Dec. 12.-Acting Third Assistant Engineers William Ellis, William McComb, John H. Hopkins, and David J. Lanahan, detached from the Mercedita, and waiting orders. Acting Third Assistant Engineer Chester R. Merrill, detached from the Santiago de Cuba, on the reporting of his relief, and ordered to the Potomac Flotilla. Acting Third Assistant Engineer John A. Strieby, ordered to the Periwinkle.

Dec. 13.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer B. Frank Teal, detached from the Tulip, and granted sick leave.

Dec. 14.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer William T. Longee, detached from the Lenapee, on the reporting of his relief, and ordered to the Fort Morgan. Acting Third Assistant Engineer James W. Kent, detached from the Calypso, and ordered to the Periwinkle. Acting Third Assistant Engineer George R. Dunkley, detached from the Calypso, and ordered to the Hibiscus. Acting Third Assistant Engineer Isaac A. Conover, ordered to the Lenapee. Acting Third Assistant Engineer James Lockwood, ordered to the Tahoma.

Dec. 15.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer William McCombe, ordered to the Morse.

Dec. 17.-Acting Third Assistant Engineers G. W. Kiersted and George A. Dean, ordered to the Napa.

Dec. 21.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer George C. Rogers, detached from the North Atlantic Squadron, and granted sick leave.

Dec. 22.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer Lucius Harlow, ordered to the Peoria. Acting Third Assistant Engineer Thomas Campbell, ordered to the Peoria.

Dec. 23.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer Jarvis B. Edson, detached from the Fah-Kee, and ordered to the Cambridge. Acting Third Assistant Engineer Christopher McCormick, ordered to the Cambridge.

Dec. 27.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer James Hollingsworth, ordered to the Spirea. Acting Third Assistant Engineer John Mee and Henry J. Johnson, ordered to the Spirea.

Dec. 28.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer William Hopkins, ordered to the Merrimack. Acting Third Assistant Engineer George M. Smith, ordered to the Calypso. Acting Third Assistant Engineer George Bertram.

Dec. 31.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer James H. Blessing, detached from the Newbern, and granted sick leave. Acting Third Assistant Engineer George A. Dean, granted sick leave. Acting Third Assistant Engineer Samuel H. Linn, detached from the Aries, and ordered to report to Commodore Dornin for duty.

Promoted.

Dec. 2.-Acting Master W. L. Martine, to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. Dec. 6.-Acting Ensigns C. F. Taylor and F. G. Osborne, to Acting Masters. Dec. 8.-Acting Ensign R. Sommers, to Acting Master. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Edward Conroy, to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant-Commander.

Dec. 9.-Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Pierre Giraud, to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant-Commander.

Dec. 10.-Acting Master B. C. Dean, to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant.

Dec. 12.-Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Wm. B. Eaton, to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant-Commander.

Dec. 15.-Acting Ensigns John White, Joseph A. Bullard, and John J. Butler, to Acting Masters.

Dec. 16.-Acting Ensign Henry G. Macy, to be Acting Master.

Dec. 22.-Acting Volunteer Lieutenant C. F. W. Behm, to be Acting Volunteer Lieutenant-Commander. Acting Master George E. Nelson, to be Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. Acting Ensign David Organ, to be Acting Master.

Dec. 24.-Acting Master William McGloin, to be Acting Volunteer Lieutenant. Dec. 29.-Acting Ensign Henry Taylor, to be Acting Master.

Dec. 31.-Acting Ensign John K. Barker, to be Acting Master.

Resigned.

Dec. 2.-Acting Assistant Paymaster Theodore Kitchen. Acting Ensign C. L. Weeden.

Dec. 5.-Acting Assistant Surgeon Joseph Stevens. Acting First Assistant Engineer Charles H. Harrington.

Dec. 6.-Acting Second Assistant Engineer W. W. Tunis.

Dec. 8.-Acting Assistant Paymaster Theodore E. Smith.
Dec. 12.-Acting Assistant Paymaster F. C. Hills.

Dec. 14.-Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Frank Smith. Acting Assistant Paymaster H. J. Bullay.

Dec. 15.-Acting Master J. P. Randall.

Dec. 17.-Acting Masters George Williams and W. O. Lundt. Acting Assistant Paymaster George W. Burkett.

Dec. 19.-Acting First Assistant Engineer F. A. Bremon.

Dec. 20.-Acting Assistant Paymaster Stephen T. Brown. Acting Ensign George Kendall.

Dec. 23.-Acting Assistant Paymaster William B. Crosby, Jr.

Dec. 28.-Acting Assistant Paymaster Charles H. West. Acting Third Assistant Engineer George A. Slight. Acting Master John Dillingham.

Dec. 30.-Acting Second Assistant Engineer Isaac Johnson.

Dec. 31.-Acting Ensign John M. Richards.

Dec. 2.-Acting Master's Mates Charles C. Jones and James H. Gordon.

Dec. 3.-Acting Master's Mate Richard Wilcox.

Dec. 5.-Acting Master's Mate Robert Anderson.

