statement of the position and distribution of woops. He recom- menuds a repeal of 80 much Of section «1x of the act of March 2, 1869, a8 prohibits further appolatment or promotion, leaving the organization of the Adjutant General’s Department as ii Was fixed by section ten, act of July 28, 1866, and also embodies in his report other recommendatioas, INSPECTION DEPARTMENT. The results of tue inspection service during the past year have been to discover and bring to the notice of the proper authorities the qualifications of ofiicers to fill the positions assiyned them; the con- dition of troops in regard to discipline, dni and efMiciency—whether duty has been neglected; laws, Tegulations or orders violated; pubiie property mis- applied, lost or wal niy destroyed; whether there have been extravagant or unvecessary expendiiures of public money, stores or material, and the fergonal responsibility for all srrezniarities and abuses, with suggestions for remedial action, he report shows that through the branch of the service, there nas been cow provement in the disetpiine and eilicteuc troops, the promotion of a more discrim- mating 4 fui regard (or tae econowical appli- cation of the public money and property. The number of mspectors now provided by law ts deemed insuiticieut for the requirements of ine ser- vice. An increase in the number of assistant im spectors general is thereiore recommended. BUREAU OF MILITARY J The Jadige Advocate General reports the number Of records of muilary Courts received, reviewed and Fegistered to be 14,944; number of spectral reports made, 1,352, This burean, in addition to its regular | duties, bas been charged with the duty of sysven - caily arranging and indeximg the tinportant State papers belonging to the offices of the | ©. Turner, Judge Advocate, and Brigadier Ge: L. ©. Baker, Provost Ma.shal, and the wi steadily progressing. Lists are alse ng prepared of the Ques and iorfeitures imposed by military courts, and of cases of remission of the QUANTERMASTR, RPARTMENT. The expeuses of the erinaster’s Department Guring the fiscal year ending June o9, 18¢9, were $21,965,154, a reductian of $14,600,000 below those of the preceding fiscal year. In February, 189%, tie number of civilians hired by this department exceeded 16, which has st been reduced to 4,000. Fi waudred ine offic ra have done quty In the Quartermaster's Department, in addition to the officer’ of that establisnment, eighty-four m number, “ihe report states that the clerical force of this office has been reduced 60 low by late legislation as to seriously retard the public bosiness, aud to pro- vide for tue se‘ement of accounts some Increase in the force is necessary. A buuding capabie of accommodating all the b reaus of the War Deparument, fire-proof and ee 4g much necded. exposed to destruction, and are 80 scattered as to Ampede and delay public business, The monthly rentai of puldings in Washington, aud lojs occupied by buildings owned by the United States, amounted to $4,204, being a yearly rental of $50,954. ‘Tho raliway companies, to which the military Faiiroad material of the Quartermaster's Depart: Was sold on credit at the end of the war, fheur Gent orieinally Of $7,601,406. Interést has increased fhid amount to $9,000,009, About one-half of which hax been paid; but some railroads being tn default, ani showing no dispostiion to meet their obliga- lions, suit has beeu lately ordered to be broughe against them. Hut few vessels have been owrled by this depart. meni during tie year. The raitoacs of the country, having declined to adhere to the war rates of transportation, have been paid during the fiseal year npun their general tarifm, With a classification of military supplies settied in conference at a convertion of generat Ireuiy agents. There have beep paid for water transporttion durmg the year $1,424,222, and for ratiroad trana- portation $2.2 4. Of this amount $95°,166 was paid to the Pacitic railroads, one-half bemg paid in cash, and the other huf retained in the ‘Treasury to meet the interest on the bonds guaran teed by the Upited Sietes. During the year 96,000 persona, 3,700 animals aod 62,000 tons or stores have been moved by water, and 60,000 persons, 14,000 ant- miis and 40,000 tons of srores by railroad; 27,000 tons of stores have beep moved vy contractors tor wacon transportation, The Pacilié Jailroad has occupied some of the principal routes of former wagon trans- portation, and has saved the goveriinent much mouey in supplying the posts sloug its line, Ly arrangement between the Lepartments of War and the Interior supplies for ine indian service are mow transported he Qnartermaster’s Vepartinent on rouves in the Judian Lerrilory, the actual copy ¢ @ Military records of great value are | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DEUVEMBER 7, 1869.~TRIPLE SHEET. ‘under the contracta, refunded to the War De- partment out of ape eres of $2,000,000 for the pactfleation of the Indians, granted April 10, Althot the amount of clothing and equt on hand arsine end of the war has been reduced b; sales and issues, there sull remains @ stock valu at over $42,000,000, The general depots have been reanced to four, and at ouly two of them is tere any large collection of matertal, viz, at the Schuyl- kill Arsenai, on the Delaware, and at Jetlersonville, on the Ohio. ‘This latter ig bemg drawn upon con- Stantly, but it sttli contains over $14,000,000 wortu of war material. ‘There are seventy-two national cemeteries and 313 local, post, or private cemeteries in which soldiers lie buried, ‘The titles of seventy-one of the national ceme es have been approved as perfect by the Atworney General. Three hundred and twenty-two thousand six hundred and seven interments are re- ported, of which 171,948 nave been identifed. Tue expenditure on this Work has been nearly $3,090,000, During the year 5,855 animais were purchased and 3,492 were sold, These latter produced the sum of $22,538, SUBSISTENCE DE?ARTMENT. Subsistence supplies for the army have been mainly procured in the large market cities of the country. The average cost of the ration at these markets bas beep about twenty-three cents. Etforts to procure sait meats on the Pacific coast for troops stationed there have met with great success, supplies of exceliont quaiity naving been obtained at favorable prices, Tobacco, at an average monthly value of $19,000, has been furnished to troops at cost prices, and the Freedmen’s Bureau has been sup- plied with stores to the value of nearly $250,000, most of which has already been paid for, and the remainder ts in process of refunding at the Treasury. ‘whe issues to Indigus at various points have amounted to more than $150,000, and at the request of the Interior Department stores valued at $37,500 Tang ment betr ce the War Department and the ement between ‘ 4 Indian De. Departaient of the Interior, the I= partiuent ig being furnished with food for the Indians on several reservations on te Missouri river and the ladian territory. The ration 8o furnished is prescribed or approved by the Inte- rior department, and its value 18 to be repaid from appropriations made by section 4 of the act of April 10, 1809, ‘Phere has been paid $27,621 a8 commutation of rationsto Union soldiers while prisoners of war. Claims for supplies furnished the army during the