Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-06
large force under General Kirby Smith,
threatened Arkansas Kansas and Missouri.

threatened Arkansas Kansas and Missouri.
The chief ppTts of the rebel States-Wilmington
Charleston, Savannah and Mobile-were strongly
garrSOned and fortified, and our blockading squad
rons were unable to prevent trade and supplies
reaching the enemy. Prize steamers, built in foreign
ports for rebel cruisers, armed, manned equipped
and supplied by foreign capital, roamed the high
seas, burning our ships and destroying commerce.
Marauders, hired by the rebel government and har-
bored on our Northern frontier, setting foot
piratical expeditions against our commerce on the
lakes, planning to burn and plumber our towns and
cities. and were plotting murder AGAINST the Pre-
dent and Vice President of the United States il hope
of oycrthrowing our Government by anarchy. Faith
in their final success and hope Of recognition by for
eign governments still animated leading traitors -
But now tie .approaching session of Congress will
find the authority Of the Federal Government efec-
tuay and peacefully exercised over the whole terri
tory OF the United states. All the armies heretofore
arrayed against the National Government have laid
down their arms and surrendered as prisoners Of war
Every hostile banner has been hauled down. the So
called Confederate government Is overthrown; us
president is prisoner in close custody awaiting trial;
while its vice and three of its chief eXecu
tive officers have been recently enlarged from prison
by Executive clcmency All the ordinances, laws and
organizations created or existing under or by virtue
Of the so-called Confederate government have been
swept away, and by sanction the people of the
insurgen States have organized busily engaged
in organizing State governments IN suhordnation to
the Federal authority.
In harmony with this new condition of affairs the
military force Of the Federal government has been
reduced, large arm les disbamded, and nearly mil,
lion of brave men, lately soldiers i'll armies paid and
h0norably mustered out Of service have gone from
camps, garrisons and posts to their homes and most
OF them are engaged already III the peaceful pursuits
Of civil life.
Among the, causes which. under Divine Provi-
dence have brought about these wonderful results.
successful military operations stand first i'll order Of
these operations the report gives clear comprehen-
sve, GLANCE. The aggregate available force present
commands as follows Dept. of Washington, 42.124:
Army Of the potomq &C. l2083o Dept of yirgnis and
nept of the Gulf, 81 $50 Dept of Arkansas, 1866
Dept Of the Tennessee. AHA Dept ofthe Missouri,
5570; Dent the Northwest. sos; Dept Of Kansas
4 Hoo liyis pf
sppi, 416; Dept. OF the Cumberland. 1895; Dept.
Of the OHIO, S. 49, Northern Department, 95i6 Dept.
Dept Of the Susouehanna. $50 Middle Depar,
ment, 5.627; Ninth Army Corps. % $50; Dept of New
Mexico. 8, t5i: Dept of the Pacific, 5lH Total,
Official reports show that on the LIST of March, 1866,
the aggregate national military force Of all arms,
mentcd the LIST of May. 1885, by enStments to the
number of lo0OOO.5l6 of all arms. officers and men.
lSt Of March ana distributed in the different COM
mandS COZ, 59S.
Commencing with the active operation of 1865, the
reduction OF Fort Fisher by the combined expedition
Of land and naval forces, the report mentions the
movement and operations of Major General sherman,
General Sheridan and Lieutenant General Grant the
fall OF Savannah. Charleston and Wilmington, the
evacuation OF Mobile and the downfall oil tho rebel
The month of March, 1865. opened the great cam
paign against Richmond and the army that had so
long defended the rebel capital.
Instructions were given by the Lieutenant General
on the 18th of March for general movement of the
national forces around Richmond l. commenced on
ing and fighting finished the camnaign. Richmond,
Petersburg, the of Virginia and its commander
were captured. Jefferson Davis and his so-call.d
confederate government were fugtives or prisoners
Of war. Davis fled from Richmond in the afternoon
GfSunday. the ID day of April The national forces
cuped Petersburg and entered Richmond Monday
morning. Lees army was pursued until 1t reached
Appnmattox Court House. where on Sunday, the 9th
day OF April it laid down It's arms on the terms pre-
sCTibed by General Grant.
From this period the history of the war is but m
enumeration of successive surrcnders by rebel COM
surrendered his command to Major General Sherman.
at Raleigh, n. c. Gen. Howell Cobb with twelve
hundred militia and five generals surrendered to
Gen. Wilson. at Macon, Georgia, on the Goth of April
cen; Dick Taylor, on the i4th of MAY. surrendered
al the remaining re3 BEL t2rGes sl t OF ne M5pp
disguised and in fight captured at lrwinsvillc
Georgia. On the 18th Of May, Gen. Kirby Smith sur
to Major General Candy. With this surrender the
organized rcIe! orco disappeared from the TERRITORY
The fag Of the United States was lowered at Fort
Sumter, on the 18th Of April 1851 10y Major Anderson
Who who: long 6esfgfd BY Gve ! rebel
evacuatc the works. On the anniversary of that
day, four years later the rebel forces having been
driven from Charleston, the National banner was
planted again upon Fort Sumter, under the orders Of
he President. by the hands of General Anderson.
with appropriate military and naval ceremonies, and
commemorative address delivered by the Rev
Henry Ward Bcecher.
