The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09
W A B
REPORT OF J. N. scAOFIElO.

have the honor 10 submit q general report OF the
operations Of this department since the last annual
report OF the Secretary or War; with the reports OF
the chiefs OF bureaus anu military commanders for
the same period.
ADJUrANr GENERALS DEPARTMENT.
The strength OF the army on the 3oth OF Septemtac
was 4s0sl which by the 1st OF January next viii be-
reduced by the expiration OF term OF service alone,
to about - 600.
Orders were issued IN November last TO reduce all
regiments OF infantry and artillery except ten light
batieries TO fifty men per company 40 recruiting
rendezvous are now in operation except for tho
ca'aify service and the expense OF the recruiting
service ia reduced to the minimum.
All Volunteer officers except one have been mus
tered out Of service
Al the suggestion OF Lieutenant General sherman
authority was gwen the 9th OF October last for
the musier-in 81 one regiment OF volunteer cavalry
from the State OF Kansas for service against hostile
Indians. The service OF ihis regiment is not ex-
pected to exceed six months after which IL il
hoped, the regular cavalry viii be sufficient for til.
frontier service.
1t may be reasonably expected that a considerable
reduction OF the infantry OF the army may be made
within the next year without detrIment the inter
OF the country. recommend that such reduction
be authorized 10y law To be made gradually by Ordi-
nary casualties, by discharge of incompetent and
also recommend that the four regiments constitnt-
ing the Veteran Reserve Corps be dsbanded, officers
unit for active service TO be retired and ali Others to-
be transferred TO active regiments.
The term OF enlistment for all arms or the service
should be increased TO i've years, as measure OK
economy and efficiency
INSPECTION SERVICE.
Through the agency Of the inspection branch or
the service. tue entire army, with few exceptions,
otherwise especially provided for, has been
thoroughly anu constantly Inspected during Inc year,
and numerous special Investigations nave been
m
cheney OF the troops, in the economical management
OF the administrative branches and in the care and
disposition OF pubic moneys and property.
Both here and abroad inspections have come to be
regarded as indispensable TO successful management
oil a military establishment and the CONVICTION OF
their usefulness Is everywhere gaining ground.
The importance Of The duties TO DO performed and
the insufficient number OF officers or the regular 1n-
spection service, has resulted IN the adoption OF
system whereby the required number VIII be sup
piled by detail OF field officers In addition to the regu
lar inspectors, the selections TO be made by the
War Department. This plan Is designed 10 secure
enre and a to ovlate fhe necessity of an immediate
increase IN the corps OF inspectors, which now mum
beers but nine officers
The officers OF this bureau consist OF Judge Adj
yocate General, an Assistant Judge Advocate Gene
raj and eight Judge Advocates. Tne two vacancies
IN the grade OF Judge Advocate and the absence or
any ieral provision Tor filling them mas prevented
compliance with several applications from depart
ment commanders for such officers.
The work Of the bureau Is comprised IN 5000 re-
cords Of military courts received, reviewed and
registered aud ,457 reports various subjects es-
peclay referred for opinion.
II is recommended that tue number and grades OF
officers Of the bureau be permanently liked ny law,
50 thau vacancies may be filied
SIGNAL SERVICE.
Provision has been made during the past year lCr
such general instruction IN military teegraphy ana
signalling as may be necessary for the service
Books OF instruction have been furnished each com
pany ana post and steps have been taken TO provide
necessary telesrapbic apparatus and the equipments
Tie courses OF study In military teleGraphy and
signalling have been pursued with success at the
the ohcers OF the navy nearly similar courses Of
study and practice In these branches have been mad
at the Naval Academy at ANNAPOLIS.
A drill with u field electric telegraph train has been
Introduced and practised at West Point the cadets
dschargng all the duties OF running out and erecting
the Ines working the Geographic Instruments ana
sending ana receiving messages by sound.
| A schoo! Of telegraphy and Signalling has been
! established at Fort Grebe, Maryland, and Is ia
successful operation. AT this school selected
officers and enlisted men are instructed in all the
! graphs and signals. 4 simple telegraphic CODE
easily acquired: Is used for this purpose.
The report Of the Chief Signal Officer and the sub
reports covered by 1t give details OF the duties OF his
office for the past year and the results far At
| tanned.
| oUARTFRMAsTER's DEPARTMENT..
The report OF the Quartermaster General shows
the total expenditure OF that ID department during
for stores taken for the use or the army during the
war to be . Claims for property taken
$5oo,3l3; rejected 1851 40; and are still pending
ders nave been collected, OF which 5.764 are iden-
titled. The total cost has been about 81, 100000.
The fire proof warehouse at the Schuylkil arsenal
has been completed and the expense or rent greatly
reduced thereby. The warehouse authorized al JET
be broken up The $4,000 appropriated for that
warehouse have been RENTED to the Treasury.
or the debt Of Southern railroads for material sold
to them after the war, "a, 627 695 remain unpaid.
The erection OF a suitable building to accomm0-
date the several branches OF the War department
recommended as a measure OF economy and
efficiency An appropriation VI $4,000 IL asked for
a stock farm TO supply horses for the cavalry No
CURED An increase OF the number OF assistant quar-
termasters to nifty II urgently recommended az
cessary 10 The proper administration OF that depart
Attention is invited to the operation or the Joint
resolution OF March 20, 1868 by which the control OF
the appropriations the War Department is taken
In great measure, from the Secretary OF War and
vested IN the accounting oicers OF the lrcasury IN
consequence Of which large have been and are
being paid from those appropriations contrary to
the advice and opinion OF the War Department. :
SUBSISTENCE DEPARTMENT.
During the past year the supplies for the army
have been mainly purchased In the large markets OF
the country though the policy has been steadlasty
adhered To OF purchasing near to the points Of con
sumption whenever and wherever the same could
the troops In the Territories aud the Paclc ia
this manner Is increasing aud the subject ID being
diligently inquired into by the department..
the average cost OF the army ration during the
year has been slightly above twenty.thrce cents.
Tobacco to the monthly value OF $4,000 has been
furnished the troops at cost prices.
Subsistence to tue value OF 100000 has been
supplied for the purposes OF the Freedmen's Bureau,
aud To the value of more than $35O0O0 Tor the sup
port Of Indans-a large decrease IN both instances.
In settlement of TING claims for communication Of ra-
tons OF Union soldiers while prisoners OF war
Sl3I 058 have been expended.
On account OF supplies taken for the use OF tho
army during the war claims to the amount OF nearly
So 0J0,OO0 nave been received. OF which nearly
100000 have been allowed, s830,0O0 are awaitlng
decision and the balance have BEEN rejected Tor,
various causes.
The oniccrs Of the subsistence department number
twenty-nine, but accounts been received from
uanr lfnr mum am I'll mt
officers. The appointment Of assistant comnssarles
OF subsistence from licutenants OF the line, with u
trinng increase Of pay whilc acting, III again
commended as - also the appointment oil post COM
missary seryeanis.
Measures been Instituted for executing tho
law abOlishing the oice army suffer- by providing
considerable variety OF articles for sale TO officers