war, amounting to $2,899,306 have been received, of Which $288,083 nave been aliowed and $2,581,064 have been rejected, During the fiscai year 11,907 accounts and returns have been received from various officers, of which 11,787 have been examined and referred to the Third Auditor for final setuiement, ‘pe Subsistence Department has lost an honorable and excellent officer by the death, vy assassination, of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. G. Crane, commis- sary Of subsistence, at Jackson, Mis3., June 3, 1869. A change in the army ration by extending the variety of articies, increasing some and diminishing others, and also in the manner of disposing of tne savings in soldiers’ messes and bakeries, would be of advantage to the service, I unite with the Commussary General in recom- mending that the proviso to section two, act of March 2, 1867, be repealed. This wlll allow oflcers of the line, waen acting a8 assistant commissaries of subsistence, to receive twenty dollars per month in aadition to their pay in place of the sum of twenty doliars less one ration per day, now allowed, MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, The current expenditures of the Medical Depart- ment during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1469, were $233,501; the totai aaa, of that depart- ment, including “war debts” and “refundmenta,” Was $708,505, ani the avaliable balance on hand at tho close of the year was $1,792,050, ‘The health of the troops has been good. Yellow fever has appeared at hey West only, and at this point there were forty-three casea and twenty-one Geaths; but by tbe prompt removal of the truops w & new station the ravages Of the disease were at once stopped. ‘The total number of cases on the sick list during the year Was 104,235. The average umber constantly on sick report Was 2,367, or about 6.5 per cent. ‘The number of deaths was 548, of dis- charges for disability 1,128. ‘The first volume of the Medical and Surgical His- tory of the War 18 being printed. ‘The number of commissioned medical officers for duty on June 20, 1969, wag 161, being an average of one medical oifcer to 204 men. ‘The number of poste was 239, besides detachments and outposts, There are now two vacancies of surgeons and forty- two of assistant surgeons 1a tho medical corps. ‘The experience of the past three years has shown that the present organization of the medical staif is satisfactory; but that, even were ali the vacancies in it Mled, 1t would still be barely adequate to the demands made upon it. PAY DEPARTMENT. The Paymaster General presents the following summary exipbits— Balance in hahds of paymasters at the be- gynning of the fiscal year July 1, 1568... $5,931,573 Received from the Treasury during the fiscal year..... seeceseeeseceseceeeees 36,245,000 Received by paymasters from other sources, exclusive of sums tranterred AMON MEWSCIVES...... 0... eereeeeeneee Total to be accounted for. Accounted for as follows:— Disbursements to the reguiar army. ......$18,678,250 Disoursements to tho Miltary Academy.. 185,258 Disoursements to volunteers (buck pay aad DOUDEES)... 0000 es seeceeees 19,018,635 eee e eens G42 ab 170 Total disbursements...... + $38,782,144 Amonnt rejunded to Treasury....,.......+ 48,948 Balance in hands of paymasiers Jane 20, 1869. eee eeeeeeeeeeeeee 3,633,077 PERU RAAEE eek So $42,403,770 At the date of the last annu ere still re- mained in service eignteen additional (volunteer) paymasters retataed for the payment of bounties to qacharged volunteer soldiers, Congress, by an act approved March 3, 1969, au- thorized and directed the transfer from this oilice to the Second Auditor of the Treasury of ail addiuonal pounty claims pending and unsettied on the first aay of May following. After that transier was ac- comipiisied 1¢ became practicable to dispense with the services of additional paymasters, aud they were accordingly honorably discharged. There remain pow in service only tuo sixty regu- lar paymasters authorized by the act for tne reorganization of the army, passed July 28, 1803, This force cannot with safety be subjected to much reduction while the aumber of nulitary siations shail remam as at present, ‘The Paymaster General states that ne is confirmea in the opinion that no system can be devised which, equal to the present one, can oe made to combine the advantages of prompt payment to the troops, tle safety Of the pub'ic money, an accurate and imme- diate accountability, with the slightest possible lia- bility to embezziement or defaication, aud with the least cost to the government. The disbursements for reconstruction purposes are $2,615,203, and the balance tn haods of paymasters Uctover 2, 186%, are $110,643. In accordance with the requirements of law, all claims for the additional bounties granted oy the act of July 28 remaining in the Paymaster General's office unsettled on the ist of May last were trans- ferred to the Second Auditor of the Treasury for settlement. Of the votal muimber (441,95¥) received there were examined aad settled by tie Pay Depart- ment , leaving for transfer to the Auditor but 1,351 es, of which the major part had been e<aim- tned aud determined, but not yet paid, for want of receipted vouchers from the claimants. The total ount d.sbars by the Pay Depart- ment for additional bounties, Including those set. tied by the Second Anditor and paid by the deparc- ment on Treasury certiicates trom tue begining to the sth June iast, 18 $67,220,150. ENGINEER DRPARTME! 7v eport of the Chief of Engineers gives a de- talied account of the operations of the Engineer De- parument, aud of the means required to execute cue duties devolved upon it. The officers of the Corps of Engineers, aided by details from other arms of the service and a muimber of clvii engineers, have been engaged upon the permanent national de- fenses, survey Of the lakes, river and harbor tm- provements, @xplorations and surveys, command and instruction of engineer troops, aid in charge of public baidinga, grounds and works in the District of Columbia, ‘Twenty-two oilicers of the corps have been doing duty in the several military divisions, de- partments and districts, in the lighthouse establiah- ment, and as instructors at the Military Academy, Work bas been continued on the permanent de- fences to the extent permitted by the small bainnces remaining of old appropriations, These have peen exhausied for the most part duriug the year, and the works have consequently been cloged up, Pxpertioenes and triais have been made with iron and other materials with @ view to their application in the defences, and trial haa been made of a de- ascending gun carriage for use in barbette batteries, Methods of modliying and improving our existing | Gefences have boen determined on, the introduction | Of important auxiliary elements of defence is pro- poved, aud Congress will be called upon to make ap- propriations, moderate in amount compared to the Importance of the object, for the purpose of appiy- Jng these changes, us soon as practicable, to the de- fensive works of several of our large seaport citios. ‘The baitalion of engineers maintains 1s eMciency ip drill and digcipline and tn the duces of ita special arm. The engineer depots for the collection and Storage Of poutoon trains and other engineer equip~ ments have been