The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-04 00:00:00

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT.

The Report or the Chief of Engiucera gives a detailed
account of the operations of the Engineer Department, and
of the means requit el to execute the duties devolved upon
it. The officers of the Corps of Engineers, aided by de-
tails from oiler arms of the service and a number of civil
engineers, have been engaged upon the permanent national
defences, survey of the lakes, river and harbour improve-
ments, explorations and surveys, command and instruc-
tion of engineer troops, and in charge cf public buildings,
grounds and works in the District of Columbia. T wenty-
two officers of the corps have been doing duty in the seve-
ral military divisions, departments, and districts, in the
lighthouse establishment, and as instructors in the Military
Academy. Work has been continued on the permanent
defences to the extent permitted by the small balances re-
maining of old appropriations. These have been exhausted
for the most part during the year, and the works have con-
sequently been c'osed up. Experiments and trials have
been made with iron and other materials with a view to
their application in the defences, and trial has been made
of a descending gun carriage for use in barbette batteries.
Methods of modifying and improving our existing do-
fences have been determined on, the introduction of im-
portant auxiliary elements of defence is proposed, and
Congress will be called upon to make appropriations, mo-
derate in amount compared .to the importance of the ob
ject,for the purpose of applying these changes, as soon as
practicable, to the defensive works of several of our large
seaport cities. The battalion of engineers maintains its
efficiency in drill and discipline, and in the duties of its
special arm. The engineer depots, for the collection and
storage of pontoon trains and other engineer equipments,
have been well advanced towards completion. The river
and harbour works have progressed as rapidly as the means
appropriated for their execution allowed. The appropria-
tion in April last of $2,000,000 for these works was distri-
buted in accordance with the law so as best to subserve
the interests of commerce. The information respecting
these improvements, which the Secretary of War is re-
quired by the several acts upon the subject to submit
to Congress, will be found in the accompanying report of
the Chief of Engineers. The survey of northern and
north-western lakes has progressed commensurately with
the amounts appropriated for conducting it. The Lake
Superior survey is drawing to completion. It has deve-
loped many new harbours of refuge, and made known
dangers to navigation highly important to the commer-
cial interests of the States dependent upon this water-
line of communication for the transportation of cereals
and ores.

ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.
The fiscal affairs of the Ordnance Department during
the year ending June 30, 1869, were as follows:
amount available from all sources
Expenditures since June 30, 1868 0,787,324 97
Turned into surplus fund ...
In Treasury, not credited to appropria-
tions 701,751 91
..
Iu depositories, to credit of disbursing
officers, June 330,1869
In Treasury on June 30, 1869
The enlisted force of the department has been reduced
from fifteen hundred to seven hundred and fifty. There
aro sixty-one officers and fourteen ordnance storekeepers.
in the department, and of these officers six are on detached
duty. The operations at Springfield Armory have been
confined to the preparation of machinery and tools for
converting the Springfield rifled muskets into breech-
loaders upon the plan recommended by the ordnance
board of 1868 ; to the conversion of a small number under
the orders of the Secretary of War for fifty thousand ;
and to cleaning Enfield muskets for sale. The cavalry
have been supplied with Spencer carbines altered to use
the musket metallic ammunition. The infantry, heavy
artillery, and engiceers have been armed with the Spring
field breech-loadine• rifled musket. All these arms have
given great satisfaction. Instruction in Signal service
has continued in the several military departments during
the year, the purpose being so to diffuse a knowledge of
the service and distribute apparatus that every officer may
have such information of the duty as may suffice, in case
of emergency, to save life in or prevent disaster to his com-
mand. The Signal service has been brought into active
use in operations against Indians on the plains.
The operations of the Freedmen's Bureau have been
closed, except the educational and bounty divisions, and
two hospitals for freedmen. The number of officers, agents,
and clerks has been reduced from nine hundred and one
to one hundred and fifty-eight. No further reduction is
practicable so long as the present operations shall continue.
The bureau has bad under its care, up to Juno 30, 1869,
581.178 persons. All the hospitals but two have now been
closed or transferred to the civil authorities, and one of
the remaining two is about being closed. There will then
remain but one, which is located in the District of Colum-
bia, and cannot be dispensed with at present. The gene-
ral average during the whole period of the existence of the
bureau shows that about ono in two hundred, or one-half
of one per cent. of the freed people have been supported
by the Government. The freedmen were advised to make
written contracts with their employers, and have the same
explained and approved by a bureau officer. In a single
State more than fifty thousand such contracts were made.
The labour of the freedmen has produced nearly all the
food consumed in the South, besides large amounts of rice,
sugar, and tobacco for exportation, and about two million
tales of cotton per year, on which were paid into the
United States Treasury, Burin the ears 1866 and 1867,
y
taxes amounting to more than
forty millions of dollars.
Much disappointment and ill-feeling was caused bthe
failure of the original plan to lease or sell the abandoned
lands in small tracts to refugees and freedmen. Informa-
tion has been published respecting lands under the Home-
stead Act of June 21, 1.866, and some aid given to those
who desired to enter them- Attention is beginning to
turn in that direction, •and about four thousand families
have already made entries and obtained homes of their own.
In a few instances freedmen have united in the purchase
of farms under cultivation. They are very anxious to
become land-owners, and the possession of lands and
homes is ono of the chief means of their elevation.
DLit the mat urgent went it 3 oducatio, and Dl9reatton-

