Annual Btport of the Secretary of War.
War Department, Washington. City,
November 14,1866. — Mr. President Di
sbandment of the volunteer forces in ser
vice at the time the rebel armies surren
dered; collecting the arms, ordnance, and
military stores scattered over the vast the
atre of war; the Bale and disposition of
■unserviceable material; storing in arsenals,
magazines, and depots that which
might he used; settling and adjust
ing war claims; recruiting and organizing
the regular army under the recent aot;
the establishment of posts and garrisons on
the frontier and in the Indian country:
testing the various improvements of breech
loading small arms, and supplying them to
the army; practical experiments to deter
mine the destructive power of projeotiles
and the comparative resisting qualities of
materials; completing seaboard defences
and providing tbem with armaments;plan
ning and carrying on harbor and river im
provements; these, with the administration
of the laws relating to refugees, freedmen,
■ and abandoned lands, have constituted the
chief operations of the War Department du
ring the past year.
The entire number of volunteer troops to
he mustered out was, on May Ist, 1865,
I, and my last annual report re
counted the operation of disbanding this
force until November 15, 1865, when
*00,963 troops had been transported, mus
tered out and paid. The work was actively
continued after that date, and on January
20,1866, 918,722 volunteers had been mus
tered out; February 15, 952,452; March 10,
967,887; May 1, 986,782; June 30, 1,010,670;
November 1, 1,023,021 —leaving in service
11, volunteers, white and colored. The
aggregate reduction of the colored troops
during the year has been 75,024, and at this
date one regiment of artillery and thirteen
of infantry, numbering about 10,000 officers
and enlisted men, remain in the service.
Commenced in May, 1865, the work dis
charging and returning to their homes
$1 ,034,064 volunteers would have been com
pleted within three months but for the ne
cessity fof retaining in service part of that
. force. Past experience shows that, should
any national emergency require a larger
force than is provided by the peace estab
lishment, armies could be swiftly organized
to at least the full strength of a million men.
The reduction of the army has been at
teßded by a corresponding reduction of ma
terial and retrenchment of expenditures.
The advanced depots of the quartermaster’s
department, which had been established as
bases of operations, have been broken up;
the greater part of the material sold at ad
vantageous rates or concentrated in five
principal depots and arsenals; and all unne
cessary employes discharged. From May
1, 1865, to August 2,1866, over 207,000 horses
and mnles were sold for $15,269,075 54
About 4,400 barracks, hosnitals, and
other buildings have been sold during the
year for $447,873 14. The sale of irregular
and damaged clothing in store produced
during the fiscal year the sum of $902,770 45.
The fleet of 590 ocean transports in service
on July 1, 1865, at a dailyexpens9 of $82,400
was reduced before June 30, 1866. to S 3
vessels, costing $3,000 per diem, and most
of these have since been discharged—ocean
transportation being now almost entirely
conducted by established commercial: lines
of steamers. Of 262 vessels which had been
employ ed in Inland transportation at an ex
pense of $3,193,633 28,none were remaining in
service on June 30, 1866; sales of river trans
ports, steamers and barges during the year
are reported as amounting to $1,152 895 92.
The rates of wagon transportation ’in the
Indian country have also been reduced by
favorable contracts. The military rail
loads, which were operated during the war
at a total expenditure of $45,422,719 15, and
•which are officially reported to have reached
an extent 0f2,6304 miies, and to have pos
sessed 433 engines and 6,605 cars, have all
been transferred to companies or boards
of public works, upon condition of the
adoption of loyal organizations of di
rectors. Cash sales of railroad equipment
to the. amount of $3,466,739 33*are re
ported, and credit sales of $7,444,073 22-
upon the latter there have been paid, princi
pal and interest, $1,200,085 18; leavin'- due to
the United States, on June 30, 1866, princi
pal and interest, $6,570,074 05. The military
telegraph, which attained an extent of 15 -
389 miles of lines constructed duaing the pe
riod of hostilities, witha total
$3,219,400 during the war, and $567,637 dur
ing the last fiscal year, has been discontinu
ed, the material sold and disposed of and
tte employes discharged, only a few con
fidential operators being still retained tor
cipher correspondence with commanders •=
important districts. "
Snch subsi stance stores as could not be
retained for supplying the reduced army
have for the most part been sold at satis
factory prices.
The sale of unserviceable and surplus
stores pertaining to the signal corps has
D€6n cnsctcdj most of tfee officers have been
mustered out; and theemployes discharged.
T ll * 1 * 6 temporary ordnance depots estab
lishedduring the war, with the exception
of that at Hilton Head, where the work is
in progress but not completed, have been
discontinued, and the supplies have been
sent to arsenals for storage, or, when not
"worth the cost of transportation, have been
sold. The expenditures of arsenals have
poop greatly diminished, and their opera-
General hospitals, hospital transports and
railroad trains, ambulance corps, and a
number of medical purveying depots have
been dispensed with, and all perishable
articles of medicines and hospital supplies
in-excess of the requirements of a peace es
tablishment. have been disposed of by pub
lic sale at advantageous rates, and the re
served supplies concentrated at five depots.
The proceeds of old or surplus medical and
hospital property amount to $4,044,261 59.
But the sale and disposition of these large
amounts of unserviceable and perishable
stores still leaveonhandanadequatesupply
of war material to meet any emergency that
can possibly arise. The stock of clothing,
equipage, quartermaster, subsistence, hos
pital and ordnance stores, arms, ammuni
tion and field artillery is sufficient for the
immediate equipment of large armies. The
disbanded troops stand ready to respond to
thenational call, and, with our vast means
. of transportation and rapid organization de
veloped during the war, they can be orga
nized, armed, equipped and concentrated at
■whatever points military emergency mav
require. While, therefore, the war ex
penses have been reduced to the footing of
a moderate and economical peace establish
ment, the national military strength re
mains unimpaired and in condition to be
promptly put forth.
While the reduction of the volunteer force
arnd the advantageous disposition or concen
tration of war material were thus success
fully accomplished without diminishing the
military power of the country, recruiting
and reorganizing the regular army favora
bly progressed. In consequence of the dffi
culty in procuring enlistments for the
regular whne so many men were required
fer the-volunteer service, 153 companies of
the regular army, as then authorized! were
unorganized on May 31, 1865, but in the
middle of the following July these com
panies had been completed. Under the
actof July 28. 1866, the regular army now
comprises 10 regiments, of 120 companies of
cavalry; 5 regiments, or 60 companies of
artillery,'and 45 regiments, 6i 450 compa
nies, of infantry; of which 2 cavalry and 4
infantry regiments are composed or colored
men, and4infantry regiments of men who
'. werewounded in the line of their duty
Hame regiment of white cavalry had been
■Kly recruited on September 15; the other
assigned to the Pacific coast, is
■BSSjlpearly completed. 48 of the 64 oom
required to convert into regiments
■PpKlingle battalions of the nine three-
Fi f
TTT RDft TL V KVIgNTTVg BULLETIN.-^-PHTLIDKLPHTA. TUESD AY. DE CKMIffiR 4, 1866 —TRIPLE SHEET,
battalion regiments of the former organi
zation have been completed and sent to
their regiments. The 4 Veteran Reserve
regiments have' been assigned, to dis
tricts where the men may be usefqlly
employed in guarding storehouses aud
cemeteries, and on similar duties. The co
lored regiments will be recruited, as far as
possible, from the colored volunteers still In
service. The law authorizes an assignment
of 100 privates to a company as the maxi
fnum, 50 being the minimum, and the
maximum strength of the army is thus
placed at 75,382, rank and file. The present
strength of companies is fixed at 64 pri
vates for cavalry, artillery and infantry.and
122 privates for tight batteries of artillerv,
making an aggregate strength of 54,302. As
soon as the ranks shall be well filled, it is
designed to increase the efficiency of the
military force by raising the standard of
qualifications
The troops in service were regularly paid
and the demands of those discharged ant
mustered out promptly met. During the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1866, $10,431,-
004 42 were disbursed to the army and
military Academy, $248,943,313 36 to volun
teers; and in the disbursement of millions
of dollars in small sums, and amid great
difficulties and hazards, the total cost to the
government, in expenses of every character,
is but a fractional portion of one per cent.
