The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-12-23
Extracts from the Report Of the
Secretary Of War.

every rebel State, and there is reason to
hopo the loyal people Of these States will
soon cast oil the rebel yoke.
The success of the department in the last
year has enabled it to make reduction OF
over two hundred millions in war estimates
for the ensuing fiscal year
The enemy have about thirteen thousand
of our men, and we have forty thousand Of
their men in our hands.
The reasons for the cessation of cN.
changes arc chiefly as follows; l. Viola
ton OF parole 10y rebels cspturod at Nioks-
burg and Port Hudson. They made no
excuse for it, cxceptthat they had captured
an equal number but on examination 1t was
found that this number was mainly made up
of non-comhatants, farmers, &c, picked UP
by John Morgan aud hhe rebel raiders
.. Refusal to exchange negro officers and
soldiers.
The subsequent ill.treatment of prison
crs in their hands, was intended to force
us, through motives of humanity, to ex-
change all on our side, merely parolling
the excess, the effect of which operation
would be to enable the rebels 10 put into
the field new army &c, 900 strong, forcing
paroled prisoners into the ranks without
exchange, as was done with those at Vicks-
x
hands of the rebels the colored soldiers and
officers, who are not regarded by them as
prisoners of war, and, therefore, not en-
titled to tile benefit of the proposed cx.
change,
The operation Of the conscription law has
raised only fifty thousand soldiers in the
twelve States in which it has been enforced,
The three hundred dollar clause occasions
delay ut any rate, if nothing more, in call
ing out the military force. The question
whether this clause shall remain requires
the early attention Of Congress. The COM
mutation moley is being applied to procur.
ing substitutes as fast as possible. NOlun-
teering is going on with spirit A large
portion OF the troops, whose time expires
next year, will re.enlst. The indications
arc that the force required WILL in great
measure be raised by volunteering, with
out another draft.
The Invalid Corps moro than realized ex-
pectations. OF negro troops, over fifty
thousand are now organized and in the
ranks, and the number will rapidly increase
as our armies advance into the re bel States
The raising of these troops has been re.
tar ded, first, by military operations in pro.
gress and, second, by the removal of slaves
into the interior, beyond the reach OF our
recruiting agents. This obstacle it is
hoped, will soon be entirely overcome.
Many persons believed, or pretended to be.
lieve, and confidently asserted that freed
slaves would not make good soldiers that
they would lack courage, and could not be
subjected to military discipline. Facts
have shown how groundless were these
apprcheusions. The slave has proved his
manhood, and his capacity as Il soldier, at
Millikcn's Bend, at the assault upon Port
Hudson, and the storming of Fort Wagner.
Tho apt qualifications Of the colorcd man
for artillery service have long been known
and recognized by the naval service, and
extracts from official reports show what he
can do in the cavalry service. Colored
troops have been allowed no bounty, and
under the construction given by the De-
parlment, they can only, by existing law,
receive the pay Of $40 per month, white sol
diers being paid $l3 per month, with
clothing and daily rations. There seems to
be inequality and injustice in this distinc-
ion, and an amendment, authorizing the
same pay and bounty that white troops re-
ccive, is recommended. Soldiers of the
Union, fighting under it's banner, and ex-
posing their lives in battle to uphold the
Government, are entitled to enjoy it's justice
and beneficence. We are now Independent
of foreign countries in ordnance, and the
efforts to supply ourselves have developed
important inventions and improvements for
gun barrels, &c, requiring iron of the finest
quality. The iron of our production is now
superior to that of foreign countries.
The law of 1903, appropriating $500 600
per year for armng the militia, is far from
sufficient, aud two millions are recon.
mcnded.
The army is paid mp till the first Of DC
toJer except when the payment has been
delayed by the commanding generals, in
consequence Of pending military opera
tons.
On the lst day of July, 1862, there were
3,67l miles of land and submarine tele.
graph lines i'll working order. During the
fiscal year l 1855 miles of land and subma
rine military telegraph lines were added
there thus being in operation, during the
year, 1896 miles, being a length Of line suf
fcient to girdle more than one-lifth Of the
circumference of tho globe.
Tho following is the business of the
Judge Advocates Office for fourteen months
Number of records of trials by general
courts martial and military commissions re.
viewed, 1887; number Of reports made
as to the reguaritiss Of the proceedings on
applications for restoration to the service
and for pardon of offenders, and remission
or communication Of sentences, 2,3l8; mis-
cellaneous reports on other questions, re-
ferred to the Office, ,722.