surgeons of volunteers and chaplains attached to these hospitals, were mustered out of service during the year. The health of the troops was fully equal to that of preceding years, notwithstanding military movements of unprecedented magnitude were pushed to a successful completion, and, except among the returned prisoners, who were more or less affected by typhoid fever, no unusual epidemic prevails. The returns of sick and wounded show that the number of cases treated in general hospitals from 1861 to July 1, 1865, amounted to 1,057,423. The medical bureau is in possession of 30,000 special reports of the more important forms of surgical injuries, of diseases and operations, which, together with an extensive pathological collection, it is proposed to employ in the preparation of a medical and surgical history of the war. The sea-coast defences progressed during the year only to such an extent as the services of competent officers to superintend them could be spared from active military operations. The permanent forts on the Gulf have, since their repossession by the Government, been repaired and put in a defensive condition, and great activity has been manifested in mounting these works, as well as those on the Atlantic coast, with guns of a heavier calibre than were employed before the war. Efforts have also been made to increase the capacity of manufacturing sea-coast carriages, and it is contemplated hereafter to mount all siege and field-pieces on iron carriages. The Ordnance Department has discovered nothing yet to supersede the large smooth-bore cast-iron pieces, of which the Government now possesses so considerable a rumber. No rifled cannon that can be implicitly relied upon have been yet manufactured. Nearly a million of good Springfield muskets, and about half as many of foreign or captured muskets, are now in the national arsenals, and, in view of such a supply, the enormous manufacture of small arms carried on at the armories during the war was, subsequent to the termination of hostilities, reduced to the peace standard. Notwithstanding many experiments have been made, no satisfactory breach-loading musket has yet been invented, and the infantry continue to be armed with the muzzle-loading piece heretofore in use. Experiments have latterly been instituted, however, with reference to converting the old muzzle-loaders into breech-loaders. The immense amount of equipments, projectiles, and other material of war which accumulated during the progress of military operations, has, as far as was practicable, or consistent with economy, been stored away for future use, rendering the Government far better prepared for hostilities than at any previous period of the national history. "The artillery on hand," Bays the Secretary of War, "tasks the department for its means of storage. The manufacture of ammunition requires materials for which we have in some degree relied upon other countries, because they could be had cheaper. For this reason, and to guard against mischance three years' stock of material for ammunition has already been kept in store, and the supply on hand is ample for any war that can be waged against us by any nation." The number of arms in the national depositories would have been much greater at the close of the year, had not the soldiers been allowed, when mustered out of the service, to retain their arms at a nominal price, which most of them willingly paid. The signal corps, which at the close of 1864 numbered over 1,500 officers and enlisted men, was, subsequent to the termination of hostilities, reduced to about one-tenth that number. On account of the usefulness of the services rendered by the corps during the war, it has been determined to retain in the service this nucleus of an organization, which can be hereafter enlarged as circumstances may require. To the 12,000 miles of military telegraph in operation at the close of 1864, over 3,000 were added previous to the close of the war. Upwards of 6,000 miles are still in use. The business of the Bureau of Military Justice has experienced no diminution since the close of hostilities. The Judge-Advocate General reported that subsequent to March 2, 1865, 16,591 records of general courts-martial had been received, reviewed, and filed, and 6,123 special reports made as to the regularity of proceedings, the pardon of offenders, &c., besides numerous miscellaneous questions. A new and enlarged edition of the "Digest of Opinions of the Judge-Advocate General" is about to be published. For the discharge of military prisoners and the military departments of the country, see ARMY OPERATIONS. In compliance with a resolution of the thirtyninth Congress, adopted at its first session, the Secretary of War, early in 1866, reported the following general officers of the regular army and of volunteers in service on February 1st, 1866: Regular Army. J. M. Schofield, on leave of absence. 