The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-06
DEPARTMENT REPORTS.
GENERAL GRANTS REPORT

Grant says he was impressed from an early
period of the rebellion, with the idea that &C.
tive and continuous operations of all troops
that could be brought into the field regardless
of season and weather, were necessary to sue
cess. Our armies East and West acted with
out concert, like baulky team, no two ever
pulling together, and enabling the enemy to
use to great advantage, the interior lines of
communication, and it was question wheth-
er our numerical strength and resources were
not more than balanced by his advantages and
superior position. Convinced no peace
could be obtained until the military power of
the rebellion was entirely broken, determin-
ed first to use the greatest number of troops
practicable, against the armed force of the en-
envy, preventing him from using the same
force at different seasons against first one, and
then another of our armies, and the possibili-
ty of repose Second, to hammer continuous
ly against the armed force of the enemy and
his resources, until by mere attrition, if in no
other way, there should be nothing left to him
but an equal submission with the loyal section
of our common country. To constitute these
views, Gen. Grant says, were kept constantly
in mind, and orders given, and campaigns
made to carry them out. Whether they might
have been better in conception and execution,
is for the people who mourn the loss of friends
fallen, and who have to pay the pecuniary
cost, to say. ALI | can say is, that what
have done has been done conscientiously and
to the best of my ability, and in what con-
ceived to be for the best interest of the whole
country.
General Grant then refers to the situation
of contending forces at the date of his ap-
pointment. The main armies of the rebles
being commanded by Lee, in Virginia, and
johnson in Georgia, our forces being com
manded by Sherman, in the West, and Meade,
in Virginia, Gen. Grant exercising general SUI
pervision of the movements of all our armies,
General Sherman was instructed to break up
Johnson's army, go into the interior of the
enemy's country, and inf1ict all damage to the
enemy's war resources, and if the enemy
showed signs Of joining Lee, to allow him, up
to the full extent of his ability, while he, Gen.
Grant, would prevent Lee from concentrating
upon Sherman. General Grant then details
his instructions given to Generals Banks, But
ler and others, and enters into detailed &C
count of the progress of the campaigns. Of
Buffers movements against Drury's Bluff, Gen.
Grant says the time consumed, lost to us the
benefit of the surprise and capture of Rich
mond and Petersburg, enabling Beauregard to
collect his loose forces in North and South
Carolina, and bring them to the defence of
those places. Subsequently, the enemy at
tackled Butler, who was forced, or drew back
into intrenchments between the james and
AppOlIldJOA ItfCic, dl2u HIS, \DutlCI dIiuy
completely shut off from further operations
directly against Richmond, as if it had been
in bottle strongly corked.
Gen. Grant gives suecint and clear expo
sition of all military movements which re-
suited in finally crushing the rebellion, and
closed with the statement that he knew no
difference in the fighting qualities of the east
ern or western armies. All have proud rec
ord, and all sections can congratulate each
other for having done full shale in restoring
the supremacy of the laws.
NAVY REPORT.
The Secretary of the Navy states in his Re
port that the steamers bought from the mer
chant service for war purposes, have been 10
great extent returned to their former pur-
suits. " = @
He reviewed the services of the North and
South Atlantic Squadrons in the taking OF
Wilmington and Charleston, and respectively;
and of the West Gulf Squadron which receiv-
ed the surrender Of Mobile, on the 18th of
April, and the formal surrender of the insur
gent navy, on the 10th of May, 1864, Imme-
diately after the fall of Fort Fisher and Will
mington, measures were taken for the reduc-
ton of the Navy, which have been continued
until at the present time there are actually in
commission at home and abroad, but III YES
sells OF all descriptions, and this number will
probably be further reduced, as soon as domes-
tic troubles were overcome. Foreign squad
rons were re-established, which are considered
sufficient for the encouragement and protec-
ton OF our commerce. Be-.
Three hundred and twenty-five officers prov
ed traitors to their Government, when the
war began. Their places have been filed eff
GENTLY with volunteer officers from the mer-
chant service, and it is recommended that
appointments from their number be added to
the Navy. Since the fourth of March, 1861,
| Ais vessels had been purchased, at cost of
$1S,S66, 6Sl.SS; of these, $40 had been sold for
| 81, 621 ,SOO27. f ds
The Secretary suggests thorough survey
of Islands on the Pacific coast.
The history of the Sea King, alias Shenan-
doah, is given. 1t reflects no credit on the
| neutrality of England. sss
An enlargement of the Boston and New
| York Navy Yards, is urged, and the compile
ton of the Yard at Mare Island. on the Pacif-
| lei Coast, also, the rebuilding of the Yards at
Norfolk and Pensacola. League Island is re-
commended as site for the building of a
| Yard for iron-clads. As to the healthiness OF
iron-clads, statistics show they are equal to- if
not superior to ordinary vessels.
Number Of midshipmen at Naval Acade-
my, 4S1 !; of those who present themselves fol
examination, one-fifth fail to pass physical OF
mental examination; after admission, nearly
Do per ceuC Idi W pass Tile HrSC year, ana nnal-
| ly, only about 25 per cent. of those who enter
the Academy, succeed. r.
The Secretary recommends the appointment
of one half the midshipmen from the enlisted
apprentices, and the remainder from Congress
sional districts. u
| He alsoirecommends that an eligible site fol-
a Naval Academy, embracing an area of moi
less than one thousand acres. be selected; that
the laws of December 21st, 1861, and July
| 18th, 1862, to regulate the pay of Workmen il
the public service, be repealed.
| He recommends two separate asylums fol
soldiers and sailors be built.
The number of vessels captured and sent tt
the courts for adjudication, franz May LIST, 1861
to the close of the rebellion, is 1,151; Who'll,
number captured and destroyed 1904. Gros,
proceeds of property captured since the block
ade, and prior 70 the LIST of November last, il
s2l, s29,543 90; expenses 81 ,616,223 96.
The estimate for the Department for thu
year ending June 3Oth, 1867, is S23 ,9S2, 457 30
ne states that the expenses of the Navy De
partment since the commencement of the wal
has been but 93-100 per cent. of the expendi
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