New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-07
TEE WAR REPORT.


The Secretary emphasizes the beginning OF
his report by contrasting the expenditures OF
the Department in the last year of the war ana
the first of peace-the former being S5l6,24o,
I2l 20, the latter, by estimate, 1913, sl4,4 6l 81
On the 1st OF May, 1865, there were million OF
men in the army; to-day there are less than
300, 900, and by May next il is expected the
number will not exceed $4,000. The progress
and success of the war which made this vast
reduction possible are detailed at considerable
length. Immediately after its close, orders
were issued to stop drafting and recruiting
reduce purchases of arms, &c, muster out
supernumerary officers, and unfetter trade and
commerce. From the Vetctan Reserve Corps
nearly all the enlisted men have been mus
tered out a. their own desire. Recruit
ing for the regular regiments con-
tnues. Lest it be thought that the
proposed standing army of $4,000 (Which Will
be capable of increase to $1,000 without add
tonal organization) be too small for possible
emergencies, the Secretary reminds us that
either against a renewal of the instruction or
in case of foreign war il will be possible to call
out on The instant an immense number OF vet
eran troops; that the Government has IN Its
arsenals more than million Of small arms,
more artillery than it car conveniently take care
of, three years supply of ammunition, and an
abundant stock of clothing and Quartermasters'
stores The present military organization EN-
braces nineteen departments.
The operations of the different bureaus
are detailed at considerable length. Eight
volumes of reports of battles, with maps and
indexes, are in press. The Adjutant General
describes the rapidity and precision with which
the mustering-out of the troops proceeded.
Regiments began leaving the army Of the Poto-
mac, numbering 162, S5l officers and men, May
%, and in six weeks the whole were gone. The
average per month for the whole army was
296, ii2. The Provost Marshal-General in
cudcs in his statistics the enormous number OF
2,7j9 Oi9 men as the aggregate of quotas called
for. The number constructively put into SER
vice was 2,65G553, and the deficiency Of
for the close of the war. The total disburse-
meuts OF the Paymaster-General since the be-
ginning Of the war; were l,G29 $4,000, Of
which, during the year ending June -, 1850
$500, - ,635 % were paid to volunteers. Losses
and deialcations were $jil 900; expenses of
disbursement Sc, $4,000, being less than three
! fourths of one per cent. The Surgeon-General
reports that during the last year there we've POI
general hospitals, with a capacity Of lJ6, -9i
beds; and in general hospitals alone l,0j7, i23
cases Of sick and wounded have been treated
during the war; the rate Of mortality being :
per cent.
The extraordinary services OF the Quarter
master Generals Bureau are duly rccountcd,
among which not the least remarkable was the
transfer OF Rockers command in l-63, number
ing $4,000 men with artillery, trains, animals,
and baggage, from the Rapidan TO Stevenson. a
distance Of 1872 miles in seven days. The
Quartermaster depots supplied to tho army
during the war 90, O00, 900 bushels Of corn, =,
0OO,O 900 of oats, 1900, 600 tuns Of hay, $4,000
cords Of wood, and l,GOOOOC tuns of coal.
During the last fiscal year alone lil ,G32 cavalry
horses were purchased. The retrcnchments in
the Department since the close OF the war have
been numerous and thorough. The Commissary
General Of Prisoners reports D, sO2 prisoners in
custody from Jan. to Oct. 20, beside which
I74,223 surrendered and We're released on
parole.
The whole number Of colored troops enlisted
during the war was 1885. Their losses from
all causes except muster out were o., lis. After
existing orders for discharge are executed. the
number remaining in service will BE s5,02i.