well advanced towards completiou, The river and harbor works have progressed as rapidly ag the means appropriated for their execu- tion allowed. The appropriation tn April last of $2,000,000 for these works waa distribated, In ace | cordance with the law, sos best to subserve the interests of commerce, The information respecting these improvements, | wh the Secretary of War wm required by | the several acts pon the subject to submit to | Congress, will be found ia the accompanying report of the Onief of Engincers, The survey of northern aad northwestern lakes has progressed commensnrately with the amounts appropriated for conducting it.” Toe Lake Superior | survey is drawing to completion, Ic has developed | many new harbors of refuge and made known daa- gers to navigation highly important to the commer- Clal interests of the States depeudent upon this water line of communication ior the transportation of cereals and ores. Reconnoissances and geographical and geolo- gical explorations surveys have been con- tinued during the year in the territory weat of the Mississippi river, and the information thus ob- talned is supplied to the troops occupying that #ec- don of the country. * ‘The survey of the Colorado of the West has not, for special reasons, been resumed. Coliattera! surveva now tn progress “er furnish evidence of the nec sity of the survey the upper portions of the river, and of the improvement of the lower portion as a | itself, line of military supply and of travel and transporta- Nevada, tion ‘rom the mines of Southern The i | survey just com} i from the sierra Nev la to the Moun! fe fruttful im valuable results, espectally in relation to the mining regions and to the extent of the coal formation. 1 aiso furnishes other scientific data of great interest, ‘ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT. ‘The fiscal affairs of the Ordnance ‘Nepartment furies the year ending June 30, 1869, were as fol- low a:— Amount avatlable from all sources. Expenditures since June 30, 1868 . Turned into surplus fund.... “i In Treasury, not credited to appropria- MO eaesrnrnsehaent Seeeceat 400,700 In depositories, to credit of aisbursing officers, June 30, 1859... . +, 425,529 In Treasury on June 2), 1869... . 18,389,206 ‘The expenditures of the department during the year included over $600,000 for war claims and about $32,000 for cartridges made for the Navy Department and not yet paid for, Liberty Arsenal, Missouri, has been sold during the year under authority of the act of July 25, 1805, and reatized the sum of $8,012 The St Lous Arsenal will be sold under the same act as soon as it cag be spared, but certain build) thereat should be reserved from sale and devoted to eral army purposes. The sale of the Hi wa Ferry Armory roperty wilt take place on rl mguseed 80, 1869. Rome Arsenal, New York; Champ! Arsenal, Ver- mont; Mount Vernon Arsenal, Alabama; -Appaiacht- cola Arsenal, Flortda, and North Carolina North Carolina, are recommended to It advisible that this should be done, and that the captured Jands in Shreveport, La., and Marshall and Jefferson, Texas, and in eter Hat Behe counties, Texas, shouid be simi- larly disposed of, A principal arsenal of construction and deposit and 8 powder depot are recommended to be estab- shed on the Atlantic «nd Pacific coasts, and in the valley of the Mississ!ppr. The gale of some of te Present Eastern arsenals Is suggested 68a means to raise junds wherewith to blish Bee ae pal arsenal for the Atlantic coast. Rock Island is the pepo thy for the principal arsenal for the vailey of the ppl. Powder depots should be estab- shed = on the Atiantio and Pacitic coasts, to be paid for out of the unexpended balance of the appropriations for the purchase of gunpowder and lead. Jeiferson Barracks reservation answers for the depot for the Mississippi valley. Some more buildings are required at this latter place and are recommended to be paid for out of the procecas of the sale of the St. Louis Arsenal. ‘The enlisted force of the department has been re- duced from 1,500 to 750, There are sixty-one officers and fourteen ordnance storekeepers in the depart ment, and of these officers six are on detached duty. ‘The operations at Springfleld Armory have been confined to the preparation of machinery and too!s for converting the Springfleld rified muskets into breech-loaders upon the pian recommended by the Ordnance Board of 1963, to the conversion of a smail Dumber under the ordefs of the Secretary of War for 50,000 and to cleaning Enileld muskets for sale. ‘The cavalry have been supplied with Speacer car- bines altered to use the musket metallic ammunition. The infantry, heavy artillery and engineers lave been armed with the Springfield breech-ioading rifed musket, All these arms have give: great satisfaction, SIGNAL SERVICE. Tnstraction has continued in the several mill- tary departments during the year, the purpose being to so diffuse @ knowledge of the service and distribute apparatus that every officer may have such information of the duty as may suflice, in case of emergency, to save iife in or prevent disaster to his command. The signal service has been brought ino active use in operations against Indians on the ns, ; ‘The courses at the military and naval academies have been pursued asin the preceding year. Tne drill embracing that of the Meld electric telegraph and flag stations in the fleld, at West Point, before the Board of Visitors, received their commendation, and all the duties of send ing messages by signals or by telegraph were performed by tue cadets. Fort Whipple has been maintained as a post of practice, instruction and experiment in the duties of the signal service. The force matt ained cousti- tutes a nucleus of organizauion for any emergency. The organization and development of the fleid telegraph has received espectai attention, and con- tinued tests have been made with portaple lines, such are used with trains in the fleld. The fielu telegraph trains are organized in a military form, which requires all movements to be executed at the word of command, An object nas been to provide a train so equipped and organized as to enable four portable lines carried in it to be erected simulta- neously at about ue rate of three iniles an hour. FREEDMAN’S BUREAU. The operations of this bureau have beén closed, except the education and bounty atvisions, and two hospitals for freedmen. The num- ber of officers, agents and cierks has been reduced from 901 to 158, No furtuer reduction is practicable #0 Jong as the present operations shall continue. The bureau has had under its care, up to June 30, 1869, 584,178 persons. Al! the hospitals but twe have now been closed or transferred to civil autvorities, and one of the remaining two ts abont being closed, ‘Lhere will then retaain but one, which is located in the District of Columbia, and cannot be dispensed with at present. The general average during the whole period of the existence of the bureau shows that about ove in two hundred, or one-half of one per cent of the freed people have been supported by the govern- ment. ‘The freedmen were advised to make written con- tracts with their employers and have the same ox- plainea and approved by & bureau officer. In a sin- gie State more than 50,000 such contracts were made. ‘the iabor of the freeamen has produced