Evening star., 1865-03-14

that connection, the construction Of a govern
ment powder mill of Sufficient capacity to
make standard and proof ofpowder and gun cot
ton, is also recommended.
The procurement OF suitable ground
for the proof and experimental firing OF
orr nance and small arms Is urgently ad-
vissd as most essential want OF the military
service. c-5 ~
During the year % cadets completed the
course Of studies and practice in the Military
Academy, and were commissioned 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.
The Commiesary General Of Subsistence re-
ports that the supplies Of subsistence stores
have been mostly purchased in Boston, New
York, Philadelphia Baltimore, Washington,
Cincinnati, Louisville, Chicago and St. Louis.
Beef cattle were furnished by contracts of short
duration at most convenient places, and driven
from the places of purchase to the field. Most
of the stores were purchased by advertising,
accepting the lowest bids offered for suitable
articles at cash prices. Attempts have in some
casesEbeen made by individuals and associa-
tions to monopoliZe and control the prices OF
thereby creating m much difficulty.
The armies have been supplied with good
and wholesome food, and large numbers of
prisoners and suffering Union families have
the contractors and others have faithfully COM
piled with their obligations Officers employed
in this branch OK the service with but few ex-
ceptions have performed their duties with
promptness in the field and at depots. During
the year ending June 80, 1864, ffftytwo thou
sand four hundred and eghty-two quarterly
or monthly accounts have been examined and
referred to the Treas ury Department
The report Of the Quartermaster General
contains a statement of the operations and ex-
pendtures of the bureau under his control dur
ing the fiscal year. .-- -
The clerical force authorized by law is, in his
opinion, still insufficient to make that prompt
examination Of accounts and reports OF dis
bIrsing officers desirable, and indeed necessa-
ry, to secure rigid accountability for the ex-
penditure of the public money and property.
An extension of the increase cf compensation
granted by the last Congress to clerks of the
lower grades, SO as to include those of higher
grades, is recommended by the Quartermaster
General, in view Of the increased costof living
in Washington.
The Quartermaster General gives an &C.
count of the measures adopted under the orders
Of the Secretary of War for equpping, supply
ing and moving the large army which, concen.
tratiDg last November On the banks OF the
Tennessee, fought under General Grant the
battle of Chattanooga and opened the way for
the victorious campaign Of the army under
General Sherman, resulting in the capture of
rroaress in the State OF Georgia. The vast
efforts m ade, the wonderful resources in men
and material developed, the manner in which
ricultural and mechanical products of the
valley of the Mississippi, were laid under
contribution In feeding, supplying and moving
vast army In advance of over three hundred
miles from it's secondary, and four hundred
and fifty miles from its primitive base. are de-
scribed. The record is one creditable to the
people who have developed such vast re-:
sources and placed them so periodically at the
disposal of the Government, and also the
officers, their agents in this great work.
The report gives tables OF the quantities OF
the principal military supplies, fuel, forage,
and used during the year. 1t also contains
statements of the Steamboats, employed upon
the Western rivers and Of the steamers and
other vessels upon the ocean, engaged In the
transportation OF troops and supplies.
In this service 1t is believed many abuses
have been reformed and great economies hav We
been effected during the past year. The indi.
cations derived from Congressional examina-
ton and reports have been followed up with
advantage to the service.
The army has been well supplied with all
the essentials of military equipment and with
fuel, forage and all necessaries.
Col ID. 9. McCallum has been placed as mil
itary director in charge OF the military rail-
roads. He has organized an efficient construc.
ton corps, provided rolling stock for which II
was necessary to make onerous demands upon
the manufacturers Of the loyal States. Already
LOCO miles Of railroad have been operated by
this Department, in connection with the move.
ments of the armies.
The mobility Of the armies has increased
i
the earlier history Of the rebellion, that an
army could not be maintained except within
reach Of a navigable river or railroad, b as been
dispersed by such marches as those of Gen.
sherman, from Vicksburg, east OF Meridian,
and back to Vicksburg, from Memphis to
Knoxville and back to Decatur, at a time when
the railroads were not in operation; that of
Gen. Burnside from incinnati and Louigy Vile
through Southeast Kentucky to Knoxville:
that Of Lieut. Gen. Grant from Washington to
Petersburg, and the march of Gen. Sherman
from Atlan3R toward the coast.
The telegraph has continued to be most ef-
fctent and valuable aid to military operations.
Six thousand five hundred miles of military
telegraph have been in operation, OF which
3O00 miles have been constructed during the
year About 1,0OOpersons have been employed
in this work.
Full reports are given of the quantities of
nished to the armies during the year No diff.
hculty has been found in procuring ample
supplies Of good quality from domestic man
blankets. In portion OF these imported ma
terlals have been used, as the domestic man
ufactories have not yet been able to supply all
that were needed. Some frauds have been
lieyed, will be brought to justice by measures
now in progress. Some have already been
convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary.
The vast supplies OF forage needed for our
armies have been furnished generally with
regularity The difficulty Of Transporting. SO
bulky an article As hay has caused some irreg-
ular1ty in Its supply to armies in hostile dis.
tr1cts, and it is remarked in this connection
that the armies in actual movement draw less
heavily upon the means of the department
than those which rest long inactive in districts
exhaused of supplies, and therefore drawing
every necessary from the distant loyal terri
tory. .r- .'- -f'
The trains Of the army are reported to be in
good condition, thoroughly organized, move.
able, perfect in material and equipment, and
well supplied with animals and the means Of
repair. ..,.t .t...
The purchase Of horses for the cavalry was
during the fiscal year, under the direction Of q
branch Of the Quartermaster Generals office,
organized especially for that purpose, in con.
neeton with the Cavalry Bureau. Since the
re organization OF this Office under the law Of
July 4, 1854, the purchase of all horses and
mules for cavalry, artillery and the trains has
been placed under the charge OF q single divi.
sion OF the q Q1artermaster Generals Office. 1t
is believed that this has resulted in advantage
to the service by securing more direct and