Every effort has besn made to promote
the comfort and health of the army, and to
give the best medical treatment to the
wounded and sick. Well grounded appre
hensions of the appearance of Asiatic cholera
as an epidemic, early in the present year,
required prom pt action for the protection of
our troops. A rigid military quarantine
was established on the Southern Atlantio
coast, and sanitary precautions enforced.
The adoption of these measures availed to
control or eradicate, the disease, at the re
cruiting depots and forts where it appeared,
before it assumed its usual alarming epi
demic form; and official recognition has
been given to the meritorious services of
medical officers whose fidelity, onergv
and skillful administration succeeded in
averting or diminishing the horrors of wide
spread , pestilence. In other - respects the
general health of the troops has been good.
Among white troops the proportion of
deaths, from all causes, to cases treated, has
been one to every fifty-two. Among colored
troops the proportion of cases taken sick
has been greater than with the white troops,
and the mortality rate one death to
every twenty-nine treated. There were
remaining in general hospitals, June 30,
1865, and admitted during the year, 64,438
patients, of whom, on June 30,1866, only
97 remained under treatment. The comfort
and proper medical treatment of the sick
and wounded are secured in well-arranged
post hospitals, of which there are at
present 187, with a total capacity of IC,SSI
beds.
Measures have been adopted for the pur
pose of providing suitable shelter for the
trcops now stationed on the plains, and for
those which may be ordered thither, and to
prevent suffering during the winter. The
army has been well supplied with forage,
about one-half the quantity having been
supplied from the stock remaining on hand
at the cessation of hostilities; the consump
tion for the year has been 3,300,006 bushels
of oats, 5.061,000 bushels of corn, 136,000
tons of hav, 2.700 tons of straw.
Suhsistence stores of good quality have
been supplied to the army, and though the
lorger part has been obtained at the prin
cipal market centres of the northern Statee
yet the general return of the citizens, north
and south, to the productiveness of peace,
and the consequent reopening of the cus
tomary channels and sources of trade, have
enabled a partial resumption ef the course
of procuring supplies at the points where
they are to be oonsumed. Eighty-nine con
tracts for fresh beef have been made in the
southern States, at an general average price
0f11.06 cents per pound, and in the interior
of those States other articles Co a small ex
tent have been purchased. The market at
New Orleans is now so well furnished, and
has so far resumed a healthful mercantile
condition, as to render it possible to procure
there, at satisfactory prices, most of the sub
sistence stores required in the department
of fne Gulf. On the Pacific coast, for seve
ral years after California was admitted to
the Union, all the supplies for troops there
stationed were required to be shipped from
New York, but an ample and reliable mar
ket, comprising the products of (Mfornia
and Oregon, and the foreign countries bor
dering upcn the same ocean, is now found
in San Francisco, and most of the subsis
tence stores for troops in the division of the
Pacific have been there obtained. In gene
ral (he subsistence supplies purchased dur
ing the year have been procured upan con
tracts, concluded in pursuance of advertise
ments for sealed proposals, written propo
sals and acceptances.
The Importance of speedily providing the
army with breech-loading small-arms of the
best pattern has been recognized and acted;
upon. 7By an order of January 1866, a
board of competent officers was convened
for the purpose of examining, testing, and
reporting on the various models of original
breech-loaders, and the various plans for the
conversion into breech-loaders of 4iiie arms
heretofore borne by our troops. This board
met on March 10, and continued in session
until June-4, when its report was submitted
and directions have been given the ordnance
department for the speedy manufacture of
breech-loading arms. In view of the great
number of small arms on hand, it has been
deemed advlßabletoconvert Springfield rlfie-maskets
at a comparatively small coat, Into efficient breech
loadeis.rather than to incur thecostof the entire manu
facture of new arms of that description, at a time'too
when the invention may not have been .perfected
Thisalteiationof the Springfieldmusket kac been ef
S®!®* K2f? uw i efia r? lls ' ■ as dreader it an arm believed
inall lespecta than the Prussian needle-
SSSVaT? metaUlcsammunition is regardedasstT
perior to that or the latter. The department has al
breech-loaders of approved patterns
Mcftifht ini^. Bupply of ““«"»*** andmoonted
Besides the measures that have.been mentioned to
provide lor the comfort and promote tha effioiencv of
moDthly inspections have been made
in every military-command during the year, witha
*5 J? 0 # 10 .®' nnd promptly remedy, any ir-
and defects; and numerous special &nsDeo>
Hops, have also, been made throughout the waoia
country, for the purpose of correcting abuses, suggest*
i2Sc^i >r< S^ m , enta * effecting retrenchment d!F?he
Sttvice. The inspection service has not been changed
r>L t JLtv elarn f l t 0 Peace; the system -developed doting
aSM"CT t i I §^tte^ lreme,lta “ nearly “ p™
° f m,Utary department
The department of the east Major General George G
command, to embrace the New Kmfhimf
York.. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
F o r ai ) rf laware ‘ Headquarters at Philadelphia ’ SQtt
Ihe department of tiie lakes. Brigadier anti Brevet
Major General Joseph Hooker lo commlSl fo em
states of Ohio Michigan, Inaiaaa. Illinois
and Wisconsin. Headquarters at Detroit °“
*. *l®tmen tof Washington, Brigadier and Bre
or^, e ? e . ral B- 8- Canby to command. to em.
brace toe District of Colombia, Alexandria and Falr-
Sfio nt ea ' Virginia, and the Stales of Msiyland and
wl&teS“ 6pl Fort beiaware. Headq'awtete ai
Vhe department of the Potomac, Brigadier and Bre
“s and VlrgtnL
tfeW“ ent of ,hB > Sonth,Major General Daniel
Nofth S?“l? *?, embrace the statSfor
Charleston. 11 SouUl CaroUna ' Headquarters at
o^S^^ t S“ a SSSSS%, I^ I SS^
aml
H fchendln S l , e rnm f m t ? e „ a ? lf ' General Philip
o]?ea™: LOMlana aDd '° eias - Headqoarters S a?' New
BteveMJdsjorGeneral Brl 6 ad,er and
, of Mlusonti, Major General
hSIB
lSrth. to MeXlC °- ‘at'poSf
Teedepai tmen* of the Platte. Brigadier and tt.,„t
Major General Philip ft George Co k to mmS
to embrace the State of lowa, the- TerettnrhX rl. Si
braeka and Utah, so much of Dakota as ,11m wit* 1 ,
the lM h meridian, and so much or Atontana "sallies
contiguous totberew road from "eri Laramie fo Vte
ginia < ity, Montana. Headquarters at Sf 10 Vlr
The department-of-Dakota, Brigadier and Brevet
Msjor mneral A. H. Terty to command lo embrace
the Slate of Minnesota and all the Territories nfEui
fain?”.'? Honiara not embraced in the departmentof
Ibe Platte. Headquarters at Port Suelilue UI
1 he department of California. Brigadier and-Brevet
Major General Irvin McDowell to command, teem-
brso the fctutes of California and Nevada, and the
Territory of Arizona. Heacquarters at iran Francisco.
