The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-03


against the hostility and opposition Of the In
dians --,.-,-., <
reduction. concentration, retrenchment, and
reorRa IN i1ation OF the military estaoushment,
ana payn,9hne' " EN- ynY otber matters OF national
importance and interest have received the care
ful attention of the War Department.
The permanent defenses Of the country have
been strengthened. Their efficiency has already
been much increased by substituting cannon of
larger calibre and improved model for lighter
guns, and wrought iron for wooden gun car
riages. This work is still IN progress, and Will
be continued. Diligent and careful efforts, based
upon the designs and recommendations of COM
petent boards of engineers, have been made to
adapt old works, as well as those in process of
construction, to more powerful ornaments.
Construction has been suspended upon some
works, in order to await the completion of inn
portant experiments having in view the exten-
sive use of iron shields or armor for the protec-
ton OF guns and gunners; the results already
attained give the promise of practical and
highly beneficial application of the knowledge
obtained by these trials.
and progress has already beon made in improv-
ing the harbors and rivers of the country. The
work will be energetically prosecuted under
the liberal appropriations made at the last ses-
sion of Congress-
stituted for successfully and speedily carrying
into effect the generous provisions of Congress
for the beneft of surviving soldiers of the war
for the Union. The subject of the payment of
extra bounties to discharged soldiers, and ex-
ira pay to discharged officers, has received
assiduous attention. The recent law devolving
upon the War Department. instead OF the
accounting officers OF the Treasury, the duties
of examination and settlement of claims of this
nature, imposed a vast accumulation OF labor
and required the consideration OF numerous
acts of Congress and the regulations and prac-
tice of several bureaus upon the proper per-
formance of these extraordinary labors depends
the disbursement of nearly eighty millions OF
dollars among more than q million OF claim
ants. Soon after the adjournment of Congress
competent board of officers was organized to
prepare rules and regulations for the payment
Of the authorized bounties. Dilligent applica-
tion was given TO the work, and the regulations,
having been found to be in strict accordance
| with law, were promptly approved, published
| and directed to be carried into effect.
To the same board the subject of bounties for
| coored soldiers was also referred, with O view
| TO provide any additional checks that might
guard the bounty from fraudulent assignees
| and secure 1t TO colored soldiers, and protect
| the Treasury against fraud; and when the
| report was received, payment of the bounties
was ordered. AS to the other class of bounties
the Pay master General regards it impracticable
| to make payment until all applications shall
nave been RECEIVED ana claims classified and
this preliminary process the ultimate payment
OF all will, 1t is believed, be greatly expedited.
| Attempted otherwise, probably the work would
never be fully accomplished, OF the valuable
| public records by which the validity of the
| archives of the Government but one copy,
already much worn, for each period. An ex-
| reduce them to ilegibe shreds
| The duty of the Government to the soldiers
| who have been manned or have fallen III its
defense has not been neglected. Much care
has been taken, by precautions and practical
tests, to secure for the former the most durable,
| useful and comfortable artificial limbs. From
| July IL, 1862, the date of the act of Congress
| authorizing artificial limbs to be furnished. to
| July l. 1865, there have been supplied to disabled
soldiers 1881 legs 240 arms, feet, 55 hands, l25
| surgical apparatus, and 1t is supposed that not
Include IniofteneSss9 s9S 81 saeUSS In order t to
| other surgical appliance can be advantageously
| adopted, theSurgeon-G has recommended
that, if the appropriation for this purpose shall
| be continued, the money value OF an artificial
| limb, in lieu of an order for the apparatus, be
national military cemeteries have BEEN bS esta. ae
| blished, and into these had already been
gathered, on June 80, the remains OF l0l,526
| The sites for ten additional cemeteries have
been selected, and the work upon them, for
| threatened epidemic, is now in course of vigor-
| Gus prosecution. Although it may not be
reposing In other suitable burial grounds, it is
| estimated that our national cemeteries will be
| required to receive and protect the remains of
249 1897 patriotic soldiers whose lives were sacri-
| feed in defense of our national existence. The
already accomplished is reported at $9.75,
amounting in the aggregate to ST. l44,79l; and it
| is believed that an additional expenditure of
81 sos, ,294 will be necessary. 1t is proposed,
| instead Of the wooden headboards heretofore
| used. TO erect at the graves small monuments
| of cast iron, suitably protected by zinc coating
| against rust. Six lists of the dead, containing
1906 names, have been published by the Quar-
| termaster- General, and OTHERS will be issued
| as rapidly as they can be prepared.
Documents submitted by the chiefs ofbureaus
| and accompanying this report, contain detailed
information relative TO the operations of the
War Department. and the requirements of its
respective branches.
The total estimate of military appropriations
for the fiscal year ending June 30 1865 is $25 205-
669G0.
The Adjutant Generals office has immediate
| supervision of recruiting for the regular army,
and disbanding the volunteer force, and charge
| also OF the records and unfinished business of
| the Provost MarShal-GeneraFs bureau, which,
in accordance with act OF July 28, 1856, was dis
continued on August 28. Arrangements have
| BET n made for the prompt settlement of the un.
determined questions formerly pertaining to
that bureau, and for the removal to Washington
of the records of its offices in the various States
| The estimated appropriation required for the
| 100000
The officers of the Inspector Generals DEPART
| ment are now those OF the regular establish
| ment, and they are all engaged in their legiti-
mate duties OF stated and special inspections
| No appropriation is required for this service
| In the Bureau of Military Justice, during the
| past year, Sl4S records of courts s-martial and
l viewed and filed; 400S special reports made as
| TO the regularity of judicial proceedings the
| pardon of military offenders, the remission or
| Communication of sentences, and upon the mis-
| cellaneous subjects and questions referred for
| the opinion of the bureau; including also letters
OF instruction upon military law and practice
| number of records of military courts received at
| this bureau reached minimum soon after the
| adoption OF the recent Army act and since that
time has increased with the military force, The
| other business Of the Office as an advisory
pranch OF the War Department., will also, it is
| DeIeVed, continue to be augmented until the
| peace establishment shall be completely organ-
| lzeu and The new army fully recruited: and the
| hct that, In q large number of Important cases
| commanders OF departments and armies are not
| authorized to execute sentences in time OF peace
| ana that such cases can no longer be summarIlV
| disposed OF without reference to the Execu-
| tive, will also require from the bureau a verv
| considerable NUMBER OF reports which hereto