Their victorou: campaigns ended, the armies of
the Potomac marched through Richmond to the
Federal Capital, where they were reviewed by the
President and the distinguished commanders under
whom they had long and CALAMITY served in the
field. After this national ceremony they and their
eliow-s0dier5 ii. ugneT commands were paid, and
rapidly as the condition OF Affairs would admit were
released from the military service of the country;
and. returning TO their houes in the several States.
they were welcomed with the thanks and rejoicings
Of a grateful people.
''ne other event may properly, be noticed in this
report, part of the military history of the rebel
ID. ~ ~ md
age, and the skill of their commanders, were over
coming all resistance in the field to the national au-
and at The 0f o T4i he esa At a
erinehief of the army and navy. which, for atroey
in its circumstances, the cruel art that designed
snd the peril to which 1t exposed the government is
unsurpassed in the history Of nations; Shortly be
fore the Richmond campaign opened President Lin
coin went to the headquarters OF Lieutenant General
Grant at City Point. where he remained unit, the
oil PetoTSoS Isos ana : At?P tne
returned to Washington on the evening OF Sunday,
the gth day of April The despatch of the Lieuten-
ant General, announcing General Lees surrender,
was communicated TO him about eleven o'clock Sun
From that time until he was assassinated his at
cntion earnestly directed to the restoration of
peace and the reorganization of civil government in
The insurgent States. In public address to an as
Scmblage that met at the Executive Mansion on the
evening Of Wednesday, the 18th of April to con-
graduate him On the success Of arms, his views
and some OF his measures were explained. On the
nigh! of the following Friday the President shot
by assassin and expired at about o'clock
the morning saturday, the 10Th OF April. lhlS
sa5sination appeared to be part Of deliberate COM
prehensive conspiracy to assassnate the President
Vice President, Secretary Of Stat Lieutenant Cen
eral, and other C!Acefs OF the u crnment with a
view to its DISCRIMINATION. about the same hour Of
the Presidents murder, an effort was made to
.iuate the Secretary Of State who was then confined
his bed By serious injuries acciden tally received
tew DAYS before. He and other members of his m
lily were dangerously wounded. Some of the parties
engaged in this conspiracy tried convicted and
executed others are still under sentence OF mprson
ment for life.
~ a..
Advocate General The designs upon the Vice Pres
dent and the Lieutenant General failed; and. upon
the death of the President the Vice President was
sworn into office and assumed the duties Of Presi-
dent of the United States. These events were
promptly communicated to the armies by general
orders and from heneeforth until the present time
the Government has been administered by Andrew
Johnson as Chief Executive and COMMANDMENT
Chief of the Army and Navy.
The destruction of the rebel military powers opened
the way to re-eStahlish civil government in the in
the military department BECAME simply cooperative
with other branches of the Federal Government.
Nashville, Tennessee. was the first capital of an in
surgent State in which the Federal authority was re-
established.
The disposition exhibited after the surrender of
their armies in all the insurgcnt States to submit
the national authority dispensed with the necessity
OF keeping large armies foot, an indicated the
much only Of the national military force has been
kept IN each State as is needed to keep the peace
protect tn. public property and enforce the laws.
and his army. the military. power, on which alone
the rebellion rested, was irrctrievably broker, no
doubt being entertained that Lees surrender would
be followed by that of johnston, and perhaps by all
other commanders of the insurgent forces. The at
tention OF the department was Immediately directed
to the following objects, and on the 18th Of April
four days after Lees surrender. public notice was
given that orders would be speedily issued TO carry
them into effect viz;
st. To stop all drafting and recruiting in the
loyal States
Second To curtail purchases of arms ammuni-
ton, quartermaster and commssary supplies and
reduce the expenses of the military establishment in
the several branches
Third. To reduce the number of general and stati
officers to tho actual necessities of the service
Fourth to remove all military restrictions upon
trade and commerce so far might be consistent
with the public safety.
These measures have been carried into effect from
time to time. the eXigences of the service would
admit. 1t will be seen from the report of the Adm
tant General that troops to the number Of S00,y63
have already been mustered paid off and disbanded
Further reduction is contemplated. Upon the dis
charge of troops the services of great number of
staff field and general officers were no longer reauir
cd. Or these some have resigned, and others were
honorab!y mustered out. No doubt in many inst8u-
it has been painful for gallant and accomplished
officers TO leave the service 20 which they have beer
accustomed, aud where they have won honorable dis
nction But it Is to the credit of the volunteer
vice that they have recognized the obligation of the
Government to reduce the military establishment
with the occasion that called it into existence and
that their wishes interest have not been i'm
Fortunately urged against the necessities Of the ser
vice.
The disposition of the veteran reserve corps pre-
souted some considerations of peculiar nature Itwas
tho inclination of the DeDartmeDt retain