The National tribune., 1904-09-22


the personnel, have been made apparent
from what has been recited. The former,
in addition, was charged, during the entire
war, with the organization and disband-
ment of the forces.
The recruitment of white volunteers was
under the exclusive control of the Adju-
tant-GeneraTs Department from the first
call for troops until May, 1863, when it
was placed under the Provost Marshal
General. TO whom, by law, was confided
the enrolment and draft, and thereby the
entire recruiting service for white troops
was placed under one head. and great
reduction made i'll the expenses of recruit
ment, through the more rigid control Sc
cured by the enrolment act.
The -Adjurant-GeneralS Department had
charge of the recruitment of colored troops
and the reenliStment of the veteran volun-
teers in the field The plan for the recruit
ment of the 126.nO veterans, who received
the thanks of Congress, was devised and
prepared 10y the Provost Marshal-General. |.
and relative thereto Stanton has said: Il
know of no operation connected with the
recruitment of the army which has re-
suited in more advantage to the service
than the one referred to-
The Departments of the Adjutant Cen
eral and Provost Marshall General re-
621 men.
The want of a carefully organized In
spection Department was felt during the
war. Yet. so far as the personnel for in
spection service extended, it fully per-
formed its various important duties.
Involving the material. through the sup
ply departments, we find that, during the
whole war, there was no failure of opera
tions through lack of transportation of the
supplies required of the Quartermaster's
Department. Its vast and varied stores
had not only TO be ready at numerous and
widely extended points. when needed, but
1t had 10 transport to all points. there to
he IN readiness at the proper time, the ex-
tensive quantities of provisions, medical
and hospital stores. arms and ammunition
provided by the other supply departments.
THE ARMY MULE,
: for the purposes of the draft, behaved
nobly, and bore the conscriptiOn without
being able to express desire to furnish
substitute. On his roll of honor we find
100000 serving in the various armies. Six
hundred and fifty thousand horses Joined
the ranks: and the third year of the war
the field armies required for the cavalry,
artillery, and trains one-half as many ami
mails as there were soldiers.
As the mules and horses had as a gem
eral thing, TO labor away from water and
rail lines. they gave but little attention to
mechanical maneuvers of 10 steam and
sail vessels in service at one time during
the fiscal year ending June, 80. 1865, and
the 419 engines and $3.50 cars employed
during the war.
The soldier necessarily preferred the
mail for his correspondence; he did not
c0nfDe himself 10 n single line. and Is a
result. the 1000. 100000 kilograms trans
mitted by the military telegraph Were
mostly On official business
Good and wholesome rations were uni
formly supplied by the Subsistence De-
partment, and there was not a campaign
expedition. or movement that failed on ac.
count of the inability of the Department
to meet all proper requirements. 1t is
true that. generally. the bread was rather
hard. yet, nevertheless, it was tackled and
freely consumed
The Medical Department made ample
provisions for the sick and wounded from
the first. Aside from the vast accommo-
dations elsewhere. Sherman's army found
at Savannah four frst-class sea steamers
complete IN all respects as hospital trans
ports. with extra supplies of 5000 beds.
had il been necessary to establish large
hospitals on his line of operations. Com
plant was never made as to a shortage of
medicine; generally it was found that the
supply exceeded any demand based on the
soldiers taste.
The Government had an abundance of
money wherewith to meet it's sacred Obli-
cations. and the Pay Department kept its
pledge Ito make prompt payments in the
shortest practicable time"
When the war commenced the Govern.
ment was forced to obtain from foreign
countries almost the entire supply of arms
and ammunition. but in 1863 the Ord
nance Department became independent
through home resources both for the man
ufartured articles and the material com
posing them.
THE ENGINEERS
Aside from contributing to the COM
mand OF armies, the officers Of the Corps
OF Engineers were charged with important
IabOrs in connection with the defenses of
Washington and other places, the recon
noissance OF positions held by the enemy.
the investment of cities and towns. the
the fOrtifying Of important points on rail-
roads. the construction of offensive and de-
fensive Notifications necessary to the
march of large armies. the maneuvering
OF ponfoOn trains, surveys for the armies
In the field, and the sea-coast and lake de-
fenses.
The ability and efficiency of its officers
were notably illustrated in the construc-
ton of the pontOon bridge Exclusive of
HO feet of trestle-work) over 1000 fee,
long-the main part in deep water. in
some places 81 fect-across the James
River above Fort Powhatan. by 40 men
IN fve hours, between ) aud 10 o'clock D.
m, June l., 1864 Over tLis single fra
the army. about 100000 men, under Grant
with cavalry. artillery and infantry. and
trains embracing about 5000 wagons be-
sides 1000 beef cattle. without an acci
dent 10 an individual, man or animal. This
movement. one of the most important IN
record. took place during the fifth epocl
OF the grand campaign. from the Rapidar
to the James. which opened May 1. 1864
The passage, in all its attending circum
stances. may we'll stand forth brilliantly
: III it does not surpass il will compare f.,
yorably with the passage of the Danube
before Wagram. by 10000 of Napoleon
forces. through the agency Of three bridge,
in all 1.:aD feet--thrown over an arm
OF that river 40 yards wide
THE SIGNAL SERVICE
was particularly valuable in observing anf
reporting the changes and movements o.
the enemy. and connecting the army an,
navy when employed in combined opera
tlons, thus enabling the two branches o.
TIE service 10 act as unit Oftentime,
the services were of vital importance h,
furnishing information that could not have
been had otherwise notably as referred t.
by sherman, as follows:
When the enemy had cut our wires ant
actually made lOdgment on our railroad
about Big Sbanty. the Signal Oficers OF