The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-12-24

and pays high tribute to the bravery
and skill of our troops. -
He says the combined operations OF
our army aud navy against Charleston
have not yet accomplished what was
expected of them. In Texas large
force operating under Banks, will give
protection to the people Of that State,
aud shut off chief avenue of the rebels
for foreign commerce and foreign aid.
The armies of Lee and Meade now oc-
cupy relatively the same. positions as
they did at the date of the last annual
report. .-s...,
West Virginia is DOW clear Of rebels
and the people of that State are enjoy
ing in comparative peace, the blessings
Of civil government The rebel forces
in Missouri have been driven beyond
ths Arkansas riser5 27lia1
No military operations of any mag
nitude have taken place in Virginia or
North Carolina. The Federal force
are no,o planted firmly in euery rebel
State. III ~ , = Etsn1
The success of our armies during
the past year has enabled the Depart
ment to make reduction of over $780,
600, 900 in the estimates tor the ensuing
year. e go =
The trouble in regard to the ex-
change of prisoners is reviewed at
length, and the blame, for the non-ex,
change thrown entirely upon the rebel
authorities.
He alludcs to the good treatment
the rebel prisoners have received at
hands, and denounces the rebel author
tiles 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,
yielding $4,000 soldiers and 100000
600 for procuring substitutes.
The $500 clause is alluded to, as
arc also the conflicting opinion in re-
gard to it, justice and injustice. He
says that large proportion of the
troops whose terms expire next year,
will rssnlist, it being stipulated by the
Government that they shall have at
least one months furlough before lhsin
present term expires.
The indications are that the force re-
quired will in great measure be raised
by volunteering, and without a draft.
An immediate appropriation for boun.
ties should be made. He then alludes
to the valuable servios the invalid corps
has rendered to the Government. The
corps now numbers 10000, officers and
privates. rl5A II esa
He says, Immediately after the issue
of the Presidents proclamation, dill
gent efforts were commenced, and have
continued until the present time, for
raising colored troops. Fifty thousand
colored men are now organized, and
the numbers will rapidly increase as
our armies advance. The freed slaves
make good soldiers, are disciplined,
and are full of courage. The slave has
proved his manhood and capacity, and
makes good infantry or artillery oI
cavalry soldier, as has been evidenced
on several occasions. The, colored
troops have been allowed no bounties
under the construction given by the
Department. They can only, by the
existing law, receive $40 per month for
their services, while white soldiers re
ceivs $Is, with clothing and daily ra-
tons.
The fortunes of war have brought
within our lines large numbers of col
ored women and children, and some
aged and inirm persons. A solemn
trust rests upon the Government for
their care and protection.
The Adjutant General recommends
that the term of enlistment in the regu-
lar service be fixed at three years in
stead of Eve, in accordance with the
act Of 1853, which expires by limita-
ton on the LIST Of January, 1864.
The Secretary gives list Of the
principal ordnance materials in the con-
troll Of the Department at the beginning
of the war, de-, and the quantities of
these articles or hand June 3Oth. 1858.
The figures are immense.
The operations of the Chief Enpi.
neer connected with the survey of the
Northern and Northwestern lakes have
been continued, and during the past
season have consisted in the snrvev Of
Portage Entry, on Lake Superior and
in resuming the survey of Green Raw
and Lake Michigan also the EXAMINE
tioDs of the channels of the ST. Cla;,
Flats and of St. George; also of ST..
Mary's river. -@E-Ess-
The details Of the Quartermsstr
ora L.