The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-06
THE WAR REPORT.
How Grant Crushed the Life
Out of the Confederacy.
The Strength and Organizations
Of the Armies in the Field.
GREAT REDUCTION OF The ARMY.
sc. sc. sc.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

WASHINGTON Cry Nov. o. 1896
Mr. PREsIDEsr-The military appropriations by the lss.
Congress amounted the Of five hundred and six-
teen millions hundred and forty thousand hun
bred and hlrty.one dollars 5l6 240, 1871 The military
estimates for the next fiscal year. after careful revson
amount TO thirty three millions eight hundred and four
teen thousand four hundred and sixty-one dollarsl
1888 46 The national military force the nrst OF
Nav 1865 numbered one million Eve hundred and SIX
teen men, 1t is proposed reduce the military esab-
lishment fifty thousand troops and over eight hun
bred thousand have already been mustered oai OF ser
vice What has occasoned this reduction OF foVse anf
expenditure the War Department il is the purpose Oh
this report TO explain.
SITUATION TWO yEARs AGo--Tnn coSFED--
RAcY RAMi1y
At the commencement of the last OF cergrcsr-
much had been accomplished towards supprssng sho'
rebellion and restoring federal authority over the nscr-
gent States But the rebels still held Richmond as he'
capital Of their socalled Confederate government ana
the semblance OF State government existed 70 ME-
gna North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
Florida Mississippi and Texas, while strong military
force occupied considerable portion Of Arkamas andi
Louisiana Their principal army, under as iaveric com
mandcr, General Lee, defended with undauntcd irons
impregnabe positions around Petersburg and Richmond
Another army, under General Hood was moving morrill,.
with purpose invade Tennessee and Kentacky West.
of the Mississippi large force under General Kirby
Smith, threatened Arkansas Kansas and Missouri The
chief seaports o. the rebel satcs-wmington CHARLES
ton savannah and Moblewerc strongly GARRISON anda
fortified and bockading squadrons were unable TO-
prevent trade and supplies reaching the enemy Pfae
steamers built foreign ports for rebo cruisers armed
manned equipped and supplied by foreign capital roamcd
the high seas burning ships and destroying our
Marauders, hired by the rebel government
and harbored northern frontier setting obs
lakes planning burn and plumber our towns and cisies
and were plotting against the President and vcss
President Of the United States in hopes OF oyehrowing
our government by anarchy Faith in their final sue
cess hope Of open recognition by foreign govern
mcnts still animated leading traitors.
TIE SITUATION roDAy-rHE covrEDERAcY CRUSHED.
But now the approaching session of Congress will n
the authority Of the federal ccctnay andi
peacefully Sod the whole territory OF the'
United states All the armies heretofore arrayed against
the national government have laid down their and!
surrendered prisoners Of war; Every hostile banner
has been hauled down. the called Confederate govern
ment overhrown its President is prisoner In close
custody awaiting trial. while It's Vice President and threo'
OF its chief executive officers have recently been en-
arged from prison by your ciemency All the ordinances
and organizations created existing under or by
virtue Of the so.cacd Confederate government
have been swept away and, by your sanc-'
ton, the people 0. the nsurgent states have or
ganzed or arc busily engaged in organizing State'
governments in subordnaton the federal authority
In harmony with this condition OF affairs the mill
force of the federal has been cdnccd
large armies dsbanded, and nearly milton Of b'avo'
lately soldiers In arms, paid and h0norably mus
tered ont of service, have gone from camps sarrns'
and posts 70 their homes and most Of them are engaged
already in the peaceful pursuits OF civil life.