- The department of the Columbia, Major General
Frederics Steele to command, to embrace the State of
Oregon, and the Territories of Washington and Idaho,
Headquarters at Portland.
The princ'pal movement of troops have been in
Texas, on the Mexican frontier, a-d in the Territo
ries, the details of which are g ven In the accompany
ing report of General Grant, commanding the armies
of the uni ed States, and the reports of division and
department cowm-tndere, to which reference is made.
General Grant reports that a military force has been
keptin ainhejately rebellious States for the purpo
ses of irsurlng the execution of Jaw, and 'pro*
tectisg life and property against the acts of those who:
as yet, will acknowledge no law bur force—a class
smaller, in h?s opinion, than c-uid have oeen ex
fected after snch a conflict as that through which we
ave pasted, bnt sufficiently formidable to justify the
course which has been pursued. Military mo • entente
have also been directed with a view to the protection
of emigrants on their way to the monntain Territo
ries against the hostility and opposition of the In
dians
Besides the operations thos recapitulated, of redac
tion, concentration, re renchment and reorganization
Of the military establishment, and payment, complete
equipment, and disposition of the army, other matters
01 national imp. nance and Interest have received the
careful attention of the War Department,
i The permaient defences of tne country have been
strengthened. Their efficiency has already been
much Increased by substituting cannon of larger
Calibre and Improved model for lighter
guns, and wrooght-lron. for wooden gnn
carrisges. This work :s atUl In progress, and wuf br
conttuued. Eiligent and careful efforts, based upon
the designs and recommendatlonsofcompetentboards
of engineers, have been made to adapt old woiks. as
well as those in process of construction, to more pow
erful aimaments. Construction has been suspended
upou son. e wops s, In orcer to await the completion of
important experiments having in view the extensive
use oi iron shields ox armor for the protect! n of rana
and gunners; the results already attained give the pro
mise oi a practical and highly beneficial application of
the Knowledge obtained by these triads.
Surveys ot ihe lafces have been continued, and pro
gress ht s aiready been made in improving the harbors
ana riversoftheciiuttry. Theworkwillbe energeti
cally prosecuted under the liberal appropriations
mace at the last setalon ofCongrees.
Active and caieftil measures have been instituted
for Bucctßsfully and speedily carrying into effaetthe
generous provisions oi Congress for the benefit of sur
viving Boldieraof the warior the Union. The subject
of the payment of extra bounties to discharged sol
diers, and extra pay lodischarged officers.hos rtceived
assiduous attention. The rectnt law devolving upon
the War Department,instead of thfe accounting officers
of ihetrtasury, the dalles of examination andseule
meet of claims of ihu nature, imposed a vast accumu
lation oi laoor, and required the consideration of
numerous Acts of Congie&s aud the regulations
and practice ef several bureaus; upon the
proper performance of these extraordinary
labors depei ds the disbursement of nearly eiguty mil-
Hooajjf dollars among mi re than a million of cl*lm
auiß. Soon after the adjournment oi Congress a com
pe’.ent board of officers was organized to prepare rules
and regulations for the payment of the auinortzed
bounties. Diligent application was given to w ira
and the regulations, having been lound to be In strict
accordance with iaw, were promptly approved, i>ub
ithtd and directed to be carried into effect. To the
same bct-id ibeeubject of bounties for coJorec sol
diers was also referred, with a view to provide any
additional checks that might guard the bouuty
from fraudulent assignees and secure It to co
lored soldiers, and protect the tre&sury
against fraud: and when the report was received, pay
rnent of the bounties was ordered. As to the other
class of bounties the Paymaster General regards
it impracticable to make payment uum
all applications shall have been received
and claims classified and registered by Matts
and organization*; but by this preliminary process the
ultimate payment of ail will, it is believed, be greatly
expedited. Attempted otherwise, probably tte work
would never be fully,accomplished. Of the valuable
public records by which the validity of tbe bounty
c;aims is to he tested, there is in the archives oi the
goveromenthut one copy, already much worn, ror
each period. An examination for eacn individual
c*se would soon reduce them to Illegible shreds.
The duty of the government to the soldiers who have
been.maimed or have lallen In tladefence has not
been neglected. Much care has been taken, by ure
caul ic ns ana practical testa, to secure for tne former
the most durable useful, and comfortable artificial
limbs. Fix in July 16, 1562, the date of the act of
Cocgrf as auihoruing artificial limbsito be ffirnisued
to July i, ib66, there have been supplied to dimmed
toldiexs 3i*3i legs 2-40 arms, y feet, 65 hands
125 surgical apparatus, and it Is supposed
that not more than l,Clo Umbs remain
&UU to be supp. led, at an estimated cost of r?o,o»u. in
order to inc-ude unfortunate cates in whten. from the
nature of the injury or operation, no limb or other sur
gical appliance can be advantageously adopted tho
burgoon General has reccmmeodtd thatjiltthe appro
priation for this purpose shall be continued, tht
value of an artificial limb, in lieu of on order lorthe
apparatus,be given to the maimed soldier. Forty one
national mllitaiy cemeteries have been established
and into these had already been gathered on June so
the rex* sins ofli-i 52; Union soldiers. The aites forten
additional cemeteries have been selected and the work
up*_n tbem.forecme time delayed by the climate ana
a threatened epidemic, la now course oi vigorous
prosecution, Although it may not be
desirable to remove the remains of
those now reposing In other suit
able burial grounds, it la estimated that our national ;
cemeteries whl De required to receve and pro;ect the '
remains of St9S97 patriotic soldiers whose live* were
sacrificed in defence of our national existence. The
average cost of the removals and reinterments already
accomplished is reported at $9 75. amounting in the
Bg£7tK&u 10 51,144,791; acdtt is believed lhatau addi
tional expenoimre of |t 6t9.£Hwili be necessary, it la
proposed, instead of the wooden headboards heretofore
us€Q, to erect at the graves email monuments of cast
iron, suitably protected by zlne coating agaiostrosL
Six lists cf tbe .dead, containing 32666 names, have
been published by the Quartermaster General, and
others will he Issued as x&u.dly as they beprepAred.
Dccoments submitted by the JchiefS of bureaus and
accompanying this report, contain detailed informa
tion rtiktive to the operations of the War Department
and the requirements of its respective branches.
The total estimate of mlillary appropriations for the
fiscalyear ending June-30, 1868, Is 6O.
