The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-14
NOVEMBER II, 1864.

aud equipped at public EXPENSE II might be made
penalty Tor the loss Of their horses through NEGLECT or
any other than the inevitable casualties that the
man should be returned TO antry service This would
probably BIO found more efficient than under the pre-
sent system Private ownership has proved 10
obvste neglect aud secure due attention to the
animals, while 1t would remove all inducements
from sell interest 10 undue caution or escape under tho
leg tmao hazards OF There would be certainty,
too that the men were trained and disciplined aud habit
uaisd % neht as Infantry which, in many instances
caNhky, from the nature OF the country the like
tits o. the enemy, are compelled to do Il doubted
that shs way the superiority cavalry over that
Of tho enemy could DO permanently established.
CONSOLIDATION ORGANIZATIONS.
i nas been more than once heretofore urged by the
department that 10 maintain the number eic ency
sorno power OF reducing and consolidating them. The
depletion Of many OF toe organizations during late
wasting ana nioody campaign has made this more than
ever manifest. IL 10 imposs BILE adequately recruit
many OF the reduced regiments companies especially
those from the distant aud Mississippi states aud
not few are so thinned In their dos
rondency and neficiency. There 10 necessarily too an
undue proportion OF officers to men, which adds to the
expense, while weakening the force Of the army. Tho
evil rs often SO glaring toat q remedy is obliged
~ some way to be applied This Is done At
the expense OF subsequent embarrassmeuts and
union by the authority general 10 the held Of
fragmentary companies regiments or, legally
though indirectly under the sanction OF the department
BY the Disarmament OF some depleted organizations and
the assignment AS BY CONSUMPTION, OF the to
otner In such case however, there Is no chance Of
ectpg the best officers Of both organizations there
" tho injustice Of depriving all the officers, however
msr,toriOus, the dsbanded their commissions
ltwoud evidently be much more just and beneficial 10
Tho service that the power should exist consolidate
th&woAnd retain the best officers OF each. II Is
msuend that the power be granted.
a1@@ COURTS FOR RESERVES.
Il nasoceu mentioned that for the organization and
coutvcfof the reserves commander has been assigned
which yet cannot, IL Is thought, be justly deemed
independent army. Hence an embarrassment results
not entitled 70 order and review the proceedings OF
martial; nor, military court, as is authorized by law
for each State should be appointed could they have It
attached to their commands review its declsons As
the necessarily rather deficient order and
training the restraint and influence tribunals
specially necessary control and sunordnaton
probably not necessary to give any military
revision of the decision OF any established for the States
respectively as the power to appoint and revise tho pro-
then be constituted to sit permanently Of disabled or
invalid OH ers.
.kg CONFEDERATE cAPTIvEs.
Tho condition OF our gallant soldiers in the hands Of
the enemy continues engage socitude
OF the department The number OF the captives sach
side has been greatly sweed by the vcstudes OF the
present fearful campaign, though the dsproportion
heretofore existing against us has been by superior
successes greatly reduced, II not entirely 1t
has been the desire and effort Of the depart
ment 10 effect exchanges on. any principle OF
equity, and the opportunity has nevcr been lost
to obtain his concurrence. The obligations or
the cartel and the faith pledged TO its observance hav
been repeatedly invoked. but in vain To demands
limitations were conveyed that tho enemy would only
agree 10 al exchange OF man Tor man. So long the
enemy held they claimed superiority 10 the number
OF captives IL that this mode exchange would
leave surplus or ouf captive soldiers in their hands,
without for the time any adequate check ths inhu
manty and cruelty they have been prone TO
hibt towards such captives St the preponderance
OF numbers steadily dmin he'd, confidence Increased
that the prospect OF speedy captures wonld soon
enable TO check or average their malignity.
