New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07
THE WAR REPORT

ho oreral Of the ARMY and the different Bureaus OF
the Department made since the last annual report
took charge Of the Office November l. 1863, relieving
the General OF the Army who had with marked zeal and
ability performed It's duties since the death OF Secretary
John A. Rawllns on September G. 1862 OF Gen. RawIns
Il can with truth be said that the virtues of true man.
hood characterized his life as soldier citizen, and
statesman while the records OF the Department will
ever remain the evidences high honor his patriot.
ISM and his sagacOus judgment During the month OF
October the General OF the Army was actngas Secretary
OF War. and the annual reports, which were by his
direction addressed TO the Acknowledgement Of
the Army, havo been, with his own
report transmitted 10 me- the duties OF the office
were assumed but few days prior to the date of this
port few recommendations will be made at length, but
the material matters of the reports presented Will be
referred to concisely as possible
REPORT OF THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
This report gives a clear view Of the administration Of
the army and very full both IN the statement of Its
present condition and recommendations for its future
ganzaon. It's importance s such that synopsis can
not Justly be given and 1t is submitted with the follow
ing remarks:
There are twelve departments three districts each
under the command OF general officer and the depart
ments formed into four military divisions, COM
manded by the generals next in rank to the General
OF tho Army The regular army consists OF five regiments
Of artillery OF cavalry, twenty-five Of infantry the
battalion OF engineers and the corps OF cadets the latter
undergoing instruction at the Military Academy. All
the regiments duty and the General refers TO the
manner in which their work has been done, under
the exposure TO which they were subjected, as
meriting the commentator Of the country. In
conformity with the act OF July 2s 1885, and by the drec
ton OF the Secretary OF War; board Of officers prepared
code OF the articles Of war, which was, on Feb l.
1865 transmitted to Congress. system OF regulations
was also compiled both code and regulations receiving
the approval OF the then General or the Army and on
June H. 1863 Secretary Scho1ed asked the adoption Of
the articles OF and the repeal OF SO much OF the
act directs the existing regulations to remain In
force unt Congress shall have acted on said report 1t
Is very desirable that legislation be had enactnR the
rules and articles OF war and approving the new regua
tons. 80
After the consolidation made in accordance with the
act OF March g. 1862 there remained. on Nov 500 unat
tached officers All OF these have been assigned 10 duty
excepting 1856, who are "awaung orders" 1t seems
equitable and just should reduction DC mace, thet
officers awaiting orders by their request, and pre-
fcrng that to active duty should have less claim for re-
tention than those who applied for assignment OF tins
class there l39 officers Some OF them, however had
special reasons for asking 20 be placed on the awaiting
orders list which the and which
II is certainly fair that the consequences Of reduction
OF officers should fall prOpOronaey on cavalry Hrt'
lery and infantry and should Congress act In the mat
ter proper that this consideration should not be
overlooked In reference TO the question OF reduction
with the report In recommending that authority
DO given TO retire greater number OF Off
for cause than is allowed by law-seven per
cent OF tho officers OF inc whole army.
The present maximum OF the army S223 enlisted men,
Relying on twothrds for actual service the number OF
men Is 4s22 By the plan OF organization submitted Ia
the report there would be 1850 men. Twothirds for
actual service would be $3.50 men, below which 1t would
not be prudent to co. as the neccsses OF the country
and the great extent Of territory TO be protected will re-
Quire every man OF that number.
Section Of the act OF March 3, 1869. provides That
until otherwise directed by Law there shall be no new ap
pontments and no promotions In the
department, In the lnspector-Geerals department Ia
the Quartermasters' Department. IN tho Commissary
Departments In the Ordnance Department In the Engi;
neer Department and IN the Medical Department" l
recommend that the stan corps be retained AT the stand
ard fixed by the act OF July 49, 1890 aud that the clause
prohibiting appointments and promotions be repealed IN
order that vacancies may be filled IA was the practice
prior to the passage OF the act OF March 1907 Although
tho army may DO smaller tha heIetoIoe experience nas
shown that these officers are us necessary Tor the smaller
The recommendations OF the General OF tho Army TO
its future organization are presented o your consdera
SoI m'tods n az b rh ,p made hy urVse
to these will be found embodied IN the abstracts OF the
reports hereinafter referred to-
ADJUTANT-GESERALs DEPARTMENT.
The Adjutant General submits table OF the Organ
ization OF the Regular Army" exhibit Of the actual
strength Of the army, and statement OF tho pos!tion
and distribution OF troops lie recommends repeal OF
much OF section Of the OF March s. 1902 pro
ganizauon OF the Adjutan enerals Department II
was fixed BY section TO- act OF July 2? $780, aud also en-
bodies Ia his report other recommendations.
INSPECTION DEPARTMENT.
Tho results the inspection service during past
year have been 10 discover and bring 10 the notice Of the
proper authorities the qualifications Of officers TO MI the
positions assigned them the condition Of troops In
gard discipline, drill and eicencywhether duty has
public property misapped lost, or wantOny destroyed;
whether there have been eItravagant unnecessary
and the personal responsibility for all irregularities and
abuses with suggestions for remedial action. The re-
service. there has been continued improvement In the
discipline and efficiency OF the troops, well as tho pro
motion OF more discriminating and careful regard for
the economical application OF public money aud
property. The number Of Inspectors now provided by
law Is deemed insufficient for the requirements OF the
service. An increase In the number Of Assistant In
spectorsGeneral is therefore recommended.
BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE.
The General reports the number Of
records OF military courts received reviewed. regis
tered TO be o4; number OF special reports made l352
This Bureau. In addition to It's regular duties has been
charged with the duty Of systematically arranging aud
indexing the important State papers belonging TO the
Brig Gen. L. Baker Provost Marshal, and the work Is
steadily progressing Lists are also being prepared OF the
fines and oreitures imposed by military courts and "
cases Of remission Of the same.
QUARTRRMAsTER's DEPARTMENT.
The expenses Of the Quartermaster's Department dur
ing fiscal year ending June 80 1862 81 90,
reduction Of Nl5OOOO below those OF the preceding
fiscal year. In February 1869, the number OF civilians
hired by this department exceeded 10000 which since
been reduced to 1000 Five hundred line officers have
done duty In the QuareTnasters Department in addl
ton 10 the officers OF that establishment, ~ I'm number.
The report states that the clerical force Of this office has
been reduced low by late legislation as 10 seriously
tard the public business, and TO provide for the settle
ent OF accounts some increase IN the forco
building capable OF accommodating all the bureaus
OF the War Department fire proof and secure, Is much
needed Military records Of great value are exposed TO
destruction, and scattered impede aud delay
the public buildings The monthly rental Of buildings In
Washington and lots occupied by buildings owned by the
United states, amounted to A26i ~, being yearly
rental OF SJ0,Q64 IS.
The railway companies, 20 which the military railroad
material OF the Quarermasters Department sold
credit the end Of the incurred debt originally OF
1851 Interest has increased this COO
about Onehaf % which has been paid but railroads
being In default. and showing disposition meet their
obligations, suit has been lately ordered 10 be brought
against them. But few vessels have been owned by this
Department during the year The railroads OF tho
country having declined 10 adhere the rates OF
transportation, have been paid during the fiscal year
upon their general tariffs with classification OF military
supplies settled ~ conference convention of general
freight agentt There has been paid for water trans
pOrlatlOn during the year si2t pa and for rarOad