Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-12-10
Report OF the Secretary Of War.

the expense OF the preceding year The numbsr of
oniccn employed reporting to the bureau, is 6,Ops
- -
Report or the Secretary Of War.
The report OF General Belknap Secretary OF War
opens with reference to Con Rawlins Of whom Il
says; or Gen. Rawlins II can with truth be said
that the virtues OF truo manhood characterized his
life, a. soldier, citizen, and statesman while on
the records OF tho department will evcr remain the
evidence of his high honor his patriotism and his
sagacious Judgment" Tho Secretary then explains
that fnw recommendations win be made at length
rs tho duties of the Office were assumed but few
days prior to the date OF this report November 20
He, however refers to the material matters of the
reports presented to him, Referring to the report
oi the General oi the Army, he says there IL de-
partncuts aud districts, each under the command
OF a 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, 25 of infantry, the battalion
OF engineers, and the corps Of cadets An the rugl
ments are on duty The SECRETARY indorses recon.
incubation Of Gen. Sherman that legislation be had
enacling the rules and articles Of war adopted by
Inc boards, convened in conformity with the act OF
CougrOss, July ~ 1866, aud approving the new
regulations complied in june, ls6S
The Secretary then continues, still referring to
Nen. ShernlanB report Amer the consolidation
made In accordance with the act OF March s. 1863
there remained. on Nov. l. 500 unattached officers
All OF these have been assigned to duty excepting
100 who are awaiting orders II seems equitable
and Just, should reduction be made that officers
awaiting orders by their own request and prefeulng
W
tention than those who applied for assignment. OF
this class there are 1S0 officers. Some OF them,
however, had special reasons for asking to be
placed on the awaiting order lst, which the depart
ment recognized, and which should be regarded.
II Is certainly fair that the consequences OF re.
duction of officers should fall proportonately on
cavalry, artillery, and infantry aud should Con.
gress act In the matter 1t Il proper that this consid
Grafton should not be overlooked. In reference to
the question OF reduction, concur with the report
In recommending that authority be given to reiire
greater number OF officers for cause than is now
allowed by law-seyen per cent. Of the officers
OF the whole army. The present maximum of the
army Ia SO 23I enlisted men, Relying ON two-thirds
for actual service, the number of men is 81 S22 BY
the plan of organization submitted in the report
there would be 44,G50 men, two-thlrds for actual
service would be 10 100 men. below which II would
not be prudent to 60 as the necessities of the
try aud the great extent OF territory to be protected
Will require every man of that number.
"Sectiono OF the act OF March, 1852, provides
mat m S. until otherwise directed by law there shall be
jutant Generals department. In the Inspector Gen
erals department. In the Quartermsster's depart
ment, in the Comnissary department, In the Ord
nance department, in the Engineers department and
the Medical department j recommend that the
staff corps be retained at tho standard fixed by the
act OF Jnly 2S, 1856, and that the clause prohibiting
appointments and promotions be repealed, in order
that vacancies may be filed, was the practice
prior to the passage of the act OF March g. 1899 Al
though the army may be smaller than heretofore,
experience has shown these officers necCssaTy
for the smaller as the larger force" He indOrses
the recommendation Ofthe Adutant General of the
Army for the repeal Of 30 much of section 0, Of the
act of March s. 1852 as prohibits further appoint
ments or promotion, leaving the organization OF the
AdJutant Generals department as 1t was hxed by
section 10 OF the act of July 2S, 1864.
An increase OF the number Of Assistant Inspectors
General Is recommended.
With regard to the Bureau OF Military Justice,
tho Secretary says the Judge Advocate General re-
ports the number OF records of military courts re-
ceiyed reviewed, and registered to be 49, IA num-
her OF special reports made 1,353 The Bureau, In
addition to Its regular duties, has been charged
with the duty OF systematically arranging and in
daH he m ennrah hall fpfh fha
Office OF the late Col. L. Q. Turner, Judge Adyo-
cate, and Brig. Gen. l.. c. Baker, Provost Marshal,
and the work il steadily progressing.