0. 0. Howard, Washington, D. C., Bureau of Freedmen. Alfred H. Terry, Richmond, Va., commanding Department of Virginia. John A. Rawlins, Washington, D. C., Chief of Staff. Lorenzo Thomas, on inspection duty, Special In structions. Joseph Holt, Washington, Judge-Advocate General. MAJOR-GENERALS. Ethan A. Hitchcock, Washington, D. C.; under special orders of the Secretary of War; in charge of Office of the Commissary-General of Prisoners. Irvin McDowell, San Francisco, Cal.; commanding Department of California. John Pope, St. Louis, Mo.; commanding Department of the Missouri. Samuel R. Curtis, Commissioner to examine the Union Pacific Railroad under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Edward O. C. Ord, Detroit, Mich., commanding Department of the Ohio. Joseph Hooker, New York City; commanding De partment of the East. John G. Foster, Tallahassee, Fla., commanding Department of Florida. Christopher C. Augur, Washington, D. C.; commanding Department of Washington. George Stoneman, Memphis, Tenn., commanding Department of Tennessee. Oliver O. Howard, Washington, D. C., Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. Daniel E. Sickles, Charleston, S. C., commanding Department of South Carolina. (Lost a leg in battle.) Winfield S. Hancock, Baltimore, Md., commanding Middle Department. John M. Palmer, Louisville, Ky., commanding Department of Kentucky. Frederick Steele, Fort Vancouver, W. T., commanding Department of the Columbia. Joseph J. Reynolds, Little Rock, Ark., commanding Department of Arkansas. John M. Schofield, on leave of absence. Andrew A. Humphreys, in charge of work on le vees on the Mississippi River. James B. Steedman, Augusta, Ga., commanding Department of Georgia. Edward R. S. Canby, New Orleans, La., commanding Department of Louisiana. Horatio G. Wright, Galveston, Texas, commanding Department of Texas. Alfred H. Terry, Richmond, Va., commanding Department of Virginia. Thomas J. Wood, Vicksburg, Miss., commanding Department of Mississippi. Gersham Mott, Washington, D. C., under orders of War Department. Member of special commission. Nelson A. Miles, Fort Monroe, Va., commanding District of Fort Monroe. Alvan C. Gillem, Chattanooga, Tenn., commanding district of East Tennessee. Francis Fessenden, Washington, D. C., under ord.rs of Major-General Augur. (Lost a leg in battle.) Charles R. Woods, Mobile, Ala., commanding Department of Alabama. Walter Q. Gresham, New Ind. On leave of absence. John M. Corse, St. Paul, Minn., commanding District of Minnesota. John W. Turner, Richmond, Va., commanding District of Henrico. John R. Brooke, Annapolis, Md.; member of a general court-martial. Emory Upton, Denver City, Colorado Territory; commanding District of Colorado. William F. Bartlett, on leave of absence on ao. count of wounds. John B. McIntosh, Annapolis, Md., member of a general court-martial. (Lost a leg in battle.) George H. Chapman, Department of Missouri, under orders of Major-General Pope. ing defences around Washington. Member of a genJoseph A. Haskin, Washington, D. C., command eral court-martial. John W. Sprague, St. Louis, Mo., Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for the States of Missouri and Arkansas. Robert K. Scott, Napoleon, Ohio, assigned to duty in the Freedmen's Bureau. of absence. (Severely wounded in battle.) Galusha Pennypacker, West Chester, Pa., on leave missioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for the State of Wager Swayne, Montgomery, Ala., Assistant ComAlabama. Stewart Van Vliet, New York city, chief depot quartermaster in New York. Thomas M. Harris, under orders to report in person to the Secretary of War. Frederick T. Dent, Washington, D. C., commanding garrison. Lewis B. Parsons; supervising the disposition of Government boats and barges on the Western rivers. Louis D. Watkins, Louisville, Ky., commanding post. John M. Brannan, Savannah, Ga., commanding District of Savannah. George W. Cullum, West Point, N. Y., Superintendent of the Military Academy. Jefferson C. Davis, Louisville, Ky., commanding First