The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-12-19

Navy, and POST Office Department are Alto
gether too long to publish entire. The fol-
lowing are the main points presented in each.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The armies operating. according to official
reports, constitute force of seven hundred
and thirty six thousand officers and privates
fully equipped. The estimates for the coming
year are based upon the supposition that
this force will be increased to one million, by
the filling up Of the quotas of the several
states. The scene of militsry operations
during the year has comprised ten depart
ments. In the middle department, compris-
ing Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey,
Delaware and the department of Virginia,
there have been very important military op-
erations,-ofw detailed acc ,unts have not
been rendered in full by the generals in COM
mand. While in this department al! has not
been accomplished that was expected and
desired, much has been done, as a list Of the
peincipal engagements, and reference to
the results abundantly prove. a review of
military operations in the West presents a
favorable result The success of Gen Cur
It's against Price, the cpture of Fort Donel-
son, the evacuation of Corinth by the rebels,
the battle of Mill Spring in which the rebel
Zollicoffer was defeated, the taking of Cum
berland Gap by General Morgan, and the
more recent operations of the army Of the
West, are cited in the report. In the de-
partment of the South, the yellow fever has
prevented to some extent active operations.
The premature attack on Charleston without
orders, capture of Fcrt Pulaski bv General
Hunter, evacuation of Fort Pickens by the
enemy, and the recent coast expedition are
referred to, or described.
! In the department of the Gulf, Gen But
ler's expedition is prominent. Ihe unlmpe-
ded navigation of all the Mississippi, is look
ed for.
In the department of the Northwest COM
prisug Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Da-
kotah territory, the Indian outbreak and its
suppression by Gen Pope are noticed
Heavy losses of property have been sustained
in Minnesota from Indian invasion. Three
hundred Indians have been sentenced 10
DEATH The fact that the Pacific coast is free
| from the scoarge of war, is noticed as matter
! OF congra.ulation. The escape of Bragg 5
army from Kentucky is spoken of as trans
action which requires investigation.
The department Of Tennessee. under COM
mand OF Gen Grant, is next noticed, and ep-
erations there are given in detail by the Cen
eral-in-chief In the department of the
troops under Gen RoSecrans are well disci-
plined and have dohe important service.
The report continues, to present general
survey of the progress of the war. Grea.
advance has been made notwithstanding dis
asters Our victories on the Mississippi and
along the Atlantic sea-board. are Of great ex-
tent and Importance. The Union forces now
in the field are under able commanders,
stronger and more resolute than at any pre-
vious period of the war. The report takes
up in order enlistment end drafting, arrests,
frauds, &c. Expenditures for recruiting
drilling. &C., are $40 go, ,2S2.99. The Quar-
,ermaster Generals report is elaborate and
able, presenting a general statement of oper-
ations during the year. The Ordnance bu-
reau is unsurpassed in visor and activity
Harbor defence, fortification, lake surveys
are next in order. The report of the acting
Paymaster General, states that during the
O39 "a, was paid to regular troops. S9l ,ll6;
6lO.6l to volunteers, and $500 $3.50
since Both June, 1862. The Surgeon Gener
ais report shows an expenditure OF So,i41.
S94 SO for sanitary purposes. The numbe
of patients under treatment in general hos
pitals is 5S,1.j the whole number unde
medical treatment not short of 10000. On
= of ;he concluding arguments OF the repor
e is, for the employment of negro labor.
: THE NAVY.
The report of the department of the nav,
is necessarily lengthy. Since the commence
j ment of our national difficulties four power
0 full squadrons have been collected, organize
q and stationed for duty, on our mara;ine .ror
!, tier, with rapidity and suddenness whic
=, finds no approach to parallel in prevlou
naval history. These squadrons have bee
: necessarily maintaining strict blockade. {
4 such gigantic proportions, that eminent fo
- eign statesmen did not hesitate at It's con
- mencement to pronounce it material impo
sibility. Those however who doubted
IT first have been compelled to allow that tt
k blockade is effective.
Some changes in command have take
" place during the year. The North Atlant
squadron guarding the Virginia and Mort
le Carolina coasts continued in charge of Rea
d Admiral Goldsborough until Sept. 9TH whe
,f he was relieved on his own request by Ac
- ing Rear Admiral s. p Lee. Raar-Admir
+ Dupont has continued in command of Il
ii South Atlantic squadron. Flag officer NJ
b. kean, Rear-Admiral Lardner and Comm
10 dore T. Bailey have successfully command,
the Eastern Gulf squadron.
re Rear Admiral Farragut has had commar
Il of the Western Gulf squadron. Command
Rogers, Capt A. H. Foot, Capt c. A. Dav
~ and Acting Rear Admiral Porter, have su
cessfully had chaig ge of the Mississippi Fl
LII tlla. After referring to the Potomac fl
rn tilla and the recently fitted out squadro
b. entrusted to Rear Admiral Wilkes, the I
No port narrates the various naval expetiitio
and successes of the year. The long line
d. coast that has been guarded, and the vicl
l ries that have been achieved, imply the {
o. operation of an immense naval force.
bo At the date of the last annual report, t
L. S. navy consisted of 264 vessels, carryi
VII 2557 guns, and having an aggregate tonna
rs estimated at 2lS.0l6. The present rept
~, gives the total number of vessels at 421, CT
ao rying 3.26S guns, and having an aggrega
. tonnage of 34O,O36. The increase
therefore, been-vessels l63; guns Ill /; to
raj 122,O2O. The following vessels have br
We lost by shipwreck and battle duri ,g ,
rs year: The steamers X. B. Forbes, Viii
-, hall, Varuna, Island Belle, and Henry a
'0' drew; the ram Sumpter the frigate CT
grsss, the sloop Cumberland, the NOR
lie schooners NJ. 6. Carlton and Sidney Jon