The expenses OF the Qnnrtermaster's department
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1859, were
&2l 96S, sl08, n reduction OF tl4,5O0,OOO below
those Of the preceding fiscal year. In February,
1869 the number OF civilians hired by this depart
ment exceeded 10000, which has since been re-
duced to 4,5O0. Nine officers have done duty in
the Quartermasters department, in addition to the
officers of the establishment "a in number
The report OF the Quartermaster General states
that tho clerical force OF this Office has been reduced
so low by the late legislation as to seriously retard
the public business; and to provide for the sotte
ment of accounts some increase In the force ls ne
cesssaTy.
A building capable OF accommodating all OF the
bureaus OF the War department, nre-prOof and
secure, Is much needed. Military records OF great
value arc exposed to destruction, and are scat
tered as to impede and delay the public business.
The monthly rental OF buildings and lots occupied
by buildings owned by the United States amounted
TO 81, ,2g4 ls, being yearly rental OF $5O,964.2S.
The railway companies to which the military rail-
road material In the Quartermaster's department
was sold on credit at the end OF the war incurred
debt originally Of o. 759 400 Interest has increased
this amount 10 t9,000,000, about half Of which
has been paid but some 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 boon owned
by the department during the year.
The railroads OF the companies, having declined
to adhere 10 the war rates OF transportation, have
boen paid during the fiscal year upon their general
tarifa with classification OF military supplies set
m NJ
agents There have been paid for waller Transports.
ion during the year 4si sas 81 for railroad trans,
2l was paid to the Pacific railroads. half being
paid In cash and the other half retained Ia the
treasury 70 meet the interest on tho bonds guaran
teed by the United States. During the year ~,OOO
persons 3, 200 animals and 62,0O0 tons or stores
have been moved by water, and $1,000 persons IA
900 animals and 4000e tons Of stores by railroad
"a 600 tons of stores have been moved by contract
on for wagon transportation. The Pacific Railroad
has occupied some OF the principal routes OF lormer
ment much money In supplying the posts along the
| line. by arranging between the departments OF
War and inc m r0s e
on routes In the Indian Territory, the actual cost
under the contracts being refunded to the War de-
partment out OF the appropriation OF $90QOOOO for
psciacaiOn OF the Indians granted April 10, 1869.
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 Si2,OOO,OOO. Tie general depots have been
reduced to four and Al only two OF them Is there
ANY large collection Oi materiAl VIZ AT tne
Bchuylkil arsenal ON the Delaware, and nj yetier-
sonyile, on the Ohio. This latter IL being drawn
upon constantly but It still contains over Sl4,O0O,-
! O6O worth OF war material
There are ~ national eemeteries, and al3 local,
post or private cemeteries in which soldiers lie
buried. The titles OF n OF the national cemeteries
have been approved a. perfect, by the Attorney
General There are 322 6N interments reported, OF
which n 9A6 have been Identified The expenditure
on the work has been nearly SS,Q0oOOO.
During the year $3.50 animals were purchased,
and 3,4a were sold. These latter produced the
sum OF 2a3 33S ~.
mainly procured In 10 large market cities. The aver
Gge cost OF the ration at these markets. has been
about 23 cents Salt meats on tho facinc coast Ior
troops stationed there, have been obtained AZ mtoIE
/ BILE prices. Tobacco, at an average monthy talss
| of Asa OO0 has been furnished 70 troops Al cost
| pfices and the Freedmens Bureau has been sup
nied with stores to the value Of leAfty t1oQ,Un
i most OF which has already been palo .of, anc the
remainder h In prOcees Ofrefnndng a. the treasury.
hs issaes 10 the Indians at the various points have
smounted 10 more than $50 900 and al the roqueat
i of the Interior department. stores valued at
sS7 sJ were issued 10 destitute Osages aud others
10 nreVsnt starvation during the winter Under an
sr,snnc unent between the War department and the
Department. OF the Interior, the Indian department
s being furnished with food ior the Indians on the
several reservations the Missouri river aud In
the Indian Territory The raiiOns furnished Is pre-
pertbed, OF approved, BY the INTERIOR department.
made BY section 4 Of the act Of April TO- 1858.
There have been paid tx, ,16l la ~ colnmutAiion o.
rations 10 Union soldiers, while prisoners 81 wef.
Claims for supplies furnished the army during me
war amounting 70 ea 500 500 ih have been receive
Of which t10e S.e1 have been Allowed ald VI