New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-09
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

wAsHrNGToS CRY. Nov. 20, 1868
Mr.. PRESIDENT: | have the honor to sub
init % GSPSr S t6e -
the reports OF the chiefs Of bureaus and military com
The strength army the soth Of September was
IsOs which by the lst OF January next will DO reduced,
by the expiration OF term Of service alone to about
5000 Orders issued in November last to reduce ali
regiments Of infantry and artillery except 10 light bat
in operation except for the cavalry service and
the expense Of the recruiting service is reduced to the
minimum. All volunteer officers except have been
mustered out OF service At the suggestion OF Lieutenant
the regiment OF volunteer
cavalry from the state r OF Kansas for service
ment is not expected to exceed six months, after
which is hoped the regular cavalry will be sufficient
for the frontier service 1t may be reasonably expected
that considerable reduction OF the infantry OF army
may be made within the next year without detriment TO
the interests Of tho country recommend that such
reduction be authorized by law to be made gradually by
ordinary casualties, by discharge Of incompetent and
unworthy oftcers. and by consolidation Of regiments
also recommend that the four regiments constituting the
Veteran Reserve Corps be dsbanded officers unfit for
ferred to active regments The term Of enlistment for
as measure Of economy and efficiency
Through the agency OF the inspection branch OF
ceptions otherwise especially provided for has been
thoroughly and constantly inspected during the year,
resulting in material improvement the efficiency OF
the troops In the economical management of the admin
public moneys and property Both here and abroad in
spectOns have come to he regarded IA Indispensable to
the conviction of the usefulness IL everywhere gaining
ground The Importance Of the duties 10 be performed,
and the insufficient number OF officers OF the regular
inspection service, has resulted in the adoption Of sys
TEN whereby the required number viii he supplied by
detail OF 1eld officers In addition to the regular inspectors
the selections to Ice made by the War Department This
Judgment and experience and 10 Obvate the necessity
of an immediate increase In the corps or inspectors,
which now numbers but nine officers
The officers Of this Bureau consist OF Advocate
General, Assistant Advocate General, aud
eight JHdgeAdvocates The two vacancies In the grade
vision for filling Them has prevented complanccwith
several applications from department. commanders Tor
such officers The work of the Burenu is comprised III
records of military courts received, reviewed ana
registered and 47 reports various subjects especl-
ally referred for opinion I Is recommended that the
number and grades OF officers OF the Bureau be peInd
tleHtiy fixed by law, that vacancies may be hled
Provision been made during the past year Tor Such
general instruction In military teegapy aud signaling
"a may he necessary for the service Books OF nsruc
steps have been taken To provide necessary Geographic
apparatus and the equipments for signaling. The
have pursued with success at the Military Academy
at West Point BY concert with tine officers OF the navy
nearly similar OF study and practice In these
branches have been had at the Naval Academy AT An
napolis drill with "a field electric telegraph train has
introduced and pTacticed at West Point the cadets
dschargng all the duties of running out and erecting the
lines working the Geographic instruments, ana sending
and receiving uessages by sound school Of telegnpy
and signaling has been established at Fort Grebel Mary
land and Is In succe ssnl operation AZ h scIPo %
officers and enlisted men are Instructed IN All ING uut
pertaining 20 the service with electric teegaphs ana
signals simple Geographic code, easily acquired is
The reporfs OF tie General Commlssary
General and surgeOn-Genera have been already pub
llshed. ID, =,
The disbursements Of the pay department during tho
last fiscal year have been:
Fe the Regular 500 sG3 y
For the Military Academy. tSIy ~
To volunteers 2o6"' %