The Adjutant General's office has immediate super
vision ot recruiting for the regnta, army, and dishaud
lngthe volunteer lorcejiud charge also r,f the reords aud
uunnlshed business of the Provost MarahaiGeneral’s
bureau, which in accordance with the actor July ns
1866. wtsdlscontlnued AugustSS. Arrangemecianavo
been mace for the prompt settlement oi the unde
lermlned questions formerly pertaiUnlng is that
bureau, ana fur the removal to Washington of the re
cords of Its offices in the various Siaiea. The estmat d
appropriation required lor the purpooesoftbeAuju
lantGenerai's office is iS'juoiu. J
The offioersol the Inspector General's department
ore now thoseof the regular establishment, aud tu-v
are all engaged In their legitimate duties uf siamd
and special inspections. Mo appropriation Is required
lor Ibis servile. ■
Jnihe bureau of military Justice during .the nast
years, -tsrecordsofcourts xnarUaland mbiUryc)m
-roitßioiisLbVe been received, reviewed, »ca Men
ijx<6 special reports made as to the regularity of iudi
cUl the pa*don of military offenders the
remission or commutation of sentences. and upthe
. miscellaneous subjects *nd questions referred for the
opinion oi the bureau; including also letters of in.
Birtution upon military law and practice to judge
advocates and reviewing officers. Tae Dumber of
records of military courts received at this bureau
reached & minimum soon after the adoption of tnere.
cent army act, and since that time has increased vruh
the military rorce. The other business of the office as
an advisory branch of the War Department, win also,
S,! 8 J?«H 6,ed * cod tinae to be augmented until th« peace
establishment shall be completely organised and tee
inlly recruited; and the fact that, In » large
number of important cates, commanders of depart
,aEsi arm l efl not authorized to exteute sem
tences In time of peace, and that such cases can no
longer besummarilv disposed of without &
to will also require irom tto bur^fl
«?wSss"t5S5S:
In Ibequarlermaster’fl department the retorna and
Moonnis of officers responsible forclothlngaod^nmn 1
58®, during the yeariave been examined and trans
treasury ftr final settlement. Tn- erec
-15, fireprBofwarehonse at JfhUadelphla. fjr
which Congress mace an appiqprlailonoii JtU»2s
coni n eDC( ,d so soon as the proposals now in'
ylted by public advertisement shall have been" iS.
celvod end compared; and auihorlty Is desired lor the
purch.nse of a sfteand erocUon ofaslmUarstrncture at
Jeflersonville, Indiana. During the fiscal yew SSLn
fin? s £5 Ilatlon *“• been ftttnisdted Tar aaijSBr“SS?,
Inland transportation for W16,3U0 persons, lssWan”.
mala IM7O wheeled vehicles, and-t2o,t.cotons of otorea
of all kinds; and the greater pa>t of the hills for era 1 ' 1 , 8
the war have been Beuied and nald
hl£ssiii?!. nclpaU ?. unaer the ol July 1,1864 Save
during the year to the amount or uv'arsii 9
ooo.ico, npon which about(1,(00,000 have been naief X
lurther appropriations are rejulxed Ure
servlet ot lcequartermaster’s cepaument Mit
lleved that the balances now 'sum,
received and to be received will suffice the 3 nnrt
qDret (^. ar ' * or contingencies the sum of (kd.oS “re
The subsistence department £s engaged nndor it.
joint re-emuon of Jufr 35,1566, In PaynKi’noS reniß
cates giveo by the Commissary General orPris/fni***
wele^rt 0 « aU ° i lla Uffited SmtJSdlers
wbo were held as prisoners of war. Tnha'w*
the enlisted men of the army under Drooer
The settlement of accounts of officer*
iifilfssisss
is;Tbis.“."sssf,MwiS*S “
payment or claims under theactMJulr 4? ißs4 la arhl
amount disbursed daring the w«
From Jniy 1, Uffl to June 80, 1882 ,4a ~
From July 1, 18t.2, to June 30 1863 “ It
From July 1,1663 to June 30, 1864.... 2
From Job 1,1864, to June 30, 1666...... S 22 5?
From July 1, 1865, to June So, 1866........."
Tolal amount.■
Ho appropriation Is requlredfor ihe next fIS Br 7 8 r 7
Arrangements will soon bo consummated bv th /£?£:
dlcal department for the permanerSfecuriw
valuable mortnary records, Including leowffiim lit?
nmes ol hospital registers, 47,0H0 burial rtcords 1 nnii
hospital mnsterand payrolls,
the dead, containing 250.000 names of w hlte imd2n nm
of colored soldiers; and the patholog calco)ie?tbL 2 H'®2°
!;t i}uUr g the army medical- museum. .Darina th(ssci 1 *
official evidence, obtainable from no other
SX? s f £lsh ath,orof ' Itobaige for disability has?he™
furntehed In 49 212 cases, and 210,027 dlecSram
certificates of disability have been ei»mtSSl Bea u ? on
2SU3^ m^222sn^™J^
a wirspSrS i
volunteer medical staff, is ascertained to be 333.
including 2» killed in battle, 12 kiliod by accident.
10 dim ot wounds,4 died In r*belptl~on,7 died of yellow
fever. 3 died of cholera, 270 died qt' other dis
eases. Daring the war 65 m dical officers were
worn ded In battle ‘i he distribute of troops In sm»ll
bodies over bo large an extent of sountry necessitates
the employment of acting assistant surgeons tempo
rarily, but the number of these has been redneed from
9? 1: l 8 z 6 * cn July i. 1866, and will be
still further dlmiLuhed when existing vacancies Jn
the grade of asbistant surgeons created by the act of
Congrets of July 28. 1866,- are filled; a cones ponding
decrease in the number of hospital stewards, for geae
ral service, has also been effected: and ln every branch
pi the department redaction and retrenchment have
been rigidly enforced.
An aggiegote expenditure 0ft267,89192 was Incurred
by tre medical department in furnlablng officers and
soppily to the bure&uof refugees,ireedmenand aban
doned lands, which bad under its control, during the
fir cal 5 ear ending July 1,i860, no appropriation appli
cab ana thOßgb. under a decision of
the Treasury Department, reimbursement was not
made f om aubseouett appropriations for the freed
men’s bureau, no embarrassment arose and no legisla
tion It required. r i he funds at the aisposal of the me
dical and hospital department, duringthe year ending
JuneSO, 1866, were as followa: s 6
Balance of appropriations remaining in the
treasury, July 1,1865... »i 161,181 24
Amount Qf treaeurfedr.fi; Ho. 1,644. on war
warrant 3,205, tsao*B May 8, 1866, In favor
of Assistant Surgeon J B. Brlrnon, lost
i In the mall and subsequently refunded 10,000 00
Pxoceids of sales cf old or surplus medical
and hospltcl property. 4;044,26l 69
An ount refandea on account of supplies
furnished for the use of prisoners of war-
Amount refunded by the sobs stence de
partn eat, being apportionment of
amount paid for hoard and care of side
soldiers in private hospitals.— - 121.6C0 51
Amcuut xecived for board ol officers in hos
: plralß—. - ..