Dec. 6.-Acting Master's Mate William Cook, Jr.
Dec. 7.-Acting Master's Mate William W. Brandt.
Dec. 15.-Acting Master's Mate George R. Avery.
Dec. 19.-Acting Master's Mate John Williams.

Dec. 22.-Acting Master's Mate Joseph J. Tinelli. Acting Master's Mate Daniel McCool.

Dec. 30.-Acting Master's Mates William H. Hathorne, Charles S. McCarty, and John C. Constant.

Revoked.

Dec. 1.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer David Girty.

Dec. 2.-Acting Second Assistant Engineer T. O. Reynolds.

Dec. 3.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer J. Snowden Bell.

Dec. 9.-Acting Second Assistant Engineer R. D. Faron.

Dec. 12.-Acting Second Assistant Engineer R. A. Copeland. Acting Ensign and Pilot C. B. Parry.

Dec. 13.-Acting Ensign V. J. Young. Acting Ensign Daniel Lester.

Dec. 15.-Acting Ensign William Bourne.

Dec. 17.-Acting Ensign William B. Marchant. Acting Second Assistant Engineer Charles L. Fowler.

Dec. 19.-Acting Ensign G. B. Mitchell. Acting Second Assistant Engineer H. S. Walcott.

Dec. 22.-Acting Ensign Thomas Tierney.

Dec. 28.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer James H. Eppes.

Dec. 1.-Acting Master's Mate Christopher H. Foster.

Dec. 24.-Acting Master's Mate E. W. Walton.

Dismissed.

Dec. 5.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer Peter Innis.
Dec. 6.-Acting Assistant Paymaster Augustus Esenwein.
Paymaster H. D. Kimberly. Acting Ensign William H. Dumont.
Dec. 12.-Acting Ensign Joseph L. Penfield.

Dec. 14.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer Edward Missett.

Dec. 17.-Acting Ensign Milton Griffith.

Dec. 23.--Acting Ensign A. A. Robinson.

Dec. 27.-Acting Assistant Surgeon William J. Gilfillan.

Dec. 28.-Acting Gunner William Finnigan.

Dec. 29.-Acting Master and Pilot William Jones.

Yeaton.

Dec. 30.-Acting Ensign W. H. Thomas.

Dec. 29.-Acting Master's Mate V. B. Gates.

Acting Assistant

Acting Ensign John N.

Miscellaneous.

Dec. 9.-Sentence of Court-Martial, cashiering Acting Master J. W. Caswell, mitigated to suspension from duty for three months without pay.

Dec. 10.-Sentence of Court-Martial, dismissing Acting Third Assistant Engineer Robert J. Ewing, mitigated to suspension from duty for two months on half pay. Sentence of Court-Martial approved, sentencing Acting Third Assistant Engineer C. H. Bartram to confinement for six months.

Dec. 12.-Order dismissing Acting Ensigu and Pilot G. M. Lawrence revoked, and his resignation accepted, to date from August 2d, 1864.

Dec. 21.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer Robert T. Ewing, suspended from ' duty for two months on half pay.

Dec. 9.-Sentence of Court-Martial, dismissing Acting Master's Mate W. J. Lewis, mitigated to "suspension on half pay for two months," and confinement to the limits of such vessel as Rear-Admiral Porter may direct for the same length of time. Sentence of Court-Martial approved, that Acting Master's Mate James H. McClure, be "reduced to the rate of Ordinary Seaman for fifteen months, and at the expiration of that time to be dishonorably discharged from the Naval Servico of the U.S."

Dec. 10.-Sentence of Court-Martial, dismissing Acting Master's Mate John McGovern, mitigated to "suspension from duty for three months without pay."

Died.

Acting Ensign Edward Winnemere, of the U. S. S. Yantic, on the 24th December, 1864, of wounds received in action.

Mississippi Squadron.

Dec. 15.-Acting Volunteer Lieutenant George W. Brown, detached from the Mississippi Squadron, and ordered to the South Atlantic Squadron.

Dec. 23.-Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Henry S. Wetmore, detached from the Atlantic Squadron, and granted sick leave.

(Mr. Wetmore belongs to the Miss. Squadron, but was detached for duty in the North Atlantic Squadron at the request of Admiral Porter.)

Dec. 20.-Acting Master Michael Hickey, ordered to report to Acting RearAdmiral Lee, for duty. (Exchanged prisoner.)

Appointed Acting Master's Mates.

Dec. 1.-W. H. Roberts.

Dec. 6.-Charles E. Pelton.

Dec. 20.-Acting Master's Mate E. N. Wild, ordered to report to Acting RearAdmiral Lee, for duty.

Dec. 12.-David Damon.

Appointed Acting Gunner.

Resigned.

Dec. 1.-Acting Chief Engineer Edward Merriman.
Dec. 7.-Acting Assistant Surgeon H. Beauchamp.
Dec. 31.-Acting Master's Mate Herman Alms.

Revoked.

Dec. 1.-Acting Master's Mate E. D. O'Bryon.

Dec. 3.-Acting Second Assistant Engineer E. L. Morse.
Dec. 22.-Acting Master's Mate John A. Leaman.

