Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-12-13
The Report of the Secretary of War
an Important and Interesting DUcu-
ment.

The Report of the Secretary of War
an Important and Interesting DUcu-
ment.
From the long and able report Of Sec
rotary STANTON we gather the following
details. The portion of the United States
which is the scene of military operations
is divided in ten departments: the middle
Department, comprising Pennsylvania,
Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware the
Department Of Virginia the Departments
of the Ohio, the Mississippi, the Tennes,
see, and the Cumberland the Department
Of North Carolina; the Department of
the South; the Department of the Gulf;
the Department of Missouri. In addition
Northwest, Of New Mexico and of the
Pacific. The general military operations
Of the year are graphically and concisely
sketched. According to the recent Off
cial returns, the armies in the ten active
departments constitute force of IT'S 1856
officers ard privates. Since the date of
these returns the number has been increas-
ed to above 100000.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
From a survey of the whole field of ope-
ratops, it is apparent that whatever dis
asters our arms may have suffered at par
ticular points, great advance has never
theless been made since the commence
ment of the war. When it began the en- j.,
envy were in possession of Norfolk, and
every port Of the Southern coast They
held the Mississippi, from Cairo to New
Orleans. Now, the blockaded ports of
Charleston and Mobile only remain to
them on the seaboard; and New Orleans
and Memphis have been wrested from
them. Their possession of Vicksburg OBJ
structs the Mississippi, but it is to them of
no commercial use. Their strongholds on
the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers have
been captured. General Andrew John
son, as military governor of Tennessee,
holds Nashville. The enemy have been
driven from Kentucky, West Tennessee,
Missouri part of Arkansas; are fleeing
before Grant in Mississippi, and all their
hopes of Maryland are cut off. In COM
mercial, political and strategical points of
view, more success has attended the Union
cause than was ever witnessed upon so
large theater, in the same brief period,
against SO formidable and enemy.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
The Union forces are now in the field,
under able commanders, stronger than
ever, resolute and eager to be led against
the enemy, and to crush the rebellion BY
vigorous winter campaign. Tue armies
Of hn pntn o,,I Of he
ready to vie with each other in quickest
and heaviest blows against the enemy
Taught by experience the ruin of inaction
and che hazard of delay, spirit of ear
nest activity seems to pervade the forces
of The United States beyond what has
| hitherto been exhibited. In the numerous
battles and engagements that have occur
red, our armies in general have DISPLAYED
} the courage and determination that should
| inspire officers and soldiers fighting il
defense of their Government. Many gal
| liant lives have been lost, and many brave
and distinguished officers have fallen Fo,
the dead, deep sorrow is felt by the Gov
eminent and people of the United States
! A detailed report of those who have faller
| in battle, or have distinguished themselves
in the field. will be presented to you a;
soon as all the necessary official reports
can be obtained. Some promotions in re
ward of gallant service have already beer
made from the ranks, and to high com
maud; others have been delayed for wan
| of the reports of subordinate commanders
IN order that promotion may be governed
not By Partially or prejudice, but upor
I due consideration OF relative merit. By
resolution Of Congress passed at the las
session, the President was authorized tC
distribute two thousand medals to private
soldiers of distinguished merit. From
! different specimens selection has beer
made, and the medals are to be ready il
| January for distribution.
THE DRAFT.
The Adiutant Generals office is charged
among other important duties, with th.
business relating to enlistments, recruiting
aud drafting militia. Under the calls O
July and August, thele are already in til,
field over tour hundred and twenty thou
! sand new troops, of which three hundred
and ninety-nine thousand (399, OO0) ar,
volunteers. three hundred and thirty-twt
thousand (332, 00O) of whom have volun
teered for three years or during the war
1t will be remembered that the call wa
made at one of those periods of despon
dency which occur in every natlona
struggle A chief hope of those who Sc
the rebellion on foot was icr aid and com
fort from disloyal sympathizers in tn
Northern States, whose efforts were reliet
upon TO divide and distract the people O
the North, and prevent them from putting
forth their whole strength to preserve tue
nation existence. The call for volunteer
and draft of the militia afforded an oc
casion for disloyal persons to accomplish
their evil purpose by discouraging enlist
ments, and encouraging opposition to th
war and the draft of soldiers to carr,
| it on.
SUSPENSION OF THE WRIT OF HABEAs
CORPUS.
Anxiety was felt in some States at tn
probable success Of these disloyal prac
tices, and the Government was urged t
adopt measures of protection by Temporal
ry restraint OF those engaged in thes
hostile acts. To that end, provost mar
shals were appointed in some of the State
upon the nomination of their Governors
to act under the direction of the Stat
Executive, and the writ of ha5eas coapu
was suspended by your order. By oIde
Of the Department, arrests were forbidde
unless authorized by the State Ezecutiv
Or by the Judge Advocate. Some in
stances of unauthorized arrests have oc