Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-28

Abstracts OF the Report OF the secre.
tary Of War.

materially augmented BY the length of time
through which that anticipation has been allowed
10 increase The style in which the report Is
compiled is most precise and retrenched, only the
merest alusion being made to those themes, the
details OF which are intrusted 20 the various de
par ments The campaign Of the army Of the
Potomac the operations on James river and
around Richmond and Petersburg, 1.-The progress
of the army through Georgia, and the capture OF
Atlanta and Savannah, the reduction OF the
forts In Mobile harbor, the rout Of the rebel army
in Tennessee, the victorious career of the army
Of the Shenandoah, the storming OF Fort Fisher,
and the capture Of Wilmington, Charleston and
Columbia, left to be included IN the repor, OF
Lieut. Gen. Grant
1t is stated however, that the mobility OF our
armies has increased, and that old opinion that
an army could not be maintained except within
reach of a nsvigable river railroad has been
d sproyed By such marches as those OF Sherman
from Nickshurg east of Meridian and back To
Vicksburg. from Memphis TO Knoxville. and
back to Decatur, and from Atlanta toward the
coast; OF Burnside from Cincinnati and Louis
vile through Southeast Kentucky 70 Knoxville.
and of Grant from Washington to Petersburg
The two depots for the collection of recruits
for tue army at large consist of one for infantry
at Fort Columbus, n Y 3. and one for INQUIRED
service ], Carlisle, Penn Mention is likesise
made Of fourteen depOts for different regiments;
twenty one depots established in the different
states for collecting and forwarding 10 regimen's
volunteers, substitutes, and drafted men, and
si1 special depots for recruits enlisted in the rebel
states by agents from loyal states The local.
ties where supplies of subsistence stores have
been mostly purchased are Boston, New York
Philadelp hia. Baltimore, W Washington, Cincinnati,
Louisville, Chicago. aud st. Louis. The entire
army is paid up to August 81, 1864 OF in process
of pay rapidly as the treasury supply
funds.
The report furnishes some statistics with re
ference to the supplies produced during the pas,
fiscal year. These include 1850 pieces OF ord
nance. , 36l artillery eassons and carriages
SO2, 525 small arms, 1913 055 sets Of accoutre-
ments and harness, GA 244 prOectes for can
non. II. 14O.l46 pounds OF bullets and lead. g.
4O9 400 pounds OF gunpowder, and l69 AGO ,O29
cartridges. " Supplies" says the repor,
- manufactured the arseDals, are Of better
quality and less cost than similar articles obtain
ed by contract or purchase. Accordingly, in
pursuance of an act of congress, preparations are
being made for the erection OF new arsenal at
Rock Island, Illinois The selection of a site
for general depository Of gunpOwder, the cree
ton Of suitable magazines, the construction of a
government powder mill of sufficient capacity TO
make standard and proof powder and gun cotton
the procurement OF suitable ground for the
proof and experimental firing Of ordnance and
small arms, and the introduction OF breecb-oa
ing arms for the military service, are all recon
mended.
Meanwhile, the special efforts of the bureau
OF the chief engineer for the last year have been
directed to the preparation of the coast de!ences
90 receive the heavier and most suitable artillery
for combating iron clad vessels, the construction
o. field works and lines with the armies in the
field, the preparation aud service Of p0ntoon
bridge equipage, AMI the reduction OF the enc
my works on Morris Island, at Forts Morgan
anu Gaines by a seize of siege operations
The statements. however, which are made
with respect TO the health of the army are among
the most gratifying. During the year no des-
tructive epidemics prevailed in any section, and
the number OF sick and wounded was small in
comparison TO the proportion t bore TO the entire
army. The severest tests possible have been ap-
Piled. and with success. to the establishment of
medical depots within reach Of the armies in the
field, and their prompt supply upon the field of
battle, the transportation of sick and wounded
by ambulance, railroad, and hospital transports,
the suffciency and successful administration Of
the best system Of general hospitals and the san
itary precautions, as well all the minor details
OF the medical department, tending to the great
or comfort of the sick aud wounded as well as
20 the health and efficiency of the troops
At the date Of the previous annual report, ls2
hospitals, accommodating 81 Az beds, were in
operation During the summer campaign, eight
additional hospitals we're established, and
the capacity was increased by the provision
for 36.049 additional beds. Throughout
the entire year, however. the health of the whole
army. We are told, was better than is usual with
troops engaged 50 constantly on active duty and
IN aTduous campaigns.
Very interesting mention is made of colored
men The labors connected with the quarter
master generals bureau have extensively en-
gagged the labors of these persons. each one so
emplOyed releasing white soldier from labor,
and restoring him to his place in line of battle.
The guariermaster general endeavored to pro
cure colored men from the departments Of the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts IN order to provide ne
gro labor with the armies before Richmond He
was unsuccessful, however, in procuring labor
from either Of these departments. and the CON-
mander OF one OF them assured him that all the
cOlored men were needed for labor necessary to
the success Of military operations. OF other public
service
The repcr does not close without the assur
ance that the general exchange of prisoners eff
fected By Lieu nant General Grant is in
course Of diligef secutiOn, and that a fur
Tough OF thirty olrs is extended 10 all "a soon
as they ere returned 20 camp at Annapolis. The
remarks with reference 20 the provost marshal
general department contain the following sen
tence with respect To- re re enlisimen; of veteran
volunteers
"0ver hundred and thirty six thousand tried
soldiers, who would otherwise this have been
discharged, we're secured tor three years longer.
Organizations which would have heen lost to the
service were preserved and recruited. and clpa-
Die and experienced officers we're retained COM
mand Tie force thus organized and retainei has
performed an essential part in the great campaign
OF lcoi ard It's importance 20 the country cau-
not De over estimated
In these statements OF tie provost MARSHAL
general. Secretary Stanton expressed bis entire
concurrence We are further informed thar the
results OF the recruitment under the act Of July
I! le64. for recruiting in the rebel states are re
ported unfavorab'e; that nearly forty thousand
stragClers AM deserters have been arrested be-
tween October |, 1863, and October sol. ard
over sixty thousand since the establishment Of
the bureiu up 10 tie lst day OF last October.
At that date also, The veteran reserve corps con
sisted Of 76f officers md 2S.7cc men It's dis
cipIne and Instruction are described as good With
the further remark that the entire corps i doing
duty which would other wise have 20 be perform
ed bv al equal number Of able bodied troops de
iached from the armies in the field, although vet
inadequate 10 number 10 81 the demands made
upon II
The Indians ia Wisconsin who have just re
eeiyed their annuities. called the fractional cur
rency "papose money