This consideration in aid OF tho powerful Incentives,
even more 0. humanity and gratitude than OF interest
that urged any practicable effort for tho relief
lease Of imprisoned soldiers Induced overlook
alike just rights under the cartel aud apprehensions
Of the probable III treatment Of the surplus that might
remain In power Of vndclive foes, and pro.
exchange she very ntimated acceptable,
ON mao fSs man. ns os only AFFORDED another
the enemy for made apparent that their pro-
tossed willingness was but pretext and blind, and
acquiescsd In TO conceal their own determination to
make no general exchange. They have and there
commanders In the field but the appears 70
have deliberately adopted the remorseless and nhuman
m ,ho soS wn A. c
They pay thus implicitly 10 gallant soldiers the
tribute Of admitted superiority, while they exhibit to
the unhappy victims from their army their ngrati.
tnde. pcrfdy and cruelty. One OF thor fayorite
manders hesta,ed TO avow with utter dis
tneir consideration and protection. a. the terms
OF service OF many had expired, they were
rot TO be regarded as subjects OF equal exchange
IL likewise appears that thew gloat OF
being able, by their blockade and devastation to
to submission people whom they cannot subdue by
arms they calculate 10 utter indifference the suerngs
that be eutaiied their captive soldiers,
tho supplies which must be furnished them, as an ef-
,ectiye GRAIN On our limited resources. Could We
indeed, be so Strengthened they delude themselves
believing how fearful must they TO be pri
vators and sperings OF their soldiers hands since
they could Expect sarvo gallant soldiers
people noufsh the maguant invaders who had sought
TO nllict worst ls Of and famine These
iamiue which the brb,rsus warfare OF their govern
nent may While no suob suffering has yet been
entsied on them, bet on the contrary they have,
through the hrmsnitv OF our government, been pro-
vded as soldiers, yet such privations
they have had 10 share with them have been cxag
gerated by the cacny, In part from their do
but from the dgcpt invention OF false tales, and
have been made tue eext Of wanton privatous to our
faithful soldiers " their hands They compel suffering
their soldiers by their malignant outrages against
civilized warfare, and then md In such for visit
log cruelty and starvation soldiers TO whom II IL
not pretended they could not easily afford all the com.
forts aud subsistence duo TO captves In The in
ssceabe baseness Of such course exceeds even Its nbu
nanity and for either would be difficult % find par
Ae IN the history OF civilized much less Christian,
nations.
II s gratifying to be able TO state that since the FORE
gong written a prospect has been afforded OF
oratng the condition OF captive soldiers. When all
pverurcs to the government OF seemed van
General Ice instructed to make directly to General
Grant proposition that, without releasing ether gov
from the obligation OF aording due provision to
captyes each should bayo the right Of furnishing 10
s own prisoners 10 the possession OF the other,
under the direction OF officers among them,
supplies Of necessary articles as it might deem cxpedent
send Tnis accepted doubtless through the inhu
OF the mnsndng General OF the feder al armies
VINO however proiusc OF the lives OF his IN BATTLE
,oud bat have sympathy and for the Imprisoned
soldier. is indicative OF the rcmorscess policy OF the
hostile government that such concessions to the claims
n humanity should have been made sooner by the
,,ern soldier In the field than by. their
'iatesmen In tho Cabinet. Az the liberty
i Afforded by the agreement with commendabie
iberality that suppiics may Be purchased IN Northern
rites soldiers dptiuy w from for1n
,oss there be but little delay difficulty in afford
pg them all reasonable supplies Tor the alienation OF
heir unhappy state. This arrangement will be ss graft
yirg TO government and people II Is contormabo
humanity aud wise policy The report OF agent OF
exchange submitted IN connection with this subject.
will display the past and present state Of ncgo
iatious for exchange
BUREAU OPERATIONS.
The operations or the several administrative bureaus of
he department havc been conducted with zeal, ability
md success rejecting great credit their several heads
They have had grievous difficulties and
encounter from depreciatng currency Deficiencies OF
abor ard materials. and straitoned OF ransporta
ion and distribution In addition they have been
strained BY the stringent legislation OF Congress 10 reln
lush their most active and experienced agents and EN-
oloyes and substitute them from the more nnrm
Ind aged classes. was not practicable to
!, this immediately without serious arrest OF all
he essential operations OF oducon and supply for tho
but tho Obligation has been steadily observed