tion has been paid to this than to any other subject-.
each State at least one normal school'has been organs:
Several chartered colleges for freed people are in oiler
tion ; also a university ;in the district of Columbia.
the 2,118 schools under the care of the bureau, and °
eially supported, the number of teachers employed is 2,1;
and the number of pupils is 114,522. Adding those O.
mated in private and Sabbath schools, the number unil
instruction of some kind during the last year is not 1e ,
than 250,000. The freed people are doing what they '
for their own education, having, during the last Y.°'
paid for tuition and the construction of buildt2
about $200,000. The expenses of the bureau have 0
$13,524,816 82.
The estimates for the support of the. West Point ,V
demy during the coming fiscal year amount to $332,264:P"
of which $212,019 20 is for pay and allowances of in,
tors and cadets.
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI. 2,
This division, commanded by Lieut.-General Shery:
embraces the departments of Dakota, the Platte, and '
Missouri, commanded respectively by Major-Gen. IV'
Hancock, Brevet Major-Gen. Augur. and Brevet Alar
Gen. Schofield. These three departments cover a territ"
of great extent, in which most of the civilised, gel;
civilised, and wild Indians abide, and include the StatO
Illinois, lowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and /di,°
seta, and the Territories of Colorado, Now Mexico, W
ming, Utah, Dakota, Montana, and the Indian. Tho
ministration of these departments has been ably and e`
nomically- conducted, but the number of troops now,
duty in them is deemed insufficient, with the present;
duced strength of companies, to meet the wants of the!'
vice. Although there have been numerous depredatto
in this division the condition of Indian affairs is very 01
better than last year. The policy of reservations adol',,
by the Indian Department is, in the judgment of Gal.
Sheridan, the only policy that will put an end to JO,
murders and depredations. Ew.ry effort is made to 31,'
the necessity of punishing the savages, with the str,,'
hope that they may settle down on their rotervationy
adopt a more peaceful and civilised life.
The system of supplying the wild bands under the if
sent Indian management is working well ; the Indian;
ceives all that the Government intends he should, end'
have no plea of bad faith to urge as an excuse for a 110
to his former habits. A detailed report of the mill!
operations in the department of the Missouri accomPaP ti
the annual report of General Sheridan, and covers ,
operations of troops up to the 15th of October, embrao
many combats, in which the number of Indians killed!,
ninety-two, number wounded unknown; °
number of
diers killed six, and wounded ten ; numbr of civilian
men, women, and children—murdered by the Ind.
was seventy-nine, and nine wounded. i

