The New York herald., 1862-12-03
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE WAR.
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Abstract Of the Annual Report Of tho
Secretary Of War.
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What the Soldiers Of the Re
public Have Achieved.
Report Of General-in-Chief
Halieck.
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Expositions Regarding The Campaigns Of
Mcclellan and Pope,
&c., &C., ~.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF WAR.

REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF WAR.
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WAR DEPARTMENT, Nov. 20, 1862
sR-Tbat portion OF the United States which ~ now, or
has boon during the last year. the scene OF military spe
ratons, is comprised within ten military departments
Tho armies operating in those departments, according
70 official returns constitute force Of seven hun
drod seventy thousand three hundred and thirty
six officers and privatcs fully armed and equipped Since
the date OF the this number has been increased
TO over eight hundred thousand. When the quotas are
tiled up they will number million Of men, and the esti-
mates roy ne IT year arc based upon that number.
The middle department, comprising the States Of Penn
sylvania Maryland New Jersey and Delaware, and The
Department Of Virginia. has been the Of important
military operations concerning which detailed reports
have yet been made by the commanding generals TO
This department. Your knowledge OF the character and
result Of these operations dpenses with the necessity for
any review until the final reports are made
The preliminary reports Of Major General Mcclellan of
hc battles before Richmond and Of the battles Of Antie
and South Mountain and the report Of the Generah
Chief submitted
The communications between this department and the
respective commanders were prepared under resolution
sf the tho last session. and win be transmitted
70 Congress Whenever You Shall be pleased to give your
sanction.
The report Of General aleck the General In Chief
hbts tho operations in the departments since the 23d Of
command OF all the armies OF the United States.
II tho campaigns OF the armies in these departments
have equaled in their results the expectations Of the
government andtbe public hope still they have not been
nnproductve of good results The valor OF troops
has been displayed upon many occasions, and the skill
gaantry Of their officers have been distinguished at
Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Gaines Mill, Nal.
liil Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain. Cantiliy and
other places enumerated IN the reports herewith SUBJ
mttod
tai aud the borders Of Maryland aud Pennsyly has
been driven back beyond the kappahanncck; Norfolk,
by Major General Wool, in possession;
Suffolk and Yorktown held; strong army corps,
under Its viiant and efficient commander, Major General
Dix Fortress Monroe, threatens and harnesses the
eremy; and, what is especially gratifying, 1t has been
proved tha, loyalty OF Mar yland cannot
DO shaken we by the presence of a rebel armv.
The o!ca eports received at this department show
that the military operations in the West during the past
ytAr have been both active and successful
The beginning last winter found the rebel armies Of
Price McCuoch in possession OF oil the northwestern
portion Of Missouri while many OF The counties north Of
the Missouri river were in state Of nsurrecton Our
forces concentrated at Roa and Sedalia AS
the rebels could be driven from the northern counties,
and armies ieorgani2ed, active operations wereco
and the condition OF the roads On the 10th or De-
cember considerable number Of the enemy cut OFT
and captured 1t Milford while their way 70 join Price
tho Usage River. The forces at Roa under General
Curtis moved towards Springfield, which compelled Price
Dorm severe battle fought Pea Ridge, Arkan.
the OH, 7th and 6th OF March, between the
biaed Of the enemy and General Curtis force, in
which the latter gained complete decisive victory
The gunboals under Flag Officer Footc and the troops
Caro- under Gsaafsi Grart movea up the .ne
While Grants troops marching TO surround the for-
place, attacked by the gunbcats and reduced
the sixth Of February after a short but severe
gasement General Grant then marched the re-
la and attacked Fort Doncson. After several days
hard lighting that place also capulated, onahe 10th
with its armament and garrison, except a small force
which c,ssed the Cumberland in the night. and effected
o' Sowing Green and Nashville, and after OF
ioar tus ard the greater part Of Middle Tennessee.
White Grant and Buell. were concentrating their armies
fftp -.e d pnfi M
ersa lines of railroad communication, Gen. Pope moved
donn the west bank of the Mississippi, captured New
Madrid and crossing the river below the encmys bat
teries and Island No. 10, compelled the garrison
s. cspiuate the 7h and sh Of April. Cen Grant had
crossed the Tennessee and taken position at Pittsbarg
Landing, III anticipation OF the arrival of Buell.
The enemy advanced from Cornth, and attacked Grant
the morning Of the 9th OF April. severe battle
sued which continued till dark the left line being
driven back nearly TO the river. portion Of Buels
the battle was resumed daylight On the morning OF the
9Th The enemy was driven back at every point ard in
the afternoon fed from the field leaving their dead and
may Of heir wounded IN hands.
The Secretary OF War details the military operations
during past year. points to the fact that the Department
d Pacihc has been free from auy Of the calamies
occasioned by the rebellion earnest and deep sympa
thy manifested by the loyal citizens OF the Psc
&c states in support OF the Union. From survey ef tho
whole Geld Of operations II Is apparent whatever dis asters
our may have suffered at particular points, great
advance has been made since the OF the
war. The Union forces in the field under able
commanders stronger than reeoRe and eager be
sa The % the sDd
the West stand ready to vie with each other in dealing
the quickest and heaviest blows against E the enemy
hazard Of delay, spirit Of sarnest activity seems TO
pervade the FORCES Of the United States beyond
what has hitherto been exhibited. In the numerous
battles engagements that have occurred, armies
IN general have displayed the courage and determination
ur government. Under the calls Of July and Al
gust already in the field 42 troops
FOR three yeas o. Se viii be re
membered the call made at Of those periods Of
ps Of those who ho rebellion on cs was
for aid aud comfort from dsoyal sympathsers in the
Northern sss wns:s Efforts s were relied upon TO divide
from putting ih their whole strength 70 preserve the
The ca for volunteers and draft OF the militia Afford
"a occasion for dsloya person sto accomplish their
evil purposesby dscouragng enlistments ana ensourag
rynon.
70 adopt measures o protection by temporary restraint Of
ehuse en.nsed nthese hostile acts
a emu pr or 10 me
under tho direction OF the State Executive, and the writ
Of haboas corpus was suspended by our order
by order OF tho War department arrests were forbidden
unless authorized BY the State Executive or Judge Advo
cate.
and when brought TO The notice of The Department the
parties have bosn Immediately discharged,
By recent order all parties arrested for discouragng
ensments, or for dsoyal practce the States where
the quotas Of volunteers and militia filed up, have
boon feicaScn
other persons arrested by military commanders and
sent departments where their presence was deemed
dangerous " the public safety, have been discharged
parole bo OF good behavior and do no act OF hos
fity against the government OF the United States
While military arrests Of dsloya persons form the snb
ject OF complaint In States the discharge OF sucb
re, Sons is complained Of In other States.
II has been the aim Of the Department to avoid any
sncroachments upon individual rights might be
consistent with the public safety; but rejecting minds
will perceive that no greater encouragement be given
70 the enemy dangerous act hostility can be
In this than efforts 70 prevent recruiting
Mud onstng for tho armies upon whose strength the
II ,Ianal existence depends.
ne expectations Of the rebel leaders and their sXmpa-