The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-10
The Mar experimentation. Gfant'S
Report.

Nof War dd interim, which we publish
lin full this morning. shows that very
Satisfactory progress has been made
din reducing army expenses since the
WAR Department passed under his
scOntrol On ass umlng the duties OF
Ithis Office, Gen Grant found the army
iofficered almost entirely by men whose
military experience did not reach be-
4yond the period of army extravaganza
tibrought in with the war, and whose
motions of expenditure were altogeth-
Ter too liberal for times of peace.
practices only excusable in war times
swere still up; ambulances and mount
led orderlies were still maintained at
.every headquarters, though there was
mot the remotest chance of their com
ding into use; army stores of all kinds
had accumulated in storehOuses, re-
tquiring to be carefully guarded, at larg
er cost per annum than their actual
value. These evils were promptly
corrected by order of Gen. Grant
the ambulances and mounted order
lies were discontinued, and all sur
plus stores were sold off. In both
eases a very large reduction in mill
tary expenses was effected In addi-
Archives and the Bureau for the EX-
change OF Prisoners were transferred
to the Adiutant Generals Depart
ment, relieving from Government EN-
plOyment a large number of clerks
and general officers. General Grant
looks forward to the completion of
the several railroads to the Pacific as
a means Of reducing the vast expense
now, unavo;dably, incurred in main
tanning military posts in our Western
Territory.
With the exception of changes in
District Commanders, the organiza-
ton and practical working of the Blu
reaU Of Refugees, Freedmen and
Abandoned Lands remain as last
year. The operations are favorably
noticed, but Gen. Grant makes no
Recommendation respecting its con-
tinuance. The Bureau viii expire
next July, unless otherwise provided
by Congress.
The report calls attention to the
large number of assertions from the
army. On the Both of September,
1867, the aggregate strength of the
army Officers and men) was 56,815;
the number of recruits during the
year, 81, 191; and desertions, 13,608.
Gen. Grant recommends, with view
to better and more effective disci-
pline, the organization of "compa-
MES OF discipline" and that the term
of service be changed from three to
five years. The volunteer force,
which at the date of the last report
consisted of IL 900 men. now consists
of 203 commissioned officers only, no
enlisted men remaining.
Highly interesting facts are reported
from the Surgeon Generals Depart
ment. Four thousand aud eight
monthly reports of sick and wounded.
315 special reports, $50 folio records
Of hospital records, 2,365 burial re
cords and ! ,262 hospital muster and
pay rolls, have been received during
the year The alphabetical registers
of the dead, as far as completed, con
tain the names of 244,747 white sol
diers, 1896 colored soldiers; also.
30,204 rebel soldiers. In the division
of surgical records. the histories of
40, 551 wounded men have been traced
out and entered upon the permanent
registers. The number thus entered
now amounts to 207. 941
From the Paymaster Generals De
partment we learn that there were
received and recorded to October &c,
1867, 407 ,857 bounty claims under the
act OF Congress approved July %.
1866. Of this number, los, SIS have
been fully settled and disposed of 1T
an expenditure Of 50 352, 797 and 302,-
479 claims remain on hand to be set
tied Thirty one thousand claims
for bounty and arrears of pay have
also been settled and disposed of
within the year, at an expenditure of
1885, 203. .
In Gen. Grants opinion no breech-
loader, In this country or In Europe,
has been produced which is superior
to the converted Springfield musket.
as altered at the armory, and none
equal to it in serviceable dualities
can be produced at less cost. In view
of the fact that all the 10000 con
verted muskets will very soon be is
sued 10 troops, leaving no breach
loading muskets on hand in store. it
is recommended that the conversion
of the Springfield musket, discoutinu-
ed by order of the former Secretary
Of War, be resumed. The report is
equally explicit in regard to the eff /
cacy Of our heavy guns. A board of
officers have reported that /, 915 pieces
of the calibre OF 13, 10, and 20 inches
for smooth-bores, and of 10 and II
inches for rifles, were required for
the permanent Notifications. None
Of these guns have yet been provided,
and there. are no existing orders or
contracts for heavy cannon. This
stoppage Of the procurement of heavy
clngon9 says General Grant has heen