Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-11
TELEcR RAP HIC.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR.
Seizure Of the Steamer CheSa-
peake.
Organization Of the Legislature
Of Virginia.
Gov. Pierpont favors Emancipation

and pays hlgh tribute 10 the bravery anC
skill of our troops. He says the combined
operations of our army and navy against
Charleston have not, as yet, accomplished
what was expected Of them. In Texas 9
large force operating under Banks will give
protection to the people of that State, and cu
off chief avenue of the rebels for foreign
commerce and foreign aid.
The armies of Lee and Meade now occupy
the same positions they did at the date of the
last annual report.
West Virginia is now clear of rebels and
the people of that State are now enjoying in
comparative peace the blessing Of civil gov
eminent.
The rebel forces in Missouri have been
driven beyond the Arkansas border.
No military movements of any magnitude
have taken place in Virginia or Missouri.
The Federal forces are now firmly planted
IN every rebel State.
The success of our arms during the past
year has enabled the Department to make q
reduction Of over $500, 100000 in the est
mates for the ensuing ysar.
The trouble in regard to the exchange Of
prisoners is reviewed at length and the blame
for the non-exchange thrown entirely upon
the rebel authorities He speaks of the good
treatment rebel prisoners have received at
our hands and denounces the rebel authori-
ties for the cruel manner in which they have
treated our prisoners in their hands. He
then discusses the act of Congress for enrol
ling and calling out the national forces, and
says that the law has been enforced in
twelve States, yielding $4,000 soldiers and
100000 900 for procuring substitutes. The
$500 clause is alluded to, as are also the
conflicting opinions in regard to it's justice
and injustice.
lie says that large proportion of the
troops whose six months expire next year,
will re-enllst, it being stipulated by the Gov
eminent that they shall have at least one
months furlough before their present time
expires. The indications are that the force
required will in great measure be raised by
volunteering and without draft. Immad ate
appropriations for bounties should be made
He then alludes to the valuable service
the invalid Corps has rendered to the Gov
eminent. The corps now numbers 10000,
officers and privates. He says Immediately
after the issue of the Presidents Proclamation
dilligent efforts were commenced and have
continued until the present time, for raising
colored troops. Fifty thousand colored men
are now organized, and the number will rap
idly increase as our armies advance The
freed slaves made soldiers are easily dsci-
plined and are full of courage. The slave
has proved his manhood and capacity, and
makes good infantry, artillery or cavalry
soldier, as has been shown on several occa-
sions.
The colored troops have been allowed no
bounties under the construction given by the
department. They can only by the existing
law receive $40 month for their services,
while white soldiers receive $13, with cloth
ing and daily ration.
The fortunes of war have brought within
our lines large numbers of colored women
and children, and some aged and infirm per-
sons, and solemn trust rests upon the gov
eminent for their care and protection.
The AdJt. General recommends that the
term of enlistment in the regular service be
fixed at three years instead OF five years, in
accordance with the act of 1853, which ex-
PRED by limitation on the LIST of January
1863.
The Secretary gives list of the principal
ordnance materials in the contrast of the
department at the beginning of the war, and
the quantities Of these articles which have
since been procured, and the quantities of
those articles on hand June, 3Oth, 1868. The
figures are immense.
The operations of the Chief Engineer COM
menced with the survey of the Northern and
Northwestern Lakes, have been continued,
and during the past season have consisted in
the survey of Portage City, on Lake Superior,
and on resuming the survey, of Green Bay
and Lake Michigan, also the examinations Of
the channels of the St. Clair Flats, and of
the St. Georges Flats, also of St. Marks
river, &c.
The details of the Quartermaster General
Department are also given. Also, the report
of the ComEissary General of Subsistence
1t is believed that the troops at every point
have been supplied with an abundance of
wholesome food. Where, in the movement of
our armies, temporary want has been, it has
not been due to any want of foresight or at
tention on the part Of the Commissary Gen
erals Department.
The Paymaster's report and accompanying
Surgeon Generals report, with full Details
are also given. A compliment is paid to the
military telegraph and the valuable services it
has rendered to the government, under the
superintendent of Colonel Stoger and Major
Eckhart. After abiding to some claims
against that department, and saying that
further legislation or a larger appropriation
will be required to carry them into effect, he
concludes as follows:
may be permitted to express the hope that
the next Annual report from this department
may announce the complete overthrow of the
rebellion and restoration of peace and the es-
adjustment of the Union on "a sure foupda-
ton in all the bounds of the United States.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.
The Treasury Department, this morning,
received information by telegraph, from an
Office of the Revenue at Portland, of the re
cent seizure of the steamer chesapeake. The
State and Navy Departments were at once
made acquainted with the fact. The Treasury
Department Immediately telegraphed to Col
lec,or Barney to send Revenue cutter in
pursuit OF the pirates, but before the message
reached hlm telegram was received that he
had already dispatched the Miami on that
business.
The State Department telegraphed to our
Consul at St. Johns to detain the Chesapeake
should she arrive there, and the Navy De-
partment telegraphed Commodore Rhind, at
Portland, to take on board light artillery and
detachment of soldiers from the authorities,
and 90 out in pursuit of the Chesapeake in
the United States steamer Agawaw.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.
The Legislature of Virginia completed its
organization to-day, at Alexandria.
Gov. Pierpont's message was delivered to
both houses. 1t contains an argument
against secession and another in favor of the
emancipation of all the slaves IN the State,
with the recommendation that the Legisia
ture shall call q convention Of the people to
secure the alterations of the constitution to
that end. In answer to the assertion that a
majority of the people of the State were reb-