Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-08
The .-Anaaai Report q the Secretary Of
War,

GRANT an opportunity 10 Iurnlsn MS summary
of the military operations of the past year ;
but the activity of the present campaign de-
nands the Generals uncessing attention, and
the report appears without his record. Mr..
STANTON says that " the military events of the
year have been officially published by the De-
partment from time TO time as they occurred,
and are fully known in every branch of this
government and throughout the civilized
world. They constitute a series of success
ful marches, sieges and battles, attesting the
endurance and courage of the soldiers of the
United States, and the gallantry and military
skill of their commanders, unrivalled in the
history of nations"
The report presents a brief sketch of the
military establishment, emitting the exact
strength Of the forces now under arms. The
following are the principal facts set forth:
Twenty-One depots are established in the
principal States for collecting and forwarding
TO regiments, volunteers substitutes and
drafted men. The Veteran Reserve Corps
have been of much service in guarding these
deuots, and escorting detachments to their
regiments There are also six special dcpOts
tor recruits enlisted in the rebel states, by
agents from loyal States.
Boards of examination have been kept up
70 INQUIRE into causes of absence from duty
and alleged offences BY officers. The effect
has been to diminish the number of cases
published and referred to the boards TO
three hundred and sixty-fOur for eleven
months whereas, before their organization,
4 \
ported monthly for absence without leave
alone.
The status of Chaplains seems TO be misun-
derstood. From the wording of the act of
April 9, 1864, section 1, is thought by some
Chaplains that new rank between the
grades of Major and Captain is intended for
them This is supposed to be an error grow
ing out of the use of the term " Surgeon in
the act, instead of medical Officer" The
former assimilated rank OF Chaplaius, in ref
erence to allowance of quarters and pay
proper, was " Captain and such now should
be their rank.
Over two hundred flags captured from the
rebels have been received, properly labelled,
and deposited for safe-keeping.
Medals of honor have been awarded in nu-
merOus instances to privates and non-cOm-
missiOnei officers for gallant services. The
plan OF 1NhEuAuE EOA4 anu eAAkGE llGuAl5 10
officers instead of breyets, TO a certain extent,
IS commended to notice. It should not super
sede the comforting of brevet, especially in
cases where such rank might be exercised in
high commands.
The supplies produced during the past ifs
cal year include 1850 pieces Of ordnance,
2.S6l artillery carriages and caissOns, SO2,5 25
small arms, 794, O55 sets of accOutrements
aud harness, l, 674, PA prCjectiles for cannon,
1910, 146 pounds of bullets and lead, S,469,-
400 pounds of gUnpOwdcr, log, ago, O29 cart
ridges for small arms. These are complete
articles, in addition TO the large quantities of
the same kind of supplies partially made up
Il the arsenals.
The ordnance supplies furnished to the
military service during the fiscal yeariD
I.l4l pieces of ordnance, ,S96 artillery car
riages and caissOns, ass, 9lO, small arms, 502,
O4i sets of Announcements and harness,
1889 prOjectlles for cannon, 1924 ,6S5
pounds of bullets and lead, l64, 5f9 rounds of
artillery ammunition, l52, UG7 sets of horse
equipments, 1I2,US7, 55S cartridges for small
arms, 7,j44, 044 pounds OF gunpOwder. These
supplies we're in addition 10 large quantities
Of parts provided for repairs in the field
TIE capacity of the arSenals for the manu-
factuFe Of munitions of war has been increas-
Cd during the year, and that increase is still
going on, so far as the means appropriated
will admit. Supplies manufactured at the
arsenals are of better quality and less cost
than similar articles obtained by contract or
purchase.
The national armory at Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, can turn out three hundred thous
and of the. best quality of rifled muskets an
nually.
Possession has been taken of Rock Island,
Illinois, in pursuance of an act of Congress,
and the requisite buildings for an arsenal
there are in progress.
There is on hand a stock of three-quarters
of million of frst-class rife small arms, ex-
elusive of the arms in the hands of the troops
since increased to a million and quarter.
The introduction of breech-lOading arms
for the military service generally is recon-
mended.
The selection of site for general depos
itory of gunpOWder, and the erection of suit
able magazines thereon, is recommended
In that connection, the construction of gov
eminent pOwder-mill of sufficient capacity 10
make standard and proof powder and gun
cotton, is also recommended.
The procurement of a suitable ground for
the proof and experimental firing of ord
nance and small arms is urgently advised as
a most essential want of the military service.
During the year twenty-seyen cadets COM
pleted the course of studies and practice in
the Military Academy, and were commits
stoned in the army. The smallness of this
number grows out of the designations which
occurred in this class in the beginning of the
rebellion. The classes at this time have the
usual strength corresponding TO Congressional
representation.
Col d. c. MeCullum has been placed as
military director IN charge of the military
railroads. He has organized an efficient con-
structiOn corps, provided rolling stock, for
which il was necessary 10 make OnerOus de-
mands upon the manufacturers of the loyal
States Already thousand miles of rail-
road have been operated by this Department,
in connection with the movements of the
armies.
The telegraph has continued to be most
efficient and valuable aid to military opera
tons Six thousand FIVE hundred miles of
military telegraph have been in operation, of
which three thousand miles have been con-
structed during the year. About one thou
sand persons have been employed in this
work
There are 100 military hospitals, with
capacity of 100, 52l beds.
The enrolment lists, November /, contain
ed 2,7s4 ,226 names.
Enrolment and draft expenses last lear
amounted to $4,Ol6,72S
Over l36, 900 veteran soldiers re-enlisted
for three years in the fall Of 1868. Desert
ers and stragglers arrested last year number
ed 80 1872 The veteran reserve corps mum
beers 764 officers and rs, 7SS men.
The supply of animals has been at the rate
Of about i've hundred per day. which is also