Amount recovered on accoont of stores
and forni'ure lost or damaged in trails*
pcrtation ..... 4,597 42
Refunded mm appro Ration lor care of
destitute discharged Boldie s, being for
board of discharged soldiers, while hav
ing artificial limbs fitted.—
Received from all other sources—
„Total 5,356,064 2i
Or tola amount these was disbursed during tlie same
period:
For medical and hOßpltal supplies, (a great
part oi this sum expended in payment of
debt of prevleuß year).. 8175 773 83
For pay of private phyeicisnt 825,584 05
For pay of musts and other hospital em
ploys
For purchase of artificial limbs for dlsaoied
sold lets
For board of siclt Botdiera in private hos
pitals 53,781 75
For expenses of hospitals for offlceia. 23,158 51
For expenses of purveying depots, labora
toilts, repairs. &c 812,713 18
For miscellaneous expenses of the medical
department 32,315 89
Total disbursements daring the fiscal year 2 837.801 77
Bale nee in treasury. JuneSo,lBt6. 2,543,437 H
Bemnded of amount advanced by disbars
ing officers during the previous year.
The estimated appropriation requ!red for th? ia-.di
cal department for the next fiscal year is |9o 000.
The pay derailment remains without material
change. In coQLeqnenceofEddi ional labors Imposed
upon this biarch of the War J-epartment by i>cent
congressional enaclment, and in order to promotl*
pay the lane Issue ofirtasarycerilttcates,U waane
cessar? to retain temporarily a comber of additional
paymasters. The financial aammary exhibits—
a balance on Land at the beginning of the
fiscal yw .... *120.106,993 32
Beceiveo from treasury < nd other sources
doling the year. — 163,426.223 97
Tota. l
•Accounted for as fellows:
Pisbcreements to army and
Military _ 42
Pisbun ementa to volunteers s<s,&43 3is as
Unissued requisitions in tiea
6ury.T. ..... 10 750,000 00
In bands oi pso n. asters June
13,403,910 51
.—I. I. t 253,553 223 29
The tela] disbursements of each class doximr the fis
cal year Is as follows:
To troops on muster out L . .fros.n-3.g-i oo
do. Id service—; ,„_ L _ $0450.010 go
To referred claims “ 7 6p7<600
To payment oftreasnry certificates-. _is 139447 00
The estimated appropriations of the
amonnt to to fur pay of the army for the
next fiscal year.
The corps ot engineer* at the close of the a soil year
consisted ofnlneiy live officers the bst allonof enei
neer troops, and the Military Academy. Thirteen
officers were on detached doty, serving in command
of military depaxlments, on special service conoect-c
with the levees of the Mississippi river, on the Idcht
house Board, with the Department of the Interior
upon duties relapse to thePaclnc railroad on mllltarv
sun eys and stafib of the eeneral-ln ci lef and com
manding general of the military division of the Gulf
the remainder were dUllgently engaged In lhedntjesioi
their profession. officers or desirable experlenc . aba
practice hiving direct supervision of the more imp; r -
antworks. the engineer troops were dlsribnted be
tween the Military Academy and the two depois of en
glneer supplies located at Willett's Point. Mew Yen
Barracks, Missouri. The condition
i f the bsliallcn with regard to discipline and Instruc
tion Is reported as satisfactory. At the two engineer
depots, mock valuable war material has beencoltected
Irom points where It had remained alter the c ose o!
active operstlens <n the field, and It is propossd to
keep on hand a lomplete outfit on a moderate scale of
such engineer, bridge and siege equipage as would be
most likely to come Into reqotsltioa to supply unfore
seen demands m the field. The chler of engineers sug
gests a modification of iheactof lone st isss In re
spect to the manner of procnring labor arid mat*rta!
for improvements on ofbarbors and rivers* The wtl
maied appropnaiion required by the engineer bureau
for the nexl fiscal year Is $5,140,000.
The ordnance department now limits theoperations
at arsenals to the construction ot wrought iron sea
coast carriages, and such ordnance supplies as are
needed lor Immediate use; preservation of the ord
nance stores left on hand at the close of the wan
breaking up unserviceable ammunition; and com
pletirg unfinished buildings, fire-proof
- ccm P teted , at Watervliet, Frangford,
ana Allegteny arsenal*; three magazines, with a
caps city for storing IS.c-fO barrels of cunprwder.
lave -been built at fit Louis arsenal' asd
oneoftbeßamecapaciiyat each of the arsenals at
WasMne»on City and Benicia A. board of officersi<
engaged in examining suitable sites for depositories
oj gunpowder, prpv-dded for by an appropriation of
the last sesiion of Congress; and the erection ot such
magazines as will famish secure any suitable storage
for ail our pcwder, ammunition, and nitre will be
commenced early ne*t tpriug. The arsenals at tae
south which were se 4 zed by the rebels, having besn
reta>- en, are reoccupied, excepting the North Carolina
arsenal, which w*« destroyed, the Harper’s Ferry
the workshops of which were buraed, aod
whichhas been used as an ordnance depot, the
arsenal In Florida, which has bees trans
ferred temporarily to th° freedmen’s bureau.-and the
areenslhiArkansfs. which is oooonled bv troops of
the llne. The Chief ot Ordnance is of opinion that it
is rot advisable to rebuild the North Carolina arsenal,
or toce-establish the armory at Harper’s Ferry, aid
the sale of both is recommended. All the small arms
supplies which were collected at
San 101)10 Aogusta, Charleston,
Mount Vernon arsenals, have been removed,
and the ocly supplies which have been sent to them
re™?”^, 88 wtre .squired for Immediate Jssite to
aSSPi appointed under tte act of
April is, 4864, to examine and report the value of
Property on Hock Inland taban by the Unltel
authority of tbat aot, baa entered upon
’’o Outtes, Aa eponsa good tltleaio the propeicyshall
byiawiwm b!
foTthi|,urpf B eTnrffig r toB e &£
lleved that all of it Ss necessary aidcan b?ueialaa°K
and advantageously expended. The operartonsat the
at J SSbgfleld, Massachusettß, during
ibe pasty far have been confined to desnlnar and re
pairing arms used during the wSr, and S
“ak}®? »iio® _requisite ‘ preparations for con-
Jgj»S "rra? Springfield muskegs into bseach
lSS e fo*iriS l^,sP^ ep “5 « odo r&oce ot the €-inch
on rifle cannon have been sub
testa, and the experiments will
Sve°v«s2°?Af»SH? ordnaECO returns for three consecu
a perl(Kl of active sprvice and
r *y )al , ra * show an average duration of five
cavalry carbtaea, of four years for cavalry
PM* B * sabrefl, and accoutrements, of seven y ears tor
of Blx sears for Infantry accon
/TcmJanuary i.igfii to June 30,1866, the
£??«£ nce d f>artment provided .7,&£ canuon: urcr
0£2130 small-arms; 2SS2 546 com
emen * B foe in ran try and ctwa'ry:
hSS«i e horse equipments;
28 lei tela of horse artillery barnest: 1.022 176 474 car
"K&g. ''S 0 ' 555 Perc^o’n
?. °«,l X€d artillery ammunition;
14 6Q7£a- cannon primers and lazes: 12 675 291
- c { TO« ll?> ry proJectil es; 26,449 054 pounds of gun
£?£»?* 6 ,'J 35 ' I BSf Dn ' ls and 90416-05 pounds
of lead. In addition to these, tb-ere were immense
quantities of parte provided for repairing and mating
SIJS? m. aa i mSßed ’ loBt or desuojed In the sere
vice. The fiscal resources of the ordnance .bureau for
the year-amounted to 135,301,062 56, aud the ex»»n<li
reres, *16,551,677 58, leoVinga b a lanMof { lB,llJs«iB
ot which fis 043,804 23 were undrawn balances’in the
ffl^'r^ln*^' 580 80 W “ e 10 016 Cretllt Of disbars 8
lugofficers In the government depositories on June
?rrt^lnro T e l msi tl l“ a | le s, aPPro , Prlatl “ n re q ulr6d
e^?i n y«fe C n!'tiYS|S only "“*«««■ “ require
. In ' he ‘ ffiee of tte Commissary General of Prisoners
a reduced t. ice has been engaged In receiving and
completing the records relating to prisoners of war, in
furnishing nformation requlredby ihe various bureaus
and In the lnveft'gatlon or claims for commu'.aUonof
rations to Dniied states BoldlerswhUe held asprisoners
The clerical force at the office of the signal corps Is
employed In arranging and putting In durable rorm
messages and reports which passeff through or ema
nated ftom the-corps during the war. Tne expend!
