The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-12
Brief abstract OF the Report of
the Secretary of War.

NEW YORK, Dec. S.-The report of the
Secretary of War is of considerable length.
1t reviews our victories and pays high
tribute to the bravery and skill of our
troops. He says the combined operations
| of our Army and Navy against Charleston
| have not as yet accomplished what was eX-
pected of them. In Texas, large force
under Banks will give protection to the
people OF that State, and cut off a chief av-
enue Of the rebels for foreign commerce
and foreign aid. The armies of Lee and
Meade now occupy relatively the same
positions as they did at the start of the last
annual report. West Virginia is now clear
of rebels, and the people of that State are
enjoying IN comparative peace the bless
| ings of civil government. The rebel forces
| in Missouri have been driven beyond the
Arkansas river. No military operations
of any magnitude have taken place in Viz
Sinia or North Carolina. The Federal
forces are now planted in every rebel
State. The success of our arms during the
past year has enabled the Department to
make reduction OF over $500, Coo, 600 in the
estimates for the current year.
The troubles in regard to the exchange
OF prisoners is reviewed at length, and the
blame for the nOn-eXchange thereof, falls
upon the rebel authorities. He alludes to
the good treatment the rebel prisoners
have received at our hands, and denounces
the rebel authorities for the cruel manner
in which they have treated our prisoners
In their hands. He then discusses the act
OF Congress for enrolling and calling out
the national forces, and says that the law
has been enforced in twelve States, YIELD
ing $4,000 men and $40, 000, 900 for procuring
substitutes. The S300clause is alluded TO AS
are also the conflicting opinions in regard to
its justice and injutice. He says that
large proportion of the troops whose terms
expire next year Will re-enlist, it being
stipulated by the Government that they
shall have at least one months furlough
before their present term expires. The in
dicatiOns are that the force required will in
a great measure be raised by volunteering
and without a draft. An immediate APP
preparation for bounties should be made.
He then alludes to the valuable service
the Invalid Corps has rendered to the Gov
eminent. The corps now number 10000
officers and privates. s..-n ....
He says, Immediately after the issu-
ance of the Presidents Proclamation dill
gent efforts were commenced and have
continued until the present time for raising
coiored troops. $4,000 colored men are
now organized, and the number will ra-
pidiy increase as our armies advance.
The freed slaves make good soldiers, and
are easily disciplined, and are full of cour-
age. The slave has proved his manhood
and capacity and makes n good infantry,
artillery or cavalry soldier, as has been
evidenced on several occasions. The col
ored troops have been allowed no bounties
under the construction given by the De-
partment. They can only by the laws re-
ceive 10 dollars per month for their ser
vices, while white soldiers receive SIS with
clothing, and daily ration. The fortunes
OF war have brought within our lines large
numbers OF cOlored women and children,
and some aged and infirm persons. A SOL
emn trust rests upon the Government for
their care and protection.
The Adjutant General recommends the
term of enlistment in the regular service,
be fixed at three years, instead of five, in
accordance with the act of 1853, which ex-
pired by limitation on the LIST of January,
1868. The Secretary gives a list of the prin-
cipal ordnance matters, which were in the
control of the Department at the beginning
of the war, &c, and the quantities Of those
articles which have since been procured,
and the Quantities of those articles ON hand
june 80, 1868. The figures are immense.
The operations of the Chief Engineer,
connected with the survey of the Northern