THE MILITARY opLRATIoNs.
n Among the causes which, under Divine Providence,
have brought about these wonderful results suocesfuR
m
clear comprehension OF these operations requires A.
brief glance at the military position just before tho
THE SAVING OF TIE CUMBERLAND Army ~ GRANT At
cHATTANNG GA
Notwithstanding the successful campa ems the Mis-
slsspp In 1868 by the red cton Of vcksburg and Port
Hudson severed in twain The rebel territory and restored
70 us the navigation and OF bc Mississippi.
while tho victory Gettysburg drove back the rcbeD
invaders from the Nor,hcrn States yet the military
strength OF the rebels continued formidable The army
81 Virginia. under General Lee, recovered from its
disaster at Gettysburg, occupied lis former lines i'm
and In check the Army Of the Potomac Another large
army, under General Bragg reinforced by Longsrccts
corps, threatened the reeonqnest o. Tennessee Alter
the disastrous battle OF Chcknmauga army OF the
Cumberland shut up and surrounded at Chattanooga,
unable to move by reason OF the inclemcncy 81 the
weather and impossible roads In extreme jeopardy.
At this discouraeing iuncurc change or military
ganizaton made The Departments OF the Ohio the
Tennessee and the Cumberland were united IN mill
tary DIVISION called the Division OF the Mississippi under
Major General GRAFT Command OF the army OF The Cum
berand was given to Major General George H. Thomas
relieving General Rosccrunsz winter campaign was
Immediately directed against Bragg army The battles
of wahatchc Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge ands
Chattanooga opened communications, and routed
Bragg's army with heavy loss The movement Of Long
streets corps against Knoxville, 10 recover East Ten
ncsee also proved disastrous failure TO the rebels who.
were driven of ana forced back TO the mounta ns.
CENTRAL sHKRxAs's MERIDIAN RAID
In the month Of February, 1854 General Sherman'ss
movement with large force, from vicksburg, into tho
interior Of the State Of Alabama, as far as Meridian IN
roads and sappes tho capture Of prisoners and tho
escape Of negroes and refugees This operation demon
srated the capacity Of an invading army TO penetrate
the rebel States aud support itself on the country, an
the forcrunncr OF the great movements IN Georgia
WHOLE srRssGrH or rHE GOVERNMENT rur FORTH
The arrangements for the spring campaigns o. 1894
made the part Of the 70 put f0rh'
strength In all the bureaus OF the War Department
supplies we're provided scale Of great magnitude to-
meet any exsency that could be foresecn. The esti-
mates based upon an army organization Of one mil
the armies by volunteers; drafts ordered and
put in execution throughout all the loyal States vast
supplies Of arms, ammunition, clothing, subsistence,
in depots y the Of the troops wherever they
might operate; horses mules, wagons, railroad rom,
locomotives and cars bridge timber, telegraph cable
and WIRE and every material for transportation.
and communication Of great armies, under all
We're ssppa Sossfs res wh
and supply ing the troops The Office Of lieutenant gene
raj, TO command all the armies, was created BY law
Ulysses 8 Grant appointed 10 that rank by tho
President and assumed command, as lieutenant general
on the 1ith day Of March, 1854 from which time tho
operations OF all the armies were under his direction
ORGANIZATION or THE NATIONAL ARNiEs
Tho national forces engaged in the spring campaign OF
1854 organized armies or distributed In military
departments as folows.--
The Army Of the Potomac commanded by Major Cen
era Meade whose headquarters were on the nonn aue
OF the Rapdan. This army was confronted ~ the
rebel army Of Northern Virginia stationed on she south
side of the Rapidan, under General Robert f. Lee.
The Ninth corps, under Major General burnsiae was.
al the opening OF the campaign distinct organzaN0n;
bu. on the 2(h day Of May, 1884, was Incorporated
into the Army Of the Potomac 80.
General Butler. whose headquarters were al Fortress
Monroe r-s
The headquarters Of the Army Of the shenandoah,
manded by Major General Sge, were at winchester
srnyScrH or sHERMASs YoRCEs IN GEORGIA
Three armies united under Major General william
r sherman, viz:-The Army OF the Cumbcrland MAJOR
General Thomas commandng; the Army OF the Tcnnes-
see Major General Mcpherson n, anu me