tores for the signal service daring the veaxenriinv
Sen tern bsr 30, 1666, were frt 900 15; the total ap
propriated and still available for signal servleTsaiC
tember so, 1866, was 1252,665 Mo apprcpitotlon w£
fo e r q tben«°t fi^l^.® 8 ’ “ d n ° ne wUI squired
. A*. 111 ® la ? tl examination the corps of cadets at the
Military Academy numbered two hundred and
twenty eight members, and forty cadets of the grad
uating class completed the course of stndles and were
commbsioned ltentenanta In the army. Under the
provisions of the acta of Congress approved, respect,
lvely, July 18 and 28, 3866, Ithe Military Academy was
reparated from the corps of engineers, which, together
with certain professors and cadets, bad heretofore
constituted the institution, and ihe officers of wireh
had exe T cised exclusive supervision and'cont-ol over
it, Brevet Major General Edmund uhrlver, In
spectorGenerahlmß been -assigned-a.-Inspector,- and -
Colonel T. G. PTfcber, of the 44th Infantry. an
poinleo'Bnperintendent. The report 01 the Boarcf of Vi
sitors for 1867 bears ample testimony to the usefulness'
ard excellent cor dition of the academy, and recant
mends the increase of the nnmberof cadets to 400 With
the present number of cadets bat one graduate can be
supplied to each regiment every second year, after the
ordinary demands of the staff corps are met. During
the pfist eetslon of Congress important measures were
acopttdie’pectlngtheac&demy,raising the standard
O) qualifications for admission, and requiring that ap-
FGlntmtnts he b*i* afttr made one year la advance of
the date of admission. The Inspector, from personal
ODBervstkn. reports the authorities of the institution
&s most assiduous in their efforts to advance the inie
mis of the academy airdits cadets. Its administra
tion jb characterized by economy, and hsblts of fra*
galit? are inculcated. Excellent discipline Is main*
i&lned and judiciously enforced. The est'mated an
propiJaiion lor tbeMllitary Academy is $243 *67
_ in the bureau of refugees, freedmen and abandoned
lands the Commissioner reports that there is no mate
rial change of organization, but business is facilitated
®hd vexed questions settled by the law of 1666. The
jurisdiction of assistant commissioners coincides
seßerajly with department and district commands,
but is d.Bticct in is ary land and the District of Coin me
Ma. ÜBdertbenew law Maryland and Kentucky are
©u*bractd. and these States seem- to reauir
eld from the bureau In. promoting
. © interests of justice and education,
in the northern cities employment offices, of little ex
pensejo the government, and not a source of revenue,
have beeD e&iablished with a view to obtain work and
hon.es for dependent freed pesple and to relieve
localities. The importance of self-supp -rt
«wfl een «; ree<i b ,7 proper means upon the laboring
W®- have been determined not by orders
o mC? °. 0^18 » bnt by circumstances ordinarily
affecting the price of labor in different localities. The
education oftreedmen and refugees has been carried
on vigorously, under the immeoiate patronage of be
nevolent societies, a superintendent of education.
***© whole time to bis work, is stationed at
the bureau beaoquarU-rain each Stale, and all bureaa
offletra cooperate wiih*him. It is th&t
150,010 freedmen and their ch-ldren are now attending
school in the Southern States. Schools for refaval
white children are also estab!ished. Thereformauon
cn “ nra ß.e d by ihe bureau!” Their htw
beea tut. lutle unurotn.Uy of action in different Sates
In reeptet to tbeaCmUlstration „f justice. AisbtaSt
conjUiiselcners baye been Instructed to transfer mill.
tar> jurtedlci.on, as rapidly as posßlble to State Judicial
tribunals. Ibi3 baa neen done completelyin some
States while In Virginia, Lonalana and Texas bureau
P o ?*! B ,®™ 8111 ! 1 , 11 ® xtslsn ce. A claim division, lnstl
tnted in March last, and aided by officers and agents
throughout the States, has sought to prevent fra ids
upon the colored soldiers in their efforts to collect un
paid claims: IBS crauns were paid through the office of
the tom mlfisii n er; 723 rejected at fils office;lLs32 are in
process of aojastmeat The aggregate amount col
lected and paid is #lO 539 09. De’aliea reports are given
of the operations ol the bureau In each State and the
DißtrictrfColumbia. Transportation Is reported ai
fut nisbed to 6,352 destitute freed people and 387 refu
gees. 13,412.27 s rations were issued Between June l.
1865, and September X, 1868. The average namber oer
month, to refugees and freedmen, was -
569; the average number per day, 20 819. Th 9 issn*e
to whites increased until June 30, 1866 when
Issues to freedmen and refogees were about eqaal.
From Jnne 30. 18t6, until September 1, the
number supported of both classes has di
minished. lugid scrutiny has been exercised to
pj event issues to any but the absolutely destitute, and
parts of the ration not actually needed were cut oil
Officers were directed to boid each plamatton county
parish, and town responeioie fur the care of it 3 own
poor, but to very lithe . uiDose, for, with few excep
tions. tbe State authorities nave railed to contribute to
ihereilet or persons supported by the government.
Owing to the failure c fcrops the rrqulremens ofcirca*
lar lo of aug 22 comd not be rigidly enforced. Upon
the application of hiate i fficiala, Bpedal issues are
being made to certain States for ‘the
support of their pauper populations. Rations
are sold to teachers and agen'B of benevolent socieiits
uLder the same rules that apply to such purchases
made bj commissioned officers. Bureau hospitals re
ctlve the usual fieedmen’s rations. The amount of
land now in poss- ssion of the bureau is 272.231 acres t j
bemcmsedoysSsnacisin Tenues* ee, of waich the
numbtroiacies a* snot been reported. Theaggregate
number ol parcels of town property, nut Included in
the above, which have been in possession oftue bu
reau is 3.724 of whiefc 2,605 have been restored, leaving
a balm ce of 1119 parcels of town property,
ihe balance on hand or the freedmen fund
Is _ ~, ijp 553 50
The btehmee of district destitute fund..'..'“.‘.7 67
The balance of appropriation e 856,259 30
22.163 84
309,916 06
CO
$283,533 2^B
Tbe estimated amount due sub
sistence departments _ .5297,C00 00
The transportation reported un
iaid„___.i 26 015 91
Tbe irvzispcriaiU u estimated due 20.000 oo
iatiruaUd amount doe medical
department..^....^........... ..
istimated amount due quaiter
maater department,... 200.000 00
Total balance for all purposes
;• 16 513,955 55
Ibe Commissioner estimates the additional funds
nectssasy lor the next fiscal year as fLUows:
salaries of assistant commissioners, sub
assistants, and agents ... *147 qq
BaUriesofUerhs &► soo 0?