nearly all the food consumed in the South, besides large amounts of rice, Sugar and tobacco for expor- tation and about 2,000,000 bales of cotion per year, on Which were paid into the United States Treasury during the years 1866 and 1867 taxes amounting to More than $49,000,000. Much diseppointinent and tilfeeling was caused by the failure of the original plan to lease or sell the abandoned lands m small tracts to refugees and ireedmen. Information has been published respect- ing lands under the Homestead act of June 21, 1866, and gome aid given to those who destred to eater them. Attention is beginning to turn in that direc- tion, and about 4,000 families have already made entries ana obtained homes of theirown. Lia few instances frecdmen have united in the purchase of farms under cultivation, ‘They are very anxious to become land owners, and the possession of lands re homes ts one of the chief means of their eleva- on. But the most urgent want 1s education, and more attention bas been paki to this than to any other subject. Ineach State at least one normal school has been organized, Severa! ciariered coileges for freed people are in operation, also & university, in the District of Colambia. In_ the 2,128 schools under the care of the bureau and officially reported, the number of teachers em- ployed 19 2,455, aud the number of pupils is 114,522. Adding those estimated in private and Sabbath schools, the number under instruction of some kind daring the last yoar 18 not less than 250,000. The freed people are doing witat they can for thelr own education, having durmg@ the last year paid for Soo and the cousiruction of butidings about 200,000, ‘The whole amount of bounties paid since April 17, 1867, When the first Treasury certificate was received, 44 $5,851,417. The balance on deposit now due to claimants 18 $1,220,008, Three thousand turee hundred and eleven applications jor bounty are now under examimation im this otfiice, aud 18,000 such claims are now on file in the Second A 3 oliice awaiting settiement, and it is believed that about 25 claims of this kind remain to be presented. paying bounties ts therefore not yet comp: 5 believed that the system now in operation suouid outiuued, The treedmen have been protected as far as pos- sible from imjusiuce, The means adopied have been conformed to the wants of the dinevent com- munities, ‘The expenses of the bureau were mot the first year with the proceeds of rents, sales of crops, school taxes and tuition, and sale of “Confederate states’? property. The amount received irom all these miscellaneous sources was $1,805,645, und from appropriations by Congress since’ July, 1466 $11,984,750, making @ tolal of $12,950,305 received from all sourcea, Phe expenditures, including the accounts of the ‘“Departinent of Negro Affairs,’ from June 1, 1565, to August 31, 1560, have been $11,104,025, In addition to this, subsistence, medical supplies and quartermaster supplies were expended amount ing in cash to $2,330,758, but whose real value, when trausferred to the bureau, was probably Jess than $1,000,000, Adding their original cost vo the casa expended the total expenses of the bureau have been $15,624,816, Attention Is called to the recommendation of the report that the hospital in thts district pe continued @ud that the payment of bounties be Fontinue this or some other agency, until all shoald Lave a reasonable lime to present thelr claims. MILITARY ACADEMY. ‘The report of the Board of Visivors to the Military Academy jor the present year ig one of unusual in. portance aud interest. Tho condition ot affairs gen- eraliy was found to be all that could be aesired or expected under the present organization of the Qcademy, but the organization itself, which haa re- mained unchanged since the days when the.army ‘Was but 10,000 #irong and the nation was very far below its present size and Importance amony other Nations, is deciared to bo madequate to meet the future demands of the country, and a reorganization according!y recomiended:—Lhe tustitation to bo greauy enlarge: the number of cadets greatly in- creased, tite standard of admission to be raised, and the cadets to be divided into two classea—one ‘par. suing au ordinary course of milltary (nstraction and Its members returned to civil life upon graduation, to spread a knowledgo of tne military art through. out the lands and supply trained Officers for the emergencies of war; the other, selected from te promising members of the former ciass, and equalia number only to the yearly wants of the army, to pur- sue their studies ana practice to the very limits of Miliiary science, These recommendations are reviewed by the in- Apector of the Military Academy, wlio duos not ad Viso, any present Chlargement of the academy bat recommends an increase of the caders to 490, @ number which the academy can accommodate without eniargemeont, and which the army will probably be Abie to absorb as last aa they gradnate; & being but two-filtas larger than the now wutnorized number, while the army has more than doubled in tue mean time, Upon the question of raiming the standard of admission, 0 remarks that overy addition to the list of prepara- tory qualifications necessarliy restricts the circle from which cadets can be drawn, and that the pro- Sent list embraces all the styainments that can be ve, and it optained by a very} ‘Majority of the youth of the country. Bince the standard was raised by law, in 1866, the rejections for want of the necessary educa- tional uirements bave increased from fifteen per cent to twenty-seven per cent, As @ subatl- tute for the other recommendations of the board, the inspector -propose® schools of application for the several arms,@such a8 exist in Kurope and hayg always been favored a military officers here, acd the nuclet for two of which ts to be found In the artillery school at Fort Monroe, and one of the three engineer depots already established. Le gives vari- ous reasons for his Rropceson, rincipal among them the ready ana economical application of facill- ties already at hand, and the fa ape indueucd upon the cadets of # long residence unchang- ing Meanes and unvarying modes of life, study and iscipline, % ‘The eatimates for the support of the Academy during the ning dscal year amount to $332,264, of of which $212,019 19 for pay aud allowances of in- structors and cadets, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI. This division, commanded by Lieutenant General Sheridan, embraces the departments of Dacotah, the Platte and the Missouri, commanded respectively by Major General W. S. Hancock, Brevet Major General Augur and Brevet Major General Scnotiela. ‘These three departments cover a territory of great extent, in which most of the civilized, semi-civilized. and wild Indians abide, and include the States of Illinois, fowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Min- nesoLa, and the Territories of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyo Utab, Dacotah, Montana and the Indian, fhe administration of these departments has been ably and economically conducted, but the number of troops pow on duty in taem is deemed insuilicient, with the present reduced® strength of companies, to ere i the sobs bean wi depredation: Although there have been numerous 8 in this division, the condition of Indian ailaire ie very