The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-05
IMPORTANT ORDER.
GREAT REDUCTION OF EXPENSES,

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJr. GEMS. OFFICE, !
WASHINGTON, April %, 1865. {
GENERAL ORDER No. U.-FOr reducing the
expenses of the military establishment. it is
ordered
/. That the Chiefs of the respective Bureaus
of their departments proceed Immediately to
reduce the expenses of their respective De-
partments to what is absolutely necessary in
view of the immediate reduction of the forces
termination of hostilities, and that they sever
ally report statements of the reduction they
deem practicable.
2. That the Quartermaster General discharge
all ocean transports not required to bring home
troops from remote departments. &.
All river and inland transportation will be
discharged except that required for the neces-
of horses, mules, wagons and other land trans.
portation will be stopped; also purchases of
forage, except what is required for immediate
consumption. All purchases of railroad con-
struction and transportation will also be stop
ped.
8. That the Commissary General of Subsist-
ence discontinue the purchase of supplies in his
department, except of such as may, with what
is on hand, be required for the forces in the
field to the first of June next.
4. That the Chief Of Ordnance stop all pur-
chases of arms and ammunition and materials
therefor, and reduce the manufacture of arms
and ordnance stores In government arsenals. as
rapidly as can be done without injury to the
service.
5. That the Chief Engineers stop all work
in all field Notifications and other works, ex.
cept those for which specific appropriations
have been made by the commanders for COM
pletion, or that may be required for the proper
protection of works in progress.
6. That all soldiers in hospital who require
no further medical treatment, be honorably
discharged from the service with immediate
payment. All officers and enlisted men who
have been prisoners of war, and are now on
furlough or in parole camps and all recruits
In rendezvous except those for the regular ar
my. will likewise be honorably discharged.
Officers whose duty it is under the regulations
OF the service to make out rolls and other pa
pers connected with the discharge except those
for the regular army will likewise be honorably
discharged. The officers whose duty it is I'M
der the regulations of the service to make out
rolls and other final papers connected with the
discharge and payment of soldiers, are direct
ed to make them out without delay, 90 that
this order may be carried into effect immedi-
ately.
7. The Adjutant General of the army will
cause immediate return to be made by all COM
manders in field garrisons, detachments and
posts, OF their respective forces, with the view
to their immediate reduction.
6. Quartermasters, Engineers and Provost
Marshal Generals Departments will reduce the
number of clerks and employees to that abso.
lutely required for closing the business of their
respective departments. and will, without de-
lay, report to the Secretary of War the number
required of each class or grade. The Surgeon
General will make similar reductions OF sur
geons, nurses and attendants in his bureau.
g Chiefs OF respective bureaus will imme-
diately cause proper returns to be made out of
the public property in their charge, and the
statement OF property in each case that may be
sold upon advertisement and publication, with
out prejudice to the service
TO- Commanders of prisons will have rolls
made out of the names, residence, time and
place OF capture, and occupation of all pris-
oners of war who shall take the oath of
allegiance to the United States, to the end
that such as are disposed to become good and
loyal citizens Of the United States, and who
are proper objects of executive clemency, be
released upon terms that the President shall
deem fit and consistent with pubic safety.
By order of the Secretary of War.
w. A. NICHOLS, Asst. A. G.
Official: THOS w. VINCENT, A. A. g.