S ailonery and printing .. 63, t00 uO
Quart era and fue»~ 200 OtO «>
spbftUtence
Medical deparuntnt .. swj oou 00
Transportation 80000000
school superintendents.... 25 UW 00
Building* lor schools and asylums (includ
ing construction, rental and repairs)
Telegraphing and pnatagp..., L .
T0ta1....... .—„ OO
in compliance wuh recent eaactn.euta of Congress.
to assess the value of slaves enlisted
into the united States army daring the war have been
appointed tor Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky and
1 enne&aee, but their reports have cot yet been re
ceived.
It cxnciuslon, It gives me pleasure to again express
my obligations to me .chief. of bureaus and tne sub
ordinates, who, In reducing tie War Department to a
peace establishment, have evinced the same diligence
ability atd fidelity, to the Interests of the government
mat distinguished them during, me laoors, anilety
aod vicissitudes of the war, ana contributed so
to its successful termination.
Report of the Secretary of Interior.
Depaktseent of the Interior, 1
Washington. D. C., Nov. 19, lBde. /
Sir: I have the honor to submit the follow
ing exhibit of the operations or this Depart
ment, and of the various and diversified inter
ests connected with the branches of the public
service committed to its supervision.
During the fiscal year ending June 30, ISofi
public lands were disposed of as follows: '
Acres sold for casb 3SS 29115
Acres entered under the homestead '
. act *' ••••••; 1,892,516.86
Acres located with military warrants 403,180 00
Acres approved to States as swamp.. 1,199.653 27
Acresapproved to States for railroads 94.590 99
Acres located with agricultural col- '
lege scrip.
••••■ 4,629,812.87
Dtnuig thn same period 6,423,954.1 S acres were
offered lor sale. The cash receipts irom sales
and other EOhrces were $624,645*8. The number
of homestead entries exceeded that of the pre
ceding year by more than sixty per cent.
There are sixty-one land districts and ten sur
veying departments. During the past year sur
veying operations have been prosecuted with
energy In Minnesota, Dakota, Kansas, Ne
braska, Colorado, California, OregonTlfevada
and Washington, bat have been deferred, onac
count of. Indian hostilities, in New Mexico and
Arizona. The anomalous condition of affairs
in Utah has prevented any surveys there since
the y ear 1557. At that date two and a half mil
lion seres had been surveyed. In order that
they may be disposed of, it is reocommended
that a land district be created In that Terrl
i Mwwntoftto public domain Is
1,465,468,660 acres, of which 474.160.551 acres have
been surveyed.
JPj® B Jsf n ! l . on . Congress is again respect
rally invited to the expediency of making early
provision for the adjustment of claims to land
situate In New Mexico and Arizona, arising
SpaibotMexico. The act of
July 22, 1854, directs the Burveyor-General to
ascertain the nature and extent of such claims
under the laws, usages and customs of Spain or
Mexico, and to make a full report on all such
as originated before the cession of the territory
S tat €S by the treaty of Guada
lupe-Hid algo. Congress reserved the right to
confirm by Its aoUon, bona fide grants, audio
give fnil effect to the sllpulatlonsof that treaty!
Until such action, the lands covered by those
claims are reserved from sale or other disposal
by , ,h . e government. The act does not
apply to that valuable region of country ac
quired by the treaty concluded at Mexico De
cember 60, 1853. Good faith and sound policy
require the separation from the public domain
w elli by 611 incipient and
2^r^ r J ot f7^ ieht ' or by a complete title, under
a grant of the government which preceded ns
jurisdiction and sovereignty
oyer the soli. The confirmation of "a private
dsln secures the party a valid title. The lo
??Hcn of his land, when ascertained by authen
u£Si^ eyß an ? boted upon our record Indeutl-
Property of the United States, and fa
be <3iepesal of it. The authority of
Jj*?.Surveyor-General should extend to the
? y the later treaty, and by a spe
c[cl tribunal created for the purpose,or through
te^^?n!rt I v,2rf tb « e c S n , rtB > aII Brants of this charac
ieroould be definitely and finally dlsDOsedof
firnrin^° New Mexico and Col
fi^iradj?B ItedbetWe6n 1 ted betWe6n
It has been the .cherished policy of the pnv.
eminent to assure upon the most liberal condi
tipns tothe actual settler a title to Ms
I , t ?~v rn^ ovtlr ' Gn ts. His preference right of
purchase Is not confined to lands which were
surveyed at the time of his settlement* noria he
required to pity for them, or for thosesurveyed
016 day designated by the
Proclamation for the public sale!
him J e ?« H ,? f .2P ln ? on exli!t as to the appllca
of the acts
Prescribing the period within
vevld LV e^ to v ry abatement, for nnsur-
Y“ y ?" , a ? ds rncßt he filed. No distinction
forthhln.vm 1 ?®? e ln rp e a £t to the time allowed
>5? E aymant for unoffered lands and those
<? e been offered. I concur in opinion
?«■“ th , e Commissioner of the General Dan d or
"f® as , to the changes-that-might be advanta
eepusly made in existing pre-emption laws.
They also*honld be greatly simplified and ren
dered more uniform In their op eration. In this
way controversies such as have been occa
sioned by incongruous and conflicting proyis
ions will be avoided, and the benefits of thl£P
Wise and just policy effectually secured.
The right pf the pre-em ptor attaches from the
cate or his actnai personal settlement; that of
the homestead settierfrom ihs dateof his entry
at the local land offices. The latter is oonflnecff
totur veye d lands. In either case the title may'
be consummated by a fnl. compliance wlthtne
,e t™s and conditions imposed by the law under ■
which it was initiated. A party who has set*
tied, with a view to pre-emption, upon a partlo--
ular tract, Bnd thus excluded all others from ae
quo lug a right thereto, Bhoutd not be permitted
i?.?i lan< i 011 his original claim and enter the
land under the homes! ead law. Such a privi
lege would, in many instances, inevitably leadt
f° hhuse. The inodes prescribed for acqnlr- -
mg title to land by these enactmentsessentlally
-14 theclaimant under a pre-emption
10 Perform the condition which It en
iusi lnoDr the consesequenoes of'
should be given to the head of the
department to close up the local office, and:
transfer its archives, where the lands in a State -
are nearly all dispensed of. The powers vested.
in the local officers might her conferred upon
9f tbe General Land OffieeTtO '
enablehim to give title on thesaleof the re
maining tracts. ■
The law forbids any incumbent in the Gene
ral Land Office to purchase pnbiiolands. I sug
gest the propriety of extending it so as to In
clude every officer in any way connected with
the administration of the laws relating to .
them.
Attention has been repeatedly Invited by this.
department to the immense value of the de
posits of precious metals within our territorial
limits. The mineral lands on the Pacific slope
belong to the government, but it has not pro
vided for the disposal of them, or for the devel
opment of the treasure w hich they contain. In
the absence o. legislation by Congresß, and with
its tacit consent, tbese mines have been worked
by individuals, vast expenditures made, and a
species of possessory right acquired which has
been recognized by State laws, and maintained
and vindicated by State tribunals. The act of'
February 27, iB6O, declares that no action in
the courts of the United States for the
recovery of any mining' title, or for
damBges thereto, shall be affected by
the foot that the paramount title to the landon
which such mines are, is in the United States
andSthe Supreme Court has held that mining
interests, apart from the fee simple rights in.
the soil by patent, existed before that act, with
the implied sanction ot the federal government. l .
