The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-03
Washington News.
,orres pondence of the Commercial Advertiser.

Cores poudence of the Commercial Advertiser.
... WASHINGTON, April II.
The crowds of Ofice.seekers at the de-
partments grow "small by degrees and beau.
tifully less," but the "war Office" which
retains its revolutionary name) is thronged
by officers and civilians, all animated by y
desire to serve the republic. Secretary
Cameron may not be able, as was Oarnot,
when occupying similar position in the
French government, to " organize victory"
but he is indefatigable in his attention to
the public service. His department is COM
posed of his personal clerks, and eight bu.
reaux, under the following heads: r.5
The acknowledgement, Colonel Lorenzo
Thomas, is the medium of communication
to the army, of all general and special or.
ders of the Secretary of War, relating to
matters of detail. In his Office commissions
are made out, and the official rosters and
reporters are kept. 4,
The quartermaster. general, Gen. Joseph
E. johnson, carries into effect the Secreta>
rvs orders and the legal details relative to
transportation, barracks, temporary quar-
tiers, fuel, forage, camp and garrison equip
age, and clothing. The clothing depart
ment is a ub-bureau, located at Philadel-
phia.
The commissary- general, General Gibson,
estimates what supplies are necessary, and
procures them when ordered by the Secre !.
tary. All issues of subsistence are directed
by this Office, and reports are made there.
The paymaster general Col. B. F. Larned,
makes up the pay rolls, and sees that the
subordinate paymasters are supplied with
funds.
The surgeon general, Doctor Thomas
Lawson, has charge of the medical staff,
hospital, and the procurement OF surgical
instruments, medicines, &c.
The engineer-in.chief has the supervision
of the West Point military academy, the
construction and preservation of fortified.
lions, and the construction of the capitol
additions, the aqueduct, and the Treasury
extensions.
The topographer-in- chief, Colonel Albert,
directs military surveys, the construction
of military roads, the improvement of rivers
and harbors, and the surveys OF the lakes.
The chief-of-ordina Col. Craig has
supervision of the arsenals and armories,
with the manufacture, purchase, storage
and issue of all ordinance, arms, equip
ments and munitions of War.
These eight responsible Offices are filled
by officers of the army, each with his spe-
cial military assistants, forming what is
known in France as J. Etat Major, or the
General Staff" They have also civilians
as clerks, and the whole number on the rolls
of the War Department, military and cler>
ical, is about one hundred and ten. A part
of the bureaux are in what is known as
Winder's building, opposite the Depart
ment proper.
Lieut.. General Scott has his official
headquarters in your city where be re.
NAMED while Mr.. Jefferson Davis-as Sc.
cretary of War and as Senator-was anx-
ious to keep him at distance from the in>
cubation OF reasonable schemes. The We
teran has now an Office for his use when
temporarily here, and is consulted by the
President and the Secretary of War before
orders are issued.