Division Department of Kentucky. William S. Ketchum, Washington, D. C,, on special duty in the War Department. James H. Carleton, Santa Fé, New Mexico, com. manding District of New Mexico. Absalom Baird, New Orleans, La., Assist. Com'r of the Freedmen's Bureau for the State of Louisiana. John C. Robinson, Albany, N. Y., commanding District of Northern and Western New York. (Lost a leg in battle.) Henry Price, Alexandria, Va., member of a general court-martial. George S. Greene, Alexandria, Va., President of a general court-martial. Henry J. Hunt, Fort Smith, Ark., commanding Frontier District, Department of Arkansas. George W. Getty, Baltimore, Md., commanding District of Baltimore, Middle Department. Alfred Sully, Clnton, Iowa, commanding District of Upper Missouri. Clinton B. Fisk, Nashville, Tenn., Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. ing District of Indiana, and Chief Mustering and DisThomas G. Pitcher, Indianapolis, Ind., commandbursing officer, &c., for the State of Indiana. Frank Wheaton, Omaha City, Nebraska Territory, commanding District of Nebraska. John S. Mason, Prescott, Arizona Territory, commanding District of Arizona. Romeyn B. Ayres, Winchester, Va., commanding District of the Shenandoah. John E. Smith, Memphis, Tenn., commanding District of West Tennessee. Thomas H. Huger, Raleigh, N C., commanding Department of North Carolina. Davis Tillson, Augusta, Ga., Assistant Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau for the State of of Georgia. George J. Stannard, St. Albans, Vt. (Severely wounded in battle.) Patrick E. Connor, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, commanding District of Utah, Department of the Missouri. Gabriel R. Paul, Harrodsburg, Ky., in charge of Soldier's Home. (Severely wounded in battle.) Adelbert Ames, Columbia, S. C., commanding District of Western South Carolina. Daniel H. Rucker, Washington, D. C., Chief Depot Quartermaster. Robert Allen, Louisville, Ky., Chief Quartermaster Valley of the Mississippi. Rufus Ingalls, Washington, D. C., on duty at headquarters armies of the United States. ARMY OPERATIONS. The severe weather of the winter months of 1864-'65, caused no cessation in army operations. Maj.-Gen. Thomas, after pursuing the retreating forces of Gen. Hood from Tennessee, collected his troops at Eastport. Thence a considerable body of his men, consisting of the 23d corps under Gen. Schofield, were moved by railroad to the Atlantic coast, and landed on the North Carolina shore. Another small portion was sent to Gen. Sherman at Savannah. To Gen. Thomas was now assigned the defence of that extended portion of the country from Atlanta north and westward, which belonged to the department under Gen. Sherman, when he commenced his march upon Savannah. The large garrisons which had been required at Memphis and other places on the Mississippi River, also in Tennessee and Kentucky, had been set free by his new position, and were able to join his forces. At the same time, the army of Gen. Hood had been fatally reduced. The situation of Eastport, on the Tennessee River, near the junction of the lines of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, placed the northern portion of the two latter, States at the mercy of Gen. Thomas. On Jan. 16th, 1865, Gen. Croxton, with a division of the 16th corps and the 1st division of cavalry, reconnoitred from Eastport toward Corinth, passing through Iuka and Brownsville. It appeared that a small force of Gen. Hood's army held Corinth, while the main body was at Tupelo. Thirty-five of the enemy were captured at the depot, and a hotel at Corinth burned. Deserters, averaging from thirty to fifty daily, were coming within Gen. Thomas's lines, from Hood's army. Subsequently a part of Gen. Hood's forces were marched by land eastward across the State of Georgia, to assist in opposing Gen. Sherman. This movement left Gen. Thomas free in the latter part of February to cooperate with Gen. Canby against Mobile, and Southern Alabama, and Mississippi. Thus far the quiet of the Army of the Potomac, since its operations last described, had been hostile armies when near each other. No im undisturbed, except by those incidents usual to portant movement had been attempted. Under the call for troops in December, 1864, large numbers were going forward to fill its ranks. The withdrawal of a portion of the fleet and of the forces of the Army of the James for the second attack on Wilmington, tempted the enemy at Richmond