Dec. 23.-Acting Master's Mate Charles Jordan.

Dec. 24.-Acting Master's Mate E. A. Turpin.

Dismissed.

Dec. 2.-Acting Third Assistant Engineer Richard Nugent.
Dec. 3.-Acting First Assistant Engineer John Connelly.
Dec. 29.-Acting Master's Mate John Thompson.

JUSTICE TO OUR GALLANT DEFENDERS.

[We have received several communications from officers of high rank, on the subject of pay. Among them is the following, which needs no editorial comment, but that of our heartiest sanction and earnest hope for the justice so imperatively demanded by the necessities of men who deserve a thousandfold what we can ever pay them.—ED.]

THE PAY OF THE ARMY.

THE present pay of the Army was established in peaceful times, when gold was at par, and all the necessaries of life much cheaper than they are in these warlike times, when the price of gold ranges from two dollars twenty-five to two dollars fifty cents. A captain of infantry, who, before the war, received and lived comfortably on, with his family, one hundred and eighteen dollars fifty cents, in gold, per month, which, at the present rate (say two dollars twenty-five cents), would now be worth to him two hundred and sixty-six dollars sixty two cents. So that now he gets less than one-half the pay he did in peaceful times, whilst his expenses are more than doubled, and the risk of life infinitely greater.

Before the war, our officers, stationed mostly in places where they could have their families with them, were seldom obliged to maintain two separate establishments, as they are now, when so completely separated from their families. Thousands upon thousands of our volunteers, who rushed to the protection of our national flag, when first assailed, left comfortable homes and a lucrative business to peril their lives in the cause of the country. What a sad record it would be could the number be stated of those who never saw those homes again, or returned only to find their inmates in want, and their business ruined, with the prospect of commencing life anew, weighed down possibly by wounds which but illy fitted them for the additional struggle required. There are thousands now in the service who have this sad prospect before them; many who, actuated by the highest patriotism, still remain in the field, although there is a continued tug at their heart-strings to go home to provide for the dear ones there.

Surely Government should try to compensate as adequately as possible those who so freely make these sacrifices for it. The pains and penalties attaching to a state of war are many, and although the war be prosecuted for the good of all, they are not equally shared by all. Those who risk their lives and limbs in the field, should be well paid by those who remain at home and risk neither.

It is a fact worthy of the highest credit to our people, that their money has been as freely poured out in this struggle, as has the blood of our brave soldiers in the field; but more of it should go towards paying our soldiers, and less into the pockets of those who do not do the fighting.

The pay of army officers is subject to a tax by Government, which amounts to five per cent. on the excess over fifty dollars per month, so that a captain's is re

duced from one hundred and eighteen dollars fifty cents, to one hundred and fifteen dollars eight cents, or forty-one dollars ten cents per year; and correspondingly for every other rank. It certainly would be a very proper measure to exempt the pay of officers from this tax altogether, and the pay should be doubled for all officers and soldiers with the exception of the general officers, who do not need so large an increase.

Instead of the pay being made to depend upon the commutation value of so many rations, servants, &c., each officer should receive a certain fixed salary. This has often been proposed and recommended by our authorities, but has never become a law, although it is difficult to find a single well-founded objection to it.

The distinction made in the Navy, between the pay of officers when on sea and on other duty, is an admirable one, and should be introduced into the Army, making the pay of the officer doing duty in the field higher than that of one out of the field, and the pay of an officer on leave of absence, or waiting orders, less than either. By the present arrangement, the officer exposing his life every day in the field, separated from his family and comfortable home, gets less pay than one who is in quiet enjoyment of both; for the latter draws commutation of fuel and quarters, which is not allowed to the former. This is placing a premium upon an avoidance of duty in the field, which, to say the least of it, is very bad policy.

Every argument which can be made use of in favor of increasing the officers' pay, applies with double force to the pay of the enlisted men, those who are, after all, the real patriots of this war.

Congress being now in session again, this important matter of the pay of those on whose shoulders the whole welfare of our country depends, should occupy its earliest and most serious attention. Strengthen the hearts, and consequently the arms, of our brave soldiers in the field, by providing for them in such a way that they may always feel amidst the storm of battle, no matter what happens to them, the dear ones at home have bread to eat and a home to cover them. No one, except one who has felt the want of such a feeling, can know how that reflection does strengthen the arm and brave the heart in time of peril!

Protect your defenders, and they will protect you.

[We are very glad to see that Mr. Wilson has introduced into the Senate a bill to increase the compensation of certain officers of the Army in the field. The first section provides that the commutation price of rations, to all officers below and including brevet brigadier-generals, shall be fifty cents after the 1st of March, instead of thirty cents, as at present; but this shall not apply to officers who are entitled to commutation for quarters, or to officers of the Veteran Reserve Corps.

The second section relieves all officers of the Army and Navy from the payment of income tax. The third section provides that every officer who remains in the service, except those in the Veteran Reserve Corps, and those on detached duty, who get commutation for quarters, shall at the close of the war be entitled to three months' pay, on being honorably mustered out