Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-24
TIE MAGNITUDE OF TEE ARMY SUP
PLIES-REP0RE OF GEN. MEIGS.

The late war, as contra distinguished from
all previous wars, demonstrating a system and
power of supplying armies, such as never
before equaled, at present amazes us when we
sit down coolly to contemplate the labors ana
responsibilities devolved upon departments
and bureaus. Exhibiting to a wonderful de-
gree the power of the new agency, the rall-
road, to supply transportation in desperate
emergencies. the figures show, besides, when
applied to the quantities Of grain and forage
used, a capacity of supply such as aggregated,
is truly wonderful. We have been reminded
of this by glancing over the figures found in
the clear and succnct report of Quartermaster
General Meigs, for the year ending June 30th
1865. Without the ability manifested by Gen.
Meigs and his subordinates, the occasions
were numberless when the deplorable scenes
witnessed around Sebastopol of suffering from
lack Of supplies might have been realized.
But in this case, no shifting of an army's base
could be so rapid, no ROADS ~ IL doet,,uc-
ton of railroads and bridges be so complete
but that whatever the size of the force to be
supplied, there were the inevitable Commissary
supply all DEFICIENCIES, to make good in the
shortest possible time the losses occasionally
suffered by the sudden contingencies of the
widely extended conflict 1t was indeed mar
velous.
We may except one instance where the
army suffered for want Of supplies-and we
do not mean to take the case Of the ''Iittle
Napoleon when he made his sham complaint
to Gen. Meigs after the battle of Antietam--
1t was when the army was isolated around
Chattanooga by the destruction of the railroad
toward Nashville. The short supply then was
not the fault of the Quart ermasters Depart
ment for as soon as communications were re
stored, supplies were again poured upon the
army without stint Altogether, the record
of that part Of the service was proud one,
and now to illustrate the ability and industry
displayed, we commend to the reader the fol-
lowing extract-before REFERRED to from Gen.
Meigs' report:
The animals Of he:arIny have been well supplied
throughout the year, notwithstanding the extent OF
the territory over which they have been scattered
and the sudden and great changes of base and con-
sequently of lines of supply.
-
Colonel s. L. Brown was placed in charge of the
purchase and supply of forage to the armies on the
Atlantic coast in December 1868; and upon the or.
ganization of the Fifth Division of this Office was
transferred to its head. His administration has been
successful and bis reports record business of mag
nitude and Importance seldom equalled. Between
the Sh of December, 1862 and the Goth of June 1865
he purchased and shipped to the dopots and armies
27S175S bushels of corn. 20997289 bushels of oats
1881 bushels of barley E69 Sl4 tons of hay 823 tons
of straw; the cost of which So, 30S $685. The
grain was purchased at certain points, under the d
rection of Colonel Brown and transported to Port
land Boston. New York, and Philadelphia by rail
canal, river, and lake, making 1857 car loads $50
barge loads by canal and 80 schooner, 60 bark and
20 propeller cargoes on the lakes. The hay, pur-
chased upon the line of railroad was transported to
the coast in 5,555 loads. The whole was reshippci
from the aboye-named ports to the depots Of the
armies the coast in $50 cargoes The freight
paid to these vessels was $2,57G, 1852 II.
Daily reports from the depots of various armies.
when daily mail or Geographic communication was
open have been required, and have kept this Office
advised OF the state of supply. Contracts made at
distance have been subjected to a careful cxamna-
ton by Colonel Brown himself and every effort made
to correct and prevent extravaganza and fraud both
in the purchase and consumption of forage.
The loss by wastage, fire, and perils of the sea-
upon shipments of forage amounting to twenty-five
millions of dollars, has been less than seven cighths
of one per cent-about eghty-thr hundredths OF
per cent That there has been waste is undcnia-
BILE; but in the handling of thirty millions Of bushels
of grain, and its daily distribution to the managers
or nosebags Of every horse mule in the public ser
vice. over country Of two thousand miles in width
this was unavoidable.
The abstracts with tho report of tho Fifth Division
show, as approximate results. that during the fiscal
year there have been supplied to the army
5,O22l3 bushels of corn, costing. 5S 2G
2379i0 bushels Of oats, costing. 79 $50
433ll bushels of barley, costing........... 1885,
4g 10 tons hay, costing. IS 04a sos
lUUoo tons OF straw. costing .............. 81 800
l46 tons of feed, costing. ................... 2l9
6l4 TONS of fodder COSTING