to make a demonstration for the purpose of breaking the pontoon bridges over the James, and cutting the communication between the Federal forces on the two banks. If successful, it was undoubtedly the purpose to follow it up by an attack on the forces on the north bank. A fleet, consisting of the Virginia, Fredericksburg, and Richmond, iron-clads carrying four guns each, and the wooden vessels Drewry, Nansemond, and Hampton, with two guns each, the Buford, one gun, the steamer Torpedo, and three torpedo boats, left Richmond on Jan. 23d. About midnight the fleet passed Fort Brady, and began to pass the obstructions. A fire was now opened by the fort, to which the enemy replied, dismounting a hundred pounder in the fort, and escaping beyond its range. The chain in front of the obstructions beyond the lower end of the Dutch Gap Canal was cut, and the Fredericksburg passed through. But the Richmond, Virginia, and Drewry, in attempting to follow, grounded. The Drewry could not be got off, and was abandoned as daylight appeared, and was blown up subsequently by a shell from the battery on shore. The report of the affair by the enemy was as follows: The flagship of the expedition was the Virginia, commanded by Lieutenant Dunington. The Richmond was commanded by Lieutenant Bell, who was First Lieutenant on the Alabama at the time of her commanded by Lieutenant Sheppard. The latter fight with the Kearsarge. The Fredericksburg was vessel, being of light draught, passed clean through the obstruction, but the others found a lower tier of obstructions deeply submerged, and which had not been moved by the freshet; the depth of draught. The Virginia received a shot in the centre water over them being impassable by vessels of their by a three hundred pounder Parrott shell, fired from a Yankee Monitor, being struck when trying to get off sunken obstructions in the river. The shot displaced a few of her bolts, and killed five of her crew. No other damage was done, but it was found that her engines were fouled, not in consequence of the shot, and that she was not in fighting order; in the mean time the fire of our vessels had completely silenced the Yankee shore batteries, and a number of shots were exchanged with the Monitor, with what effect is not known. In consequence of the condition of the Virginia's engine, it was decided, on a consultation of the officers of the flotilla, to withdraw all ves sels, which was done without further casualty. It had been impossible to survey the channel to any the submerged obstructions of the river were found great extent on account of the enemy's picket fire, and to be more effectual than they were supposed to be. This was followed by shelling between the hostile batteries on the river throughout the day, and during the night the fleet returned to Richmond. On the night of Jan. 31st, marching orders From Reams' station the cavalry advanced in the direction of Dinwiddie Court House, and encountered at Rowanty Creek, a tributary of the Nottoway, a portion of Hampton's cavalry, dismounted and sheltered by breastworks on the opposite bank, but commanding the bridge. After a short skirmish the bridge and the works were carried with a loss of about twenty men, and the capture of twenty-two prisoners. In a few hours two bridges were built for the troops and trains to cross. Meanwhile a portion of the cavalry advanced to Dinwiddie Court House, and captured some empty wagons, a mail, &c. Scouting parties also advanced up the Boydton road, and captured a few wagons. At night the force returned to Rowanty Creek, where Gen. Gregg bivouacked. were issued to the entire army at Petersburg, consisting of the 2d, 5th, 6th, and 9th corps. This was preparatory to another movement by the left, the plan of which was to throw a strong flanking column far beyond the right of the enemy's works, along Hatcher's Run, so that it might pass behind them and take them in reverse, and then, if possible, turn north and march upon the Southside Railroad. Meanwhile the rest of the army would form a connection between this corps on the left flank and press the enemy gradually back as far as possible toward the railroad. During the day and night following the issue of the orders, the usual preparations for a forward movement went on; troops and baggage were moved to the proper places, hospitals were cleared, the sick sent to City Point, and four days' rations distributed to the troops. Meanwhile a heavy fire was opened upon the enemy's