much betier than jast year. The policy of re- servations adopted by the Indian Department ts, in it of General Sheridan, the cn the jud; that put an end to Indian murd Frain ep effort is earn ‘3 tyre the eeyon’ of punishing the savages, w! strong vhat they suay wettle down on their reservaions and well; ment intends be should, and can have no plea of bad faith to urge as an excuse jor a return to his former habits. ‘fhe troops at the different posta throughout this division are quarered comfortably. Tue expenses of the coming year Will be much less than for the past ° A detailed report of the military operations in the Department of the Missouri accompanies the annual report of General Sher.dan, and covers the opera- ons of troops up to the pth of October, embracing many combats, in whivif the number of Indians killed was ninety-two, Dumber wounded unknown; number of soldiers Killed six, and wounded ten; number of civilians—men, women and childrea— murdered by the Indians was seventy-nine, and nine wounded, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE SOUTH. This division, under the command of Major Gene- ral Halleck since the 17th June last, is bel peal of tue departments of tue Camberiland, of Louisiana, of Mississippi and of the South, commanded respect- ively by Brevet Major General Cooke, Brevet Major Geaeral Mower, Brevet Major General Ames and Brevet Major General Terry, and includes the Staves of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Fiorida, Georgia aud North and South Carolina, The principal occupation of the troops in this division has been in assisting revenue officerg to exe- cute the revenue laws; assisting United States mar- shais in executing-the process of the United States courts; in enforcing the laws relative to the civil rights of freedmen, and all laws for the protection of Mise and property. . ‘the elections in Kentucky apd Tennessee passed off without any unusual disturbances, ‘The discipime of the troops in this division 1s as good as could be expected with the changes lacident to the reorganization and consolidation of regi- ments, Supplies, except clotiung, have been satis- facvory and at reasonabie prices. The general ad- ministration of the division has been conducted with the strictest economy. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ATLANTIC. This division formerly consisted of the depart- ments of the Kass, the Lakes and of Washington, under command of Major General Hancock. Subse- quently Major General Meade was placed in com- mand, the department of Washington broken up and attached to the Department of the East, and the First military district incorported in the division, which now embraces the Staves of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin, the New Eng! 5 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virgiuia aad tae District of Columbia. in the Deparunent of the Bast and the Lakes the duties have been principaily the charge and care of the sea coast and lake frontier delences, and the revention of any attempt to violate neutrality jaws, and in one lmstance in sustaiuing the United Slates Civil authorities in matiers pending before the courts. in the first military district the troops, under the direction of the department commander, have been engaged in preserving public order end in executing the reconstruction laws of Congress. ‘The discipline and condition of the troops are re- ported by the division commander to be gcod. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE PACIFIC. This division, waich has been commanded by Major General Thomas since the 1st of June last, comprises the departments of California, Columbia and of Alaska, commanded respectively by brevet Major Goneral Ord, Brevet Major General Oroox and Brevet Major General Davis, ‘Tue report of General Thomas gives detalls of mill- tary operations against hostue Indians in Arizona and measures sor the protection of the Chinese pop- ulation from apprehended assaults in the State of Nevada. A personal ispection of the ter part of the territory embraced in nis division was made by General Thomas, and the frutta of his observations are embodied im his report, which is of @ character go interesting and valuable as to make an abstract of it bere undesirable. His secommendstion that the seal islands of Alaska, St, Paui and St. George be sold, being based on substantial reasons, shouid, in my opinion, be carried out. FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT, This district compres the State of Virginia, and Was at the date of tie last annual report com- manded by Geveral Stoneman, Who was succeeded by Brevet Major General Canby. On the 1st of Uctover the number of troops tn this disirict was 186 oMcers and 1,475 enlisted men; tne present effective strength of the command tis ninety- nine officers and 1,077 enlisted men, of which thirty- one officers and 427 enlisted men are on duty at the artillery school; thirty-iive officers and 640 énlisted men with the Seventeenth regiment of in- fantry, and thirty-three ofiicers and ten en- liste wen are on duty whih military commissions and other reconstruction daty, If the companies of the Seventeenth infantry are Mlied to the maximum by recruiting no increase in the force in this district will be necessary. The total numer of civil officers in the State affected by the joint resolution of February 19, 1809, Was 6,061, and of thig number only 8556 were found in ofiice who could qualify under the law of July 2, 1562, leaving 4,176 appoinuments to be made, To the ist of Octoner last 3,070 have been made, and of these 708 have declined, resigned, been re- moved, of have failed to quaiify; leaving 2,332 now 1a oilice, and 2,814 vacancies, ‘The oificers Who served iu the State prior to Gen- eral Canby’s assumption of the command, and who are more Or less acquainted with (he peopie, were nearly all transferred to other stations, and were replaced, to @ limited extent, by othera who were outire strangers, and tv was not until about the ist Jane Uhat a suficfent number had reported to enable the re-establishment of the divisions as wey had previously existed, and thus secure assistance in making selections of persons to be ap- pointed, and in asceriaining whether they were willing to accept and could qualify Uf appointed. It was diiticult to find sultaoie persons willing to accept offices the duties of which yielded no com- pensation aud interfered with their ordinary busi. ness, and embarrassment was occasioned by the J and politica: pressure brought to bear upon native Virginians who were suggested or reoom- mended for an ofiice that involved tie necessity of taking the oath prescrived by the law of July 2, 1362, However, with ouc few exceptions, the county organization is so far Completed us to be in working condition, The registrauon of 1597 was 121,271 white, and 106,105 cored, @ total of 927,327. ‘The reg- istration Of 1869 Was 149,781 white and 120,103 covwred ; total, 268,554—an Increase of 28,510 pi and 15,998 colored voters; total increase, 2,508. 7 ‘Lhe election is this district passed off very quietly and probably with fewer incidents of disorder than * usial on public days. The general result is as follows r ‘Total nnmber registerea. ++. 260,884 Whole numoer voting.... 22,349 Number regisiered but not voting.... 