The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-17
Report OF the Secretary Of War.

The report Of General Belknap, Secretary of War,
opens with reference to Gen. Rawlins, of whom 1t
says: OF Gen. Rawns, it can with truth be said
thatthe virtues OF true manhood characterized his
life, q soldier. citizen and statesman, while on
the records of the department will ever remain the
evidence OF his high honor his patriotism, and his
sagacious Judgment" The Secretary then explains
that few recommendations will be made at length,
Is the duties OF the Office were assumed but few
days prior to the date of this report, November 90
He however, refers to the material matters of the
reports presented to him, Referring to the report
of the General Of the Army, he says there IL de-
partments and districts, each under the command
of general officer; and the several departments
are formed into military divisions, commanded By
the four Generals next in rank to the General of the
Army The regular army consists of regiments of
artillery, 10 OF cavalry, Is of infantry, the battalion
Of engineers, and the corps of cadets All the regi
ments are on duty. The Secretary indorses recon-
mendation of Gen. Sherman that legislation be had
enacting the rules and articles of war adopted by
the boards convened in conformity with the act OF
Congress- July Is, 1866, and approving the new
regulations compiled in June, 1865
The Secretary then continues, still referring to
Gen. Sherman's report: "After the consolidation
made in accordance with the act OF March s. 1863
there remained, on Nov. /, 500 unattached officers
1856 who are awaiting orders. 1t seems equitable
and just should 8 reduction be made that officers
awaiting orders by their own request and preerrng
that to active duty, should have less claim for re-
tention than those who applied for assignment OF
this class there are 139 officers. Some of them
however, had special reasons fog asking to be
u.
ment recognized, and which should be regarded.
1t is certainly fair that the consequences of a re-
duction of officers should fall proportionately on
cavalry, artillery, and infantry; and should Con-
gress in the matter it proper that this consd-
Grafton should not be overlooked. In reference to
the question OF reduction concur with the report
In recommending that authority be given to retire
greater number of officers for cause than is now
allowed by law-teven per cent. of the officers
OF the whole army. The present maximum of the
army is 80 2A enlisted men. Relying on two-thirds
for actual service, the number of men is 81 sea- By
the plan of organization submitted in the report
there would be 1850 men, twothirds for actual
service would be % $50 men. below which il would
not be prudent to 60 the necessities of the
try and the great extent Of territory be protected
will require every man of that number.
section of the act Of March, 1859, provides
that until otherwise directed by law there ehal be
| no new appointments and no promotions in the Ad-
jutant Generals department, in the Inspector Gen
ment, in the Commissary department in the Ord
nance department, in the Engineer department and
the Medical department. recommend that the
staff corps be retained at the standard fixed by the
act OF Jny as 1885, and that the clause prohibiting
appointments and promotions be repealed, in order
that vacancies may be filed, as was the practice
though the army may be smaller than heretofore,
experience has shown these officers are as necessary
| for the smaller as the larger force" He iDdorses
the Recommendation ofthe Adjutant General Of the
Army for the repeal of 30 much Of section g. of the
act OF March g. 1859, prohibits further appoint
ments or promotion, leaving the organization of the
section 10 Of the act Of July Is, 1866.
An increase Of the number Of Assistant inspectors
| General is recommended.
With regard to the Bureau Of Military Justice,
the Secretary says the Judge Advocate General re-
ports the number of records Of military courts re-
ceived, reviewed. and registered to be Is ~; num-
addition to its regular duties, has been charged
with the duty Of systematically arranging and in
dsIins the important state papers belonging to the
cate, and Brig; Gen. L C. Baker, Provost Marshal,
The expenses Of the Quartermaster's department
$s1, s6s, 4s40S, reduction Of S14,5OO.O0O below
those of the preceding fiscal year. In February,
1862 the number of civilians hired by this depart
ment exceeded 10000, which has since been &C.
duced to 4,500 Nine officers have done duty in
the Quartermaster's department. in addition to the
officers OF the establishment, 81 in number.
The report of the Quartermastsr General states
that the clerical force Of this Office has been reduced
so low BY the late legislation to seriously retard
the public business; and TO provide for the settle
ment OF accounts some increase in the force is ne
cesesary.
A building capable of accommodating all of the
bureaus OF the War department, fre-proof and
value are exposed to destruction and are go ecat-
tered as to impede and delay the public business
The monthly rental of buildings, and lots occupied
10 81, 964 10, being yearly rental of $50 49,
The railway companies to which the military rail-
| road material IN the Quartermaster's department
v
debt originally Of 81 sol 4o6 Interest has increased
this amount to 9000,0 600, about one-haH of which
has been paid; but come railroads being in default,
and showing no disposition TO meet their Obliga-
tons, suit has been lately ordered to be brought
against them. But few vessels have been owned
by the department during the year.
The railroads Of the companies, having declined
to adhere to the war rates Of transportation have
been paid during the fiscal year upon their general
tarifs with classification Of military supplies set
tied in conference at convention OF general freight
agents. There have been paid for water transporta
ton during the year 81 4s4 s2a So for railroad trans
Portation 2, soa BOY 3d. or this amount fssa, ,6s
paid in cash, and the other half retained in the
treasury to meet the interest on the bonds guaran
teed by the United States During the year 500
have been moved by water, and 1000 persons IA
900 animals, and 40000 tons Of stores by railroad
1900 tons Of stores have been moved q contract
has occupied some OF the principal routes of former
wagon transportation, and has saved the govern
ment much money in suPpyng the posts along the =,
War and the Interior supplies for the Indians are
now transported by the Quartermaster g department
IN the Inc me Wsr Oct
partment ont OF the appropriation OF $2O00000 for
pscincation of the Indians, granted April TO- 1859.
Although the amount of clothing and equipage
on hand at the end Of the war has been reduced By
sales and issues there still remains stock valued
at over ga 100000. The general depots have been
reduced to four, and at only two OF them il there
any large collection of material, viz: At the
Schuykill arsenal on the Delaware, and al Jeffer-
sonville, on the Ohio. This latter is being drawn
upon constantly, but 1t still contains over x14, 000
900 worth Of war material.
There are y national cemeteries and 31S local.
post or private cemeteries in which soldiers lie
buried The titles Of n Of the national cemeteries
have been approved perfect, by the Attorney
General There are 92,667 interments reported, Of
which IL 9s6 have been identified. The expenditure
on the work has been nearly 100000.
During the year 1855 animals were purchased,
and a,49a were sold. These latter produced the
sum of ~, 3sS g.
Subsistence supplies for the army have been
mainly procured in 10 large market cities. The aver
age cost Of the ration at these markets has been
about Is cents. Salt meats on the Pachccoast, for
troops stationed there have been obtained st avora
BILE prices. Tobacco at an average monthly value
OF $4,000 has been furnished to troops at cost
prices, and the Freedmsns Bureau has been sup
piled with stores to the value OF nearly f250000,
most of which has already been paid for, and the
remainder is in process ofrefundng at the treasury
The issues TO the Indians at the various points have
amounted to than $50 600 and at the request
Of the Interior department stores valued ut
ISL 500 were issued to destitute Osages and others
TO prevent starvation during the winter. Under an
arrangement between the War department and the