lines at different points, to conceal the preparations on foot. This was kept up during portions of some nights in which the cars were kept incessantly running to mass troops and supplies on the right. The preparations for the movement were not completed until Sunday morning, the 5th. Gregg's division of cavalry had been ordered to move at 3 o'clock in the morning. The 5th corps, under General Warren, was to march at five, and the 2d corps under Gen. Humphreys, at six o'clock. The flanking column consisted of the 5th corps with Gregg's cavalry. The cavalry column moved down the Jerusalem plank road, and reached Reams' station soon after daybreak. The 5th corps moved along the Halifax road at 5 o'clock, with Gen. Ayres's division in advance, Gen. Griffin's next, and Gen. Crawford's in the rear. On the Vaughan road were the 2d and 3d divisions of the 2d corps, under Gen. Humphreys, who were expected to move directly upon the works at Hatcher's Run, while the 5th corps advanced around the right. Meanwhile Gen. Humphreys, with the 2d and 3d divisions of the 2d corps continued his advance up the Vaughan road, encountering and driving in the enemy's pickets, and reaching the Run. The intrenchments of the enemy on the opposite bank were not very strongly manned, but the obstructions in the stream were such that the cavalry were driven back in an attempt to cross. The brigade of Gen. De Trobriand was then drawn up in line of battle, and the 99th Pennsylvania sent across in skirmish order, who carried the works at once with a small loss, and secured the fording of the stream. The enemy's small force were now driven back rapidly to the woods, and the brigade took a position on a hill beyond the ford, and throwing up intrenchments rendered itself secure. Previously, however, the 2d division, under Gen. Smyth, when within half a mile of the Run, turned off to the right on a path leading northeasterly toward Armstrong's mill and pond. After advancing three-fourths of a mile, the enemy were found in a strong position. Their pickets were driven in after a sharp encounter, and a line was formed connecting the left of the division with the right of the 3d, which Gen. Mott commanded. Temporary earthworks were thrown up and preparations made to resist an attack. Some skirmishing ensued between the pickets until 2 o'clock P. M., when a heavy artillery fire commenced, and an attack from the Under enemy was apparent. cover of the artillery fire the enemy pressed through the difficult swamp, and rushed upon the rifle-pits, which now partly covered the right of Gen. Smyth's division. He was received with such a sharp fire as forced him to fall back to the woods. A second and third attempt was made to carry the works, and turn the flank of Gen. Smyth, but each was repulsed. At dusk the fighting was over, and the lines re mained secure. The loss of Gen. Smyth was about three hundred, and that of the enemy who made the attack somewhat larger. During the night the 5th corps was brought into connection, on the left of the 2d corps, with the left of the 5th, covered by the cavalry of Gen. Gregg. The 6th and 9th corps were also so disposed as to render assistance to the 5th and 2d. In the morning the position of the troops was strengthened by constant work until noon. At this time Gen. Crawford's division of the 5th corps was sent toward Dabney's mills, in order to reach the Boydton plank road. The country through which the route lay was covered with woods, swamps, and ravines, cutting it up in all directions. At the same time the enemy, believing the Federal force had recrossed Hatcher's Run and abandoned the advance, had sent out Gen. Pegram with his division. About two miles above the Vaughan road his skirmishers met those of Gen. Crawford, and after a sharp contest were forced back toward his original position. The division of Gen. Evans came to the assistance of Pegram, and the advance of Gen. Crawford was checked. The division of Gen. Ayres was now sent to support Gen. Crawford, and a brigade of Griffin's to support Gen. Gregg, who was on the left, and had been engaged for some time with Lee's cavalry, which pressed his rear heavily. During a lull which happened, his force threw up breastworks. But toward evening they were attacked with great force by the enemy, and his pakets driven with his force into the works. The battle increased, and many of his officers were wounded. While this was taking place on the left of the Vaughan road, the