47,636 The amonnt of funds appropriated for recon- struction purposes and remaining in the hands of the paymaster October 1, 1868, Received during the year ending Septeuiber 80, 1960.... 464. sees 166,714 TOtAl. .. +. sess seee see seseeceee eee ee $180,007 Pa ae during the year ending September Balance on hand October 1, 1869. « $98,164 ‘The auount required in addition palace on hand October 1, 1869, for payment of outstanding depdis and current expenses is $65,000. FOURTH MILITARY DISTRICT. Thts district has been commanded by Brevet Major General Ames since March 17, 1869, and comprises the State of Mississippi. Tue Sixteenth infantry mai us the iy military organization on duty ere, The employment of troopa beyond the ordinary routine of duty has been confined to expedifions tor the purpose of arresting Lawless characiers guilty of murder or other serious offences. Supported by public opinion a few men, in defiance of the law, commit murders and outrages, and civil oficers are unequal to the task of bringing them to justice, Guaraed and protected by their neighbors ther arrest becomes very diMcult, and the assistance of troops i demanded. Ihe parties injured or thoir friends rarely undertake to aid the civil or military authoritios, and if so, hesitatingly and secretly, ‘The cases are not numerous Where violence has been offered the reguiarly constituted authorities, And in those instances the acts were committed gen- erally by individuals who, nevertheless, were secreted and sintelded by the le, ‘One of the most deliberate and cold-blooded oases the Kind wus the murder in the streets of Jackson of Brovet Lisurenans Colonel J. G, Orane, obief com- mussary of ‘The report atthe present time, on the eve of Bh sloceon, the disturbances sre Increasing in number, and, if possibie, more serious in char- acter. On the 27th April last General Ames, by general order, authorized ail persons, without respect 10 race, color or previous condition of servitude, who possessed the qualifications prescribed by the laws then in force tn that ite, to wet as jurors. This action he believes will finally result in forbearance on the part of the whites toward ihe colored popu- lation, and prove a security to them and thelr pro- perty. FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. ‘This district, on the 28th July, 1363, was reauced to include only the State of Texas, and is com- manded by Brevet Major General Reynolds, whose a irs is for the year ending September 30, 1369, fhe length of frontier line in this district to be pro- tected against Indian incursions extends from tie Red river io the iio Grande, about 490 mules long, and along the Rio Grande for about 815 miles—a total of 1,808 miles. Indian raids during the year have been unusually bold, and, it is beileved, commanded in most in- stances by white men, Heavy damages to the citt- sens in live stock and property has re:ulted, but the oss of life has been small, amounting to about twenty-six persons. It will be impossible to prevent Indian ralds as jong ag there are wild Indians-not assigned to any det territory, and protection to the frontier can- hot be afforded with the force in the district, owlng to the numerous demands made upon it tn the exe- ution of the reconstruction laws. Voluntary county organizations of citizeus have Im some cases been authorized and proved eileciive me but in others the arrangement has from the people, nolds thax a line @ posts between at some convenient uatin, San Antonio or Waco. Such a Prompt communication with frontier posts and will effect concert of action. ‘Tile ex- penses will be trifug compared with the advantages be expect jations in the evuntry between the Neuces io Grande, which is sparsely led and de- voted chiefly to ects tot eT | have numer- ous. The offenders, Indians and Mexicans, generally come from the souti side of the Rio Grande, and the stolen cattie are conveyed there for sale. Orders bave AccoraInely: been tasued directing that the crossing of cattle shal be limited to eat points, but a sufficient time has not elapsed in which to tcst ‘the efficiency of thia ‘The evil threatens to become one of such magnitude as to demand a reference to the government of Mexico, The ordinary civil machinery of the State has been in operation, aided, whenever necessary aud prac- ticabie, by the military force of the United States. Improvement is apparent in the disposition of juries to punish for murder and other higa crimes,“ Mili- tary aid has been furnished to civil authorities Lo suppress bands of desperadoes who infest tha State. nder the provisions of the joint resolution ‘of February 18, 1469, many county offices wero vacated. Edorts to fill the vacancies thug occasioned have, 1n many cases, been unsuccessful. Laxity in execu- tion of laws and interference with the collection of State taxes have been caused by persons qualified belpg unwilling to neneus the Office on account of the short ‘duration of the term, and the fact that | “appointees” are in most cases unpopular. The nuuiber of cases cried by military commission under section three of tho act of March, 1867, from October 1, 1888, to September 30, 1869, 1g fifty-nine, of which twenty-one were convicted and thirty-eight acquit- ted. ‘The number of murders in the State from January 1, 1869, to Septemover 30, 1859, Was 334, anu the oun- ber of crimes of this nature is steadily diminisn- ing. Quarantine regulations have been established, and an officer of the medical department detatied to supervise their observance. The State has been exempt from al! epidemic disease. APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITURES AND ESTIMATES. There was carried to the surplus fund June JO, 1669, the BUM Of.......0..0 +++» $53,230,178 ‘The actual expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, were (iucluding the Freedmen’s Bureat)......ssereeeseseeee 56,761,732 To wich must be added, tor old war debts paid, tho BUM Of.....seceeeeeeseeeee eres 23,832,310 Making the total expenditures.......... $30,644,042 Of the above there was expended for re- CONSEFUCHION PULPOSOS......s0.ccee0es05 $406,410 There was appropriated for the service of the War Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870... . 87,538,852 ‘The estimated deticiencies are eeeee 2,040,000 ‘The total estimate of military appropr! tions for the year ending June 80, 1871, 1s 34,631,031 In the foregoing estimate the amounts originally presented by the heads of bureaus have been ma- terially reduced, and any appropriation smaiier in amount than that asked for would fail to meet the necessary wants of the department. The following estimates are submitted separately, and are given for tue consideration of Cougress as resented by the Chief of Engineers: For fortifications .. For rivers and harbors Total.... ... a seseersevsegeses sosceeees se $12,158,300 As to the fortifications, I urge the on Tames asked for the forts near the larger citles named in tue report of the General of the army, to wit:—?ort- land, Boston, New \ork, Philadelpiia, New Orleans and San Francisco. The amount required for public buildings and grounds aud Washington aqueduct, az estimated by the oicer in charge, 18. $1,021,352 Which has been reduced, in the estimate resented herewith, t0........0+.. + 498,970 lerewith, in addition to the reports, of which’ ab- stracts have been given, are transmitted those of the twelve department commanders:— Department of the Dacotab, Major General Han- cock. Department of the Platte, Brevet Major General augur, Department of the Missouri, Brevet Major General Schoflela. Department of the Cumberland, Brevet Major General Cooke. Department of Louisiana, Brevet Major General lower. Department of Missiszippi—Brevet Major General mes. [edd ach te of the South—Brevet Major General ‘erry. Department or the Bast—Brevet Major General McDowell. mane ‘tment of the Lakes—Brevet Major General ope! Department of California—Brevet Major General rd. Department of Columbia—Brevet Major General rook. i Department of Alaska—Brevet Major General avis. ‘These reports show that the military administra- tion of the army has been effective and its discipline unimpaired, The duties devolving upon the com- Inanders of the three military districts of Virgtnia, Mississipp! and Texas have been performed, under ae embarrassments, with fidelliy and good judg- ment Tho expenditure for the year, upon which the re- duction of the eatlnrates for the next iiscal year 13 based, ig reliable evidence of the economical manage- ment of the department, WILLIAM W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War. COLOR! D ORPHAN ASYLUM. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting for the election of managers of the Colored Orphan Asylum was held yesterday at twolve o’clock at the house of Mra Landon, No. 7 East Fourteenth street, The various reports from the heads of the aepartments connected with the asylum were read. The managers and trustees, in their report for the past year, say the educational advantages presented in this institution are good and the children show a fair progress. As in other institutions there ts a great diversity of attalument, often the consequence of early surroundings, and the observer cannot judge fairly of the progress of any class without some know. ledge of the previous influences that have moulded the mind as well as the character, Those ‘who enter the inatitution as mere infante and are trained under the eyes of a judicious nurse ea sily accept Instruction and soon pass creditably into the higher classes, while those who enter at ten or eleven, ignorant of ite simplest rudiments, rarely leave the primary department. While the managers recognize @ field of usefulness beyond their present Mmit, they question, under existing circumstances, the prudence of any more extended effort, The late aid received irom the Legisiature may only be applied for building purposes or eirect or permanent ‘improvements upon tae house, so that the avall- able income for the expenses of the famiiy is net increased. In conclusion they would solicit @ continuance of past patronage, believing that this charge must commend itseif to the pubiic, both in the helplessness of the Class it protects and in the judicious economy which per. Vadeos every department, The teachers’ report wag next read, from which it appears that seventy children have been admitved to the schools of the institution during the past year, including ten trom the nursery—thirty.nine of Whom did not know the alphabet, aber of ohil- dren taught during the year, 295. Number of schol- ars at gag receiving instruction, The re- ports of the treasurer, superintendens and physi- clan were also read, and with those which had pre- ceded them, unananimously adopved, The treasurer's books show the receipts of the past year to have been $59,602; the disbursements, $56,654, and the baiance in hand, $2,913, The meeting then proceeded to elect officers and managers for the ensuing year, when the following ladies Were elected a8 managers and trastees;—Mrs. Augustus Taber, Mrs. William H. Onderdonk, Miss Sarah 8. ung and Mrs. Charles Landon, Several jaties were also appointed to act on tho Various committees, and after a prolonged a \s sion among those present aa to tne beat means of furthering the interests of the inmates of the institu» tion and upon some questions concerning its gen. eral management, the meeting adjourned, The following interesting general statistics show the work accomplisied py this valtiabie inetita- tion:—Cnildren admitted since the opening of the Institution, June @, 1987, 1, number per last re- port, peer J, 1868, 271; since admitted, boys 40, | gurls 4171, THE ARMY. Report of General William T. Sherman. HABADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Wasnincron, D, C., Nov. 20, 1869, GuyeRat—I have now the honor to submit my report of the army for the present year. At the time of the last annual report General U. S. Grant was in command of the army and remained until the 4th of March, 1869, when he became President of the United Stales, and I succecded him as General- in-Chief. The confirmation of my commission was announced on the 5th day of March aud I was ore dered to assume command March 8, which I did. At that time Major General J, M. Schofleld was Secretary of War and continued in that capacity unttl March 13, when General John A. Rawlins was duly commissioned and entered on his duties asSeo- retary of War—a post he fliled until his death, Sep- tember 6, when tho Presitent conforred on me the commission, with the understanding that 1t was to be held only till he could select @ successor, and it afforded me great pleasure on tho 1st instant to give place to yourself, General W, W. Bolknap. As these changes have, in a measure, affected the course of events, I believe that you will be pleased: that I take a wider view of the history and conditwon: of the army and its adaiinietration than ts custom. ary for the Commandor-in-Chief. LINE OF THE ARMY. For the purpose of military responsibility and gow ernment the domain of the United States is divided into twelve departments and three districts, cach under the command of an experienced general off- cer, who by law is invested with all the powers of the commanding general of an army iv the fleld, and |. 18 held responsible for the discipline and mainte- nance of the troops, the preservation of good order go far as the military authority extends, and for the. care of ull public property that belongs to the army. ‘The limits and boundaries of these departments are better described by the map and tadular statements herewith than by any mere words I could give, In order to prompt action in case of need and to Place similar territory and aimilar interests under @ common commander, these departments are again grouped into four military divisions, which are com- manded by the four generals next in rank to the Commander-in-Chief, By the organic law of July 28, 1866, a8 modified by that of March 3, 1£69, the regular army now consists. of five regiments of artillery, ten of cavalry, twenty five of infantry, a battalion of engineers and the cadets of the Military Academy, These are all assigned to the several departments by regiments or companies, but each division commander can relte force any point wittun his command by transfer- ring the troops from one of his departments to another, Asa general rale the artillery companies are dis- tributed in the permanent forts along our seaboard irom Eastport, Maine, to the mouth of tue Rio Grande, and from San Diego, California, to Alaska, serving on foot, One company of each regiment Is mounted and eqpipped