MILITARY DIVISION OF THE SOUTH.
This division, under the command of Major-Gen
llalleck since the 17th Juno last, is composed of the
partments of the Cumberland, of Louisiana, of Al„,
sippi. and of the South, commanded respectively by 9
vet Major-General Cooke, Brevet Major-General MO'
Brevet Major-General Ames, and Brevet Major-Genel
Terry, and includes the States of Kentucky, Tenneel
West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
barns, Florida, Georgia, and North and South Caroltt
The principal occupation of the troops in this division '
been in assisting revenue officers to execute the revel;
laws; assisting United States marshals in executing `,
process of the United States courts ; in enforcing the 1°
relative to the civil rights of freedmen, and all laws for
protection of life and property.
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ATLANTIC.
.ZThis division formerly consisted of the departmeat9
the East, the Lakes, and of Washington, under comma
of Major General Peacock. Subsequently Major-Gone:,
Meade was placed in command, the department of WIP,
ington broken up and attached to the department of "
East, and the first military district incorporated in
division, which now embraces the States of Ohio, Mie,
gen, Indiana, and Wisconsin. the New England SW:
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
ware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
In the department of the East and the Lakes the dot
have been, principally, the charge and care of the sea-ce:
and lake frontier defences, and the prevention of ani
tempt to violate the neutrality laws, and in one instep
in sustaining the United States civil authorities in math
pending before the courts.
MILITARY DIVISION OF THE PACIFIC.
This division, which has been commanded by Ale)
General Thomas since the Ist June last, comprises
departments of California, Columbia, and of Alaska, 64
mended respectively by Brevet Major-General Ord, l3rel
Major-General Crook, and Brevet Major-General Darts
FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT.
This district comprises the State of Virginia, and
it
at the date of the last annual repOrt commanded by v;
Stoneman, who was succeeded by Brevet Major-Gone'
Canby. On the first of October the number of trooP9,
this district was one hundred and five officers and
thousand four hundred and seventy-eight enlisted rne
the present effective strength of the command is ninetep
nine officers and one thousand and seventy-seven
listed men. The total number of civil officers in 1,
State affected by the joint resolution of February
1369, was six thousand and sixty-one, and of this Dunk
only eight hundred and eighty--five were found in 0;
who could qualify under the law of July 2, 1862, 1600
five thousand one hundred and seventy-six appointrae,
to be made. To the Ist of October last, three thonss,4
and seventy appointments have been made, and of
seven hundred and eight. have declined, resigned,
removed, or have failed to quali:y ; leaving two thott'o,
three hundred and sixty-two now in office, and two Olio
sand eight hundred and fourteen vacancies. It
difficult to find suitable persons willing to lie`Cc,
offices the duties of which yielded no conspense
tt
and interfered with their ordinary business, and erns
rasament was occasioned by the social and political pit
sure brought to bear upon Virginians who were sugges4
or recommended for an office that involved the necos,',6;
of taking the oath prescribed by the law of July 2,
However, with but few exceptions, the county organ
l
tion is so far completed as to be in working condition'
FOURTH MILITARY DISTRICT.
This distric'z, has been commanded by Brevet 31810
General Ames, since March 17, 1869, and comprises of
State of Mississippi. The Sixteenth Infantry Regioo
is the only military organization on duty there. 't
employment of troops beyond the ordinary routine
duty has been confined to expeditions for the purpoo,o
arresting lawless characters guilty of murder or °`,l
serious offences. Supported by public opinion, a feign',
in defiance of the law, commit murders and orttrages,fti,
civil officers aro unequal to the task of bringing thereof
justice. Guarded and protected by their neighb°
their arrest becomes very difficult, and the assistancl/0
troops is demanded. The parties injured or their frig e
rarely undertake to aid the civil or military autl
ties, and if so, hesitatingly and secretly. The cases 0.0
not numerous where violence has been offered the rer4
larly constituted authorities, and in those instances thee(l3
were committed generally by individuals who, nevort'
less, were secreted and shielded by the people. 00%.
the most deliberate and cold-blooded cases of the,
was the murder, in the streets of Jackson, of Brevet Lie,so
Colonel J. G. Crane, chief commissary of the district. 0
report states that at the present timo, on the eve n'otl
election, the disturbances are increasing in number,
if possible, more serious in character. On the 27t,,,
April last, General Ames, by General Order, authorieen4
persons, without respect to race, colour, or previous
ditions of servitude, who possessed the qualificationSV,o
scribed by the laws then in force in that State, to &ems
jurors. This action he believes will finally result in
bearance on the part of the whites towards the coley,
population, and prove a security to them and their 11`v
perty.

FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. itr
This district, on the 28th July, 1868, was reduced OS
elude only the State of Texas, and is commanded by 131.fe0
Major-General Reynolds, whose report is for the
ending Sept. 30, 1809. The length of frontier line in pci!
district to be protected against Indian incursions eltced
from the Red river to the Rio Grande, about 490 mile.,?
along the Rio Grande for about 816 miles—a total a %Ili
miles. Indian raids during the year have been unusil
bold, and, it is believed, commanded in most instancegol
white men. Heavy damages to the citizens in live 5,0
and property have resulted, but the loss of life has "
small, amounting to about twenty-six persons. is
It will be impossible to prevent Indian raids as lourrir
there aro wild Indians not assigned to any defined teii)
tory, and protection to the frontier cannot be afforded eif
the force in the district, owing to the numerous deord
made upon it in the execution of the reconstruction Poi
Voluntary county organisations of citizens have in t„oc0
cases been authorized, and proved effective in some witlt
lities ; but in others the arrangement has not met,
cordial response from the people. The ordinary
chinery of the State has been in operation, aided, WPitio
ever necessary and practicable, by the military force (4100
United States. Improvement is apparent in the dispotg` zd
of juries to punish for murder and other high ori°o
Military aid has been furnished civil authorities to libe
press bands of desperadoes who infest the State. „ 10
number of murders in the State from January 1, 18°V
Sept. 30, 1869, was three hundred and eighty-four; ,011,
the number of crimes of this nature is steadily diutiw
ng.
APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENDITTJRES, AND EszimAOS•
There was carried to the surplus fund June
30, 1869, the sum of 558,239,174 0
The actual expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1869, were (including 16
the Freedmen's Bureau) 56,761,7-
To which must be added, for old war debts ° 60
paid, the sum of
llaking the total expenditures $
2803,,684821:034A
Of the above there was expended for recon 18
-
struction purposes 406,419
There was appropriated for the service of
the War Department for the fiscal year
,
2
09
ending June 30, 1870
The estimated deficiencies are
,940,000
The total estimate of military appropria-
tions for the year ending June 30, 1871, at 6°
is
In the foregoing estimate the amounts originalll re,
sented by the heads of bureaus have been materiall9,ol
duced, and any appropriation smaller in amount than "010
asked for would fail to meet the necessary wants ei
department. 3
The following estimates are submitted separatelf,ll3o3
are given for the consideration of Congress, as presa
by the Chief of Engineers:—
For fortifications-- $4,194,400 00
For rivers and harbours..." 7,961,900 00

12,158,300 00 uea
As to the fortifications, I urge the appropriations co',ll tot
T0ta1...... :
for the forts near the larger cities named in the reP°.!iee,
New Orleans, and San Francisco• 00
rfor the year, upon which the reclue,.ol?
the General of the Army, to wit :—Portland, Boston, 1
for the next fiscal year is based, is 'jai
ofY oTrticil,eoeexstpipninadtiet: Philadelphia,
able evidence of the economical management of the
partment•

W5l. W. BELKNAP, ~.i. ~
Secretary of Yv l'''

BIRTHS.
BURROW—On the 28th Dcc the wife of R. F. BurroA d,
Esq., Manager of London Suburban Bank, Fulham-r°
of a daughter. 4 9,HARBERTON—On the 31st Dec., at 12. Beaufort-gar-ell
S. W., Viscountess Ifarberton, of a son.

DEATHS At
RONALD - On the 26th Dec., after a few hours' illnes%lci,
his residence, 5, Manchester-square, Rowand E°°-
Esq., in his 81th25t year. s"
SMITII —On the h Dec., at his residence, 13, OBA',:ty
crescent, William James Smith, Esq., Editor Of '-""'e
villa Papers," aged 69.

London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDRct—scif
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SuN Office, O. 112,:-.0,0!
in the Precinct of the Savoy, In the County of Mitleue"-
Tuesday, January 4,1570.