Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-12-25

The Secretary presents concise and vivid
| sketch of the military operations of the year.
He reviews the great success of the MiSsissip-
pi Valley and on its tribu taries, both east and
west of the great River. He exposes with
mastery fercs the perfdy of the rebel authori-
ties in putting their paroled men into the
ranks before being exchanged, whereby ex-
chages had necessarily to be stopped. He
shows their dishonorabIe course in the abuse
and starvation Of our prisoners in their hands,
in order to compel the Government to swap
40, 900 rebel prisoners for 1900 Union men.
Possibly the g swap" might not be unequal
if quality and not quantity were to govern in
such exchanges. But it don't look well for
the rebel authorities to say so.
The Enrolment act has provided $4,000
men and $4,000 900 as Communication money
for military service. r. ..I tsT =
The Secretary makes most honorable men
tion of the valuable services rendered by the
Invalid Corps, new 10000 strong.
The enlistment of colored troops has reach
ed 5O,00O and the military capacity of those
troops is fully endorsed and commended.
During the year 1,577 cannon, 1,0S2,84l
muskets and rifles, 282,399 carbines and pis-
tolls, 1,295, 900 cannon shot and shell, 4s,719,-
s62 pounds OF lead and bullets, l ,435 ,046 ar
tillery cartridges, 250,023,2l6 cartridges for
small arms, and other munitions in proportion
have been purchased. A tabular abstract is
given. The domestic manufacture of arms
and other munitions has greatly increased and
improved. So of the meterials used wrought
iron, for Instance, being now made in Ameri-
ca superior to that imported. Two millions
of dollars should be appropriated for supply
ing the State militia with arms. Seaboard
and border Notifications have beeu put during
the year in much stronger defensive condi-
tion. Vacancies from the rebsl States in the
Military Academy at West Point have been
supplied from the loyal States. .- a.
The armies have been paid, with few excep-
tions, to October 31st of the present year,
the latest period allowed by law. There are
182 general hospitals, containing 84,472 beds.
The number Of patients, June 80, in the gene
raj hospitals was 81 per cent, and in the field
A per cent of the whole strength of the army,
of whom II per cent are wounded and 2.5 per
cent sick. By the system of inspectors OF hos
pitals the medical and hospital service has
been greatly improved. The health of the
troops has been good, and their mortality less
than last year. r....... .-.
The Military telegraph has been of inestim-
able value. On the 18th of July, 1862, there
were 3,57I miles of land and submarine lines,
and during the year 1,755 miles were con-
structed, making a total OF 1926 in operation.
1t is estimated that 10000 kilograms have
been sent within the year, varying in length |
from ten to thousand words.
The Secretary pays just compliment to
Judge Advocate General HoLr, for diligencs
shown in the detection and prevention Of mill
tary crimes and frauds. During the past |
fourteen months, 1887 military trials have
been reviewed and 2,49O reports issued from
General Hollis office.
Credit is gived by the Secretary to the
Chief of Bureaux in the War Department for
their efficiency, and the report concludes with |
the hope that another year will see the rebel
lion completely overthown.