as light artillery; oae of these companies ig stationed at Washington and the other four at Fort Riley, Kansas, as a school of in- struction. Another coilpany of cach reginent (in all five) 18 stationed at Old Point Comfort, as a scnood of 1usiruction for heavy or sea coast artillery. All the ten regiments of cavalry are serving im Texas, the Indian country and Pacilc Territories, with the exception of a single company here in Washington, which 18 the only cavalry east of the Mississippi river. ‘The twenty-five regiments of infantry are distri- buted:—One regiment aloug the northern frontiee, one in Virginia, one tn Mississippi aud threo in the Department of the Sout. The remaiming ninetecm regiments are in Texas, the Indian country and Western States aud Territories, ‘Tnree companies of engineer troops are at Wil- leti’s Point, New York naroor; one ab Jefferson bar- Tacks, Missouri, and pue at Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco parbor, doing garrison duty and more especially designed to preserve th practical kuow- ledge of field iortitication, of mines and of pontoon bridging. ihe cadets are at the West Point Academy, under- going instructions preparatory wo being comumis- sloned as officers of tue army, At this moment we have nota single regiment that may be said to be in reserve. Ail are on duty, and I have constant calls for more troops, which canaot be granted. I beg, therefore, your earnest attention to this matter twat Congress may be ap- pealed to not to diminish the military establishment any further, because of the great extent of our country, the unsettied character of a region mea- sured north and south, east and west by thousands of miles, the nomadic caaracter of the ladians who inhabit thig region, and tie growing necesmity of aifordiug greater protection to the roads that trae verse this region, and the mining and agricuitural interests therein. While the nation at large is at peace a state of quast war has existed, and continues to exist, over one-half its extent, aud the troops therein are ex- posed to labors, marches, fights and dangers that amount to war. Were the troops withdrawn or largely diminished in ‘texas, the ludian country, in Anizoua, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho or Alaska, as well ag in some parts of our Southern States, 1 be- lieve @ condition of things would reauit amounting to anarchy. For a llistory of the labors and exposures of our troops I must refer to the reports of the division gud department couimanders herewith, and I hope the oiticers aud men composing tae ariny will re- cetve the assurance of the country, to which they are fairly entitied, that their services are appre- ciated. “Many of the ofiicers have been required to perlorm, at great personal risk, the duties of Indian agents, governors, sheriffs, judges and inspectors of election, &c.—duties foreign to their military training { and they have don@ this duty without a murmur and with marked intelilgence, Tue great mass of then are bavished to disvunt sections aud kept there with indiiferent shelter, without any of tne facilines and associations of civilized life, and inany of them have families that they scarcely have the means to educate and provide for. In my whole army expe- rience I have never Known the army officers 80 and yet I believe they will cheerfuily continue to en dure this state of facts if they can see in tio future: any hope of improvement. I do not understand thas they expect more pay, but they live in hopes thas our money Will soon approach the value of gold in iis purchasing capacity, and | believe any dimming tion of pay wouid turn the thoughts of every good officer to a chauge of profession, that woud bo ex- tremely damagiug to the army itself, ‘Tne code of iaws by which tne army is governed 18 very antiquated and obscure, based on the old English muttay act in existence at the time of our Revolution, and bears date April 10, 1800, Uticrlawe respecting the govecninent of the army liave been passed from time to time, and volume of yolume of Kegulations has been issued from the War Depart- inet, the last edition of wich bears date in 1:63, These are the Army Regulations now in use, aithough they also have been moditied by numerous subsequent Oraers aud circulars, so Liat at this moment no oiMcer can, from the most careiui study, be certain of bis rights and duties, and is ilabie ab any time tosaffer in his accounts or mcur personal Mabliity for acts done in pardonaple ignorauce. Section 37 of the act approved July 28, 13 quired the Secretary of War to have a new le of Army Regulations prepared and submtited to Con- ress At ILS NEXf session, “the existing regulations, remain in force until Congress shai) bave acted: on such report.” By special orders from the Aca aor tant General’s oMce, December 13, a composed of Lieutenant General Shera ny Mi General Sheridan and brevet Major-Geoera Augur, was assembled in Washington on the 28th of Janu- ary, 1868, It submnitied a new coue ot Arucies of War, which met the approval of General Grant, and on ihe first day of February of the same year it was transmitted to pg by the then secretary of W ir, Stanton. ‘The board also compiied a sya- tem of Regulations, full andycomplete, in harmony with the new articies of war, and more im conform. ty with the customs aud usages that had grown out Of the experience ef the past iiity years. Tins code of army Regulations also received the sano- tion of General Grant, who, by Speciai Orders No. 41, February 1963, dissolved the byard and ordered the ofiicers back to thelr stations. From the records of the War Pepartment I find that on the 12th of Jane, 1868, General Scaofleld, Secretary of War, transmitted to the Hon, been! iaon and Hon. J. A, Gartleld, Chawmen of the Committees on Military Afiairs in the two houses of Congress, @ ler ter reciting these facts and aaking the ndoption of the new Articles of War and the repeal of so Much of the act of July 28,1866, as made the Army Regwations then in force obligniory om all concerned until the new Reguiations received the sanction of Congress. I concur with General Scho- ficid im the general proposition; bub, In che present state of the law, would think it advisavte tor Con- gress to enact the Rules and Articles of ¥\ ac as near As possible in the ianguage submitted by tie board, and then to approve the sew regulations, giving the President of tne United Staves the auriority to modily thein, from tune to time, accoriung to hie discretion. CONSOLIDATION. By tho organic act of July 28, 1866, fixing the peace establishment, there was a provision foc forty-five regiments of infantry. To the Appropriauion bill nssed March 4, 1869, Was attached a ciause, as fole ljoWs:—Cihat there sili be ho new Comissions, No promotions and no enlistinents tn any tuiantry regt- Mont unl the total number of infantry regiments i reduced to twenty-flve, and the Secretary of War Is hereby directed to consolidate the iniantry nts as rapidly as the Les genes J of the public service Gad the reduction of tue number of officers will per- mit.” By the same act the period for enlistments ‘was changed from three to five yoars, but at that Gate au my 4 miwted men of eae were mn ‘4, beginning — moat 0 and 1867, ‘Tne Secretary of War, Generai Hehodeid, with whom by law the discretion rested,