infantry had again become furiously engaged on the right of the road by repeated attacks of the enemy along the line. Finally Gen. Gregg was driven out of his breastworks, and his line forced back to Hatcher's Run, where he soon found that a similar misfortune had happened to the infantry. It was not until the intrenched lines on the Vaughan road and Hatcher's Run, thrown up on the previous day, were reached, that the routed troops could be rallied. The enemy dashed forward with great elation, but were met by such a sharp fire from the intrenchments as caused them to fall back rapidly to the woods. Night put an end to the conflict. The following is a report by Gen. Lee of the operations of the day: HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, Feb. 6, 1865. General S. Cooper: The enemy moved in strong force yesterday to Hatcher's Run. Part of his infantry, with Gregg's cavalry, crossed and proceeded on the Vaughan road, the infantry to Cattail Creek, the cavalry to Dinwiddie Court House, where the advance encountered a portion of our cavalry and retired. In the afternoon parts of Hill's and Gordon's troops demonstrated against the enemy on the left of Hatcher's Run, near Armstrong's Mill. Finding him intrenched, they withdrew after dark. During the night the force that had advanced beyond the creek returned to it, and were reported to be recrossing. This morning Pegram's division moved down te the right bank of the creek to reconnoitre, when it was vigorously attacked. The battle was obstinately contested several hours, but Gen. Pegram being killed while bravely encouraging his men, and Col. Hoffman wounded, some confusion occurred, and the division was pressed back to its original position. Evans's division, ordered by Gen. Gordon to support Pegram's, charged the enemy and forced him back, but was in turn compelled to retire. Malone's division arriving, the enemy was driven rapidly to his defences on Hatcher's Run. The Union loss during the day was estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 men. The loss of the enemy was estimated as exceeding 1,000 men, including Gen. J. Pegram and Col. Hoffman, as killed. During the night the works were strengthened, and early in the morning of the 7th the enemy made a demonstration on the skirmish lines of the cavalry and infantry on the right. and left of the Vaughan road, but were repulsed. At noon the division of Gen. Crawford was sent out to make a reconnoissance, supported on the left by the division of Gen. Wheaton. The pickets of the enemy were encountered after an advance of about half a mile, and driven back to their works higher up the run between Armstrong's and Burgess's mills, and about two miles beyond the latter. A sharp fire of musketry ensued; but as Gen. Crawford was not prepared to force the lines, he drew his men back again to Hatcher's Run. The fighting by this column was kept up until night. During the day, the cannonading between the lines had been constant. The next day, the 8th, was devoted to throwing up intrenchments, and strong defensive works soon indicated the points at which the permanent lines were to be located. The enemy made no attempts to force the new positions, but appeared satisfied to give up the lower part of the run if no attempt was made by the Union forces on the Boydton plank road. The result of the entire movement had been to gain an advanced position on the enemy's right, which was held firmly, by completing the lines to Hatcher's Run, and extending the City Point railroad thither. Affairs now continued quiet for some time. Artillery duels were frequent along the lines before Petersburg, but no important movement was made. Large numbers of deserters from the enemy were constantly coming into the lines of Gen. Grant, often exceeding seventy a day for many days successively, and increasing to two hundred. In the Shenandoah valley, small expeditions by one or the other party served to prevent a quiet state of affairs. Further west, the enemy captured Beverly on Jan. 11th. This was done by Gen. Rosser, who crossed the mountains, and early on the morning of Jan. 11th entered the place, making prisoners of four hundred of the garrison, consisting of seven hundred men, and dispersing the rest. They were asleep in their winter quarters, with no pickets out further than three hundred yards from their camp. A large amount of commissary and quartermasters' stores, with a great number of horses, were also taken. Again, on |