The exploration and working of these mines
have largely contributed to the national wealth.
aDd our legislation should I snbmlt.be con
trolled to some extent bv existing rights and
Interests, which are the legitimate results of*
our policy of inaction. The wisdom of Congress
can devise measures which, by placing this vast
interest under the control of positive law will
render it tributary in a greater degree to the
public prosperity.
Copious details are furnished and many topics
connected with the public lands aoly discussed
in the interesting and elaoorate report.of the-
Commissioner ot Pensions.
By reason 01 the increased rate 3 of pension;
more than thirty-three millions of dollars will
bereqnlred for this branch of the Bervice dur
ing the next fiscal year. Samuel Downing, of
Edinburg, Saratoga County, New York, is the
only surviving soldier of the Revolution, trier
name was inadvertently omitted in the last an
nual report;of the|Pension Bureauto this depart
ment. The name* of nine hundred and thirty
one widows of revolutionary soldiers appear on.
the pension rolls at the close of the last fiscal
year. The invalid pensioners disabled in the
wars prior to 1 hat of 1861 do not exceed three
thousand. The widows and minor children,
who receive a pension by reason of the services
and death of those who served in such wars,
number one thousand two hundred and twenty-
During the last fiscal year twenty-two thou
sand six hundred andforty-five original appli
cations for invalid pensions were granted, at
an aggregate annual rate ct one mluion seven,
honored and fifty -six thousand eight hundred
and twelve dollars and twenty cents. Xhes
number of snch pensions that were increased,
was one thousand two hundred and Bixty-three
at an annual amount of Increase of forty-three'
thousand nine hundred and forty-six dollars
and twenty-five cents. The total amount
awarded to army invalids during the year thus
appears to be one million eight hundred thou
sand sevtn hundred and sixty-four dollars and
forty-nve cents.
During the same period twenty-seven thou
sand and seventy-six original applications of
widows and dependent relatives of officers and
soldiers of the army were allowed, at an aggre
gate rale of two million seven hundred and
forty-three thousand Beven hundred and eleven
dollars and seventeen cents per annum. The
increased allowance to snch persons was two
hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ten centa.
so that the stun required to meet pension claim?
of this description allowed caring the past year
is two million seven hundred and forty.four
cents 311 ten 41011018 °nd twenty-seven.
The whole number of new army pensioners of
all classes added to the rods during the year
ending June 30, 1566, was, accordingly, forty
nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-one
and requiring for their payment four million
five hundred thousand-five hundred and twen
ty-three dollars and thirty-seven cents per an
num. The number dropped from the rolls dar
ing the same period, on acconnt of death or
other causes, was ninethousand three hundred
forty-two, whoso animal alio wane©
amounted to eight hundred and eighty thou
sand one hundred and seventy-three dollars
and sixty-two cents.
Cm the 30th of June last there were on the pen
sion rolls fifty-four thousand, six hundred and
twenty invalids, whose yearly rate of pensions,
was four million ono hundred and twonty-oicht
thousand seven hundred and eighteen dollars
n r l< Ls ftee , n c£nLß ; 6aa sixty-nine thousand
t.gbt hundred and eighty-nine widows and de
pendent relatives, at a yearly rate of seven
million two hundred and eighty-four thousand
lour hundred and four dollars and eleven cents
—making a total of one hundred and twenty
four thousand five handled and nine army
pensioners, at an annual aggregate or eleven
million four hundred and thirteen thousand,
one hundred and twenty-two dollars and twen
ty-six cents.
During the year, two hundred and thirty-eight
original applications for navy Invalid pensions
were allowed, at an aggregate amonnt of eigh
teen thousand nine hundred and two dollars
and fifty cents per annum. Twenty-five such
pensions heretofore allowed were Increased at.
an aggregate annual rate of nineteen thousand
eight hundred and nineteen dollars and fifty
cents. Two hundred and eighteen original ap
pHcatlons of widows apd dependent relatives of
officersandseamen were allowed,at an aggregate
uf thirty-two thousand nine hundred!
and seventy-six dollars per annum. Tug.
navy invalid pensioners
on the rolls at the olose of the fiscal year was
one thousand and thirty-two, at an aggregate-
5 aD . ca >ra‘.e of seventy-two thousand six hun
dred and ten dollars and five cents. Thenum
per of widows and dependant relatives was ono *
tnousand one hundred and eighty-one.
at an aggregate annual rate of one*
eighty-eight thousand sev«‘
en hundred and forty-two dollars— mak
ing the whole number ot naval pensioners* •
l all classes, two thousand two hundred and
thirteen, requiring for their annual payment
two hundred and sixty-one thousand* three
hundred and fifty-two dollars and five cents 3 '
The total number of pensioners of all classes'
army and navy, on the rolls June 30,1866 was
one hundred and twenty-six
hundred and twenty-%0, and the amoontlSid
pensioners, inomding expenses of disbud,
merits during the last fiscal year w»« t
million four hundred
nine hundred and nlnety alx fo^S?
three cents. This amount
thousand two hundred and t hlrty-se
and fifteen cents paid to onS teousand
forty-three pensioners residing ir.
3 '63
Th© Davy pension fund, accruing* from, th**
condemnation and the sale of nrifes
vested in bonds of the United States
sßmWinnJ? 1111 ?? B ® ven hundred and’fl ty thoS
* ~T ht ,l ntelest of this investment
dou ble the amount necessary to
*lav? Pension!*. There is also an train
-14 Etl rplns of two hundred and five thoa--
E ® 0(1 £?i eo btmdrtd and thirty-eight dollars
aDd thirty-five cents.
During the past year four hundred and sly
bounty land warrants were issued for sixtv-
eight hundred and sixty aoreg-
The voluminous report of the Commissioner of'
Indian Affairs exhibits in detail the condition
01 4hl ?, difflcnlt 011(1 important branch off
the public service. The numerous treaties re.
centiy negotiated with various Indian tribes
have greatly augmented the labors of the dtS
partmect, and the constant pressure ofenfigra
tion into the Inoian Territory produces
Alois ot interest whloh requffe judlSousmSn'
agement to adjust and control. The (fonSSI;
stoner sets forth the terms and
those treat ies. The Indian tribes of the
west have resumed their foi-mer frienrt 1 v re'
iailops with the govemmont. and it?shnrS»
that they will succeed in ffiUy w 1?™ 0 ?*?
differences which have
among them in consequence of the
attitudes they were induced to
ward the United States during the
it has been the settled nnii,3-„? .
ment. to establish the yarFous
able reservations and there nroteet
them until they can be teueht terifnil-nief
soil and sustain themselves Tt
bmeZraTononh^^lUon^fteS 111 ’ 5
luFntion oFconlret^ 111 D ° doQbt r ®®®ivetha
During the pear ending September 30,133^'
$7,156.95l 49
100,000 00
643 0!*o M
500,(00 OC*
18OJ0 00
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
... 651,066.60