Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-21
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.

pontmenr 81 Gen. Butter to the command OF the Depart
ment of the West from which Gen. Curtis has just been
removed and OF which Brig Gen. Schoheld. whose nomi'
nation major general the Senate omitted to confirm
the ground Of his prosave views aud general incsPsc
ty. is temporarily in charge.
THE ENROLMENT FOR THE DRAFT
The provost marsbas appointed under the national
romeLt act have received their Instructions and been
directed to proceed with the draft forthwith 1t is sup
posed however that it will take from fifty to sixty days
to complete it, and it doubtful whether any draft be
made before the middle of July Volunteers may how
ever, be called for before that time.
THE $500 DRAFT EXEMPTION CASE.
The apparently conflict ng statements respecting the
depreciation Of the $500 clause in the National Enrolment
easily rec,ncied upon the basis of our paragraph
Mondays Tribune the subject. The Secretary of
War has within three days. declared several times
that he had concluded to the clause per-
mssye and not mandatory upoo him, and should ignore it,
But tho Arguments which convinced the Secretary aud
Senator Wilson Of the correctness Of this view failed to
convince Solicitor Whiting, whose opinion question
of law is justly valued Nor is there any evidence that
the President who has heretofore considered the clause
badng upon the Secretary in the atters view
that its enforcement is optional with him 1t win thus be
that the Government has yet auhoritavey
cded the question and not improbable in view of its
exceeding Importance that it may yet be referred to the
Attorney General. Possibly, either in lieu of such refe-
in addition to it, the several members of the Cabi-
may be called upon lay their opinions in writing be-
fore the President 1t is understood that the views ofthe
Att rney General dametricaly opposed to those
by the Secretary Of War; and that he holds that
the law obges the Secretary to fix by the payment
OF which, to prcperyappoated persons, the drafted
may discharge himself The eventual determination of the
vernment under thess circumstances ia of courss
matter of uncertainty.
OUR REGULAR ARMY.
The fate of the regular army has more attracted
the attention of the War Department Before the war
broke regular army consisted OF seventeen
thousand composed Of regiments of infantry and
the remainder of cavalry and artillery. In June, 1861
eleven regiments each have three battalions of
eight hundred men, were added to this force. Subse-
quently all mounted gmenss, old and new, put
the footing regards numbers, each having
thousand two hundred men, If all the regiments
full should have forty Thousand regulars but it
has been discovered that the lat of May they did not
number five hundred men EACH while they rapidly
dwindng cut of existence recruiting having almost died
away The order perm ting volunteers to so under the
regular standard stopped huge gaps for time, but
the order countermanded and death is threatening
this branch Of the service West Point is alarmed
has pamphlets of which has just been issued
here to that regulars better soldiers than voun
rers because they have lost greater number of in
battle What will be taken in the premises is not
yet decided upon Officers have recently been detached
om uued regiments and assigned to staff and recruiting
duty Every regular recruit obtained costs when al things
taken into account, nearly two hundred doars; and
yet there enough enlisted supply the peace
requirements, not to speak OF The exigencies OF war
Recruiting will probably, therefore, be abolished and
radical adopted to fill the decimated ranks
Several nent in favor of letting the regular
army die OUT its usefulness were It's so brave
is of little unit when number troops by the half
m lion 1t is said however that Gen Haeck will endeavor
to have all the regular regiments filed to their full quota,
and kept at it by some means or other.
THE CASE OF GEN BUELL.
Even before the record Of the Commission had been
made Gen. Buell. put his defence, which is regarded
sk into the printers hands with intent to publish it at
once In pamphlet The Commissioners, getting wind Of
this fact prob bted the publication before all the copy had
been put IN type The docum mt will, however probably
all wed to appear 80 soon as the President shall have
acted up the fndings which enbraos not Only sum.
ming Of the facts OF The campaign derived from the
estmony but also opinion upon the conduct of Gen
Buell. and other Ulcers implicated and up the punish
ment if any, which each deserves the Commission having
been armed " th similar powers with those exercised by
the court which nv-sgaed the rrener of Harper,s
Ferry The opinion of the Com mission which was writ
ten by Gen Lws Wallace and is the hands OF the
Secretary Of War; rather brief and s said to deal
eneny with all Concerned 10 be altogether satisfactory
to military powers that be. 1t IL thought probable,
however, that will he approved bit doubtful whether it
will at present be given to the world Gem Ord is still
Carlisle Barracks whittier he was exiled as punishment
for coming to Washington without leave Will member
OF the Buell. Commission Major Don Piau Judge Advo-
Of the Buell. Commission gone t. Baltimore Where
he vii nm ediateysnter upon his duties chief of Gen
THE RAssMssIssIPPI DEPARTMENT.
1t feared that Gen. Scho6eld the choice of Governor
mbe Senator Henderson, and others belonging to the
moderate party in Missouri will be continued in command
of the Trans Mississippi Department instead Of Gen But
ler who has been strongly pressed for the succesohp
to Gen. Curtis Great indignation is felt here that
whose principal recommendation is that be graduate
Of West Point and is unlikely to offend poavery Union.
ists should be put in important position, while the
sword of Gen. Butler is permitted to rust in Lowell on
the plea that place be found for him The order
| making the change in the department is follows;
Var Department Adutant Generals Office,
Washington, May Is, lea.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. l2i-Fitst. Mi ;. G,n. j M.
Scho6ed s by direction Of the Pre- dent
mand the Department Of MssnuIi.
Second Major Gen. g. X. Curtis, ing relieved from
his command will report by letter he AGjutaut Gene
| raj Of the Army.
BY order Of the President.
e. d. TOWNSEND Asst. Adj Gen.
| THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
There quiet the Rappahannock and there is to be
quiet there for two three weeks yet unless the bells
make demonstration upon Washington Mary land
Gen Hooker has full command Of his army STILL and there
IL not thought in the Presidents mind Of removing him
His plans for the future kept secret and with proprie
y but certain outside facts give sufficient evidence that
Gen Hooker has idea of doing any thing for weeks
yet This IL the very weather q fighting general would
mos desire for military operations month later the
temperature is too high for Northern soldiers in Virginia
The delegation of gentlemen from the city Of New York
who came here to get Gen. Franklin put in command Of
4 II