The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-12-21
Secretary Stanton's Report---Interesting
Facts,

! Faccs.
The report of E. NJ Stanton the Sec
retary of War, presents some facts IN re-
ference to the last year of the war and
the first year of peace, which exhibit IN
a most striking manner the wonderful re-
sources of the country and the unpar
alleled energy which, toward the conclu-
sion of the contest, characterized all our
operations. The rapidity with which
vast bodies of troops were transferred
from one field to another, is especially re-
markable. Thus the Twenty third Army
Corps, after fighting at Nashville, in the
midst of ice and snow, 10 December, 1861
was, on the conclusion of the campaign
in the West, transferred, $4,000 strong,
from the valley of the Tennessee to the
banks of the Potomac, moving by river
and rail down the Tennessee. up the O.
hio, across the snow covered Alleghanies,
distance of !, 400 miles, and, in the
short space of eleven days, was encamp-
ed on the banks Of the Potomac, then
blocked up with ice of most severe win
ter Vessels were collected to meet this
corps, the obstacles interposed by the ice
were overcome, and early in February the
troops composing it, were fighting before
Wilmington, on the coast Of North Car
olina. The only PARALLEL to this move
ment was the transfer of the Eleventh
and Twelfth Corps, under General Hook
er, in 1868, from the Potomac to the
Tennessee which, at the time, was an al
most unexampled operation. Gen. Hook
er's command contained $4,000 men, and
was accompanied by its artillery and
trains baggage, and animals, and accom-
plished the distance, from the Rapidan,
in Virginia, to Stevenson, in Alabama. a
distance of eleven hundred and ninety
two miles, in seven days, crossing the "
hio river twice /!
These, however, were not the on y feats
of the On termaster- Generals Bureau
In furnishing the vast supplies of forage
required by our armies, the same energy
aud activity were displayed as in the
transportation of troops. The depots of
the Quarter masters Department have,
during the war. furnished the army with
%, 100000, bushels of corn, $4,000, 900
bushels of oats, 80 900 bushels of barley,
100000 tons of hay, 10000 tons of
straw, $50, 600 cords of wood, and l,600,-
900 tons of coal all of which have been
purchased, measured, transported, issued
and accounted for by its officers and a
gents. At the depot of Washington a
lone there have been issued during the
year 4 100000 bushels of corn, 29,000,-
900 bushels of oats, 400, 900 tons of hay,
100000 cords of wood, and 392, 900 tons
of coal. 1t is stated as an interesting
fact that over 700 vessels have been con-
stantly employed in transporting troops
and supplies, while all the principle lines
of railway have been taxed in a greater or
less degree to meet the demands of the
service
The rapidity and precision with which
the armies were mustered out upon the
termination of hostilities are strikingly
illustrated by some statements of this re-
port. The command of Gen Sherman
(army of the Tennessee and army of
Georgia) and army of the Potomac were
frst~to complete their musters-out entire
ly. Regiments commenced leaving Gen
eral Shermans command, then number
ing present and absent, 1862, officers
and men, from the rendezvous, near Wash
ington, on the 29th of May, and on the lst
of August the last one of the regiments
mustered out left Louisville. Kentucky,
to which point the command (after the
musters-out therefrom were partly com
pleted, was transferred, and the armies
composing it merged into one, called the
army of the Tennessee. The first regi
ment from the army of the Potomac,
numbering l62, 1851 men. also left Wash
ington on the 29th of May, and in six
weeks not man remained ! Thus in
two months, 279,034 officers and men
were mustered out and placed en- route
to their homes, and including other
armies and departments, the number was
increased by August I, (two months and
seven days. to 640,S06 officers and men
History does not record another instance
IN which so vast an army was so rapidly
absorbed into the home population, and
entered upon other duties than those of
/ tho c.mn and field