OFFICE COMMISSARY GENERAL OF Subsistence, Washington City, D. C., October 20, 1865. In compliance with the special instructions of the War Department of 7, addressed to chiefs of bureaus, I have the honor to submit the folreport of the operations of the Subsistence department during the past subsistence stores required for distribution to the several armies in the ve during the year been purchased, as was done during the earlier years war, in the principal markets of the northern States. The facilities and transportation to the various points where they were required for issue, tive prices in the different markets, and a due regard to the general cominterests of the country, have governed this department in apportioning urchases among the several market centres of the country. New Orradually resuming a healthy commercial condition, already enables this ent-and in further aid of such resumption-to obtain in that market a rable portion of the supplies required for distribution from that point. gh the present general condition of the southern States is not such as to large amount of supplies for the troops on duty therein, still the officers department are able in some parts of those States to enter into contracts I cattle and slaughtered beef, as also to some extent to purchase therein rticles The principal purchasing officers of the Subsistence department erformed their duties with great fidelity to the interests of the country h much mercantile ability, and also, as I am frequently assured, to the satisfaction of the commercial men of the country with whom they have ted the business of this department. ar as has been practicable, subsistence stores have been obtained by adg for and receiving sealed proposals for their delivery. During the past ths four hundred and two such advertisements have been received and on file in this office. principal commissaries immediately responsible for the subsistence of the armies in the field have performed the important and often difficult duties ving, protecting, and distributing the supplies forwarded to them with idable efficiency and success. They have also, by great energy, been a considerable extent, to subsist the troops upon the resources of the in which the armies were operating or through which they were passing. believed that during the entire war no campaign, contemplated mover expedition has failed on account of the inability of the Subsistence det to meet its proper requirements. It is also believed that the troops, er stationed or operating, have, with rare exceptions, been supplied with in good and wholesome condition. e the Subsistence department has furnished a constant, timely, and adeupply of subsistence for the several large armies occupying widely dif elds of operations, as also for the troops at all the separate positions octhroughout the entire country, it is due to the Quartermaster's departat its vast labors in the transportation of these supplies be recognized ng been performed with a readiness and efficiency worthy of the highest dation. As a single item indicating the amount of these labors, I inthe fact that during the year 1863 the Quartermaster's department from the port of New York an average of seven thousand packages of nce stores per day for every working day of the year, and for the year thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven packages per day. bly left on hand in some of the depots an exes. This excess has been sent to other points, ead of meeting such requirements by further siderable part of these supplies have been, or Surplus and damaged stores are in process considerable quantity of hard bread, surplus ains to be disposed of. A sufficient quantity have been held back from an earlier sale with nical manner, the urgent wants of those people, the events of the war, been reduced to a sufbeen deemed an act of charity, due from the es of food. t, under your orders of June 29, 1865, directiskey ration, and the sale of the whiskey on = at once stopped. The sale has already taken -on be completed. e previous years of the war, a very considerm the sale of the hides, tallow, and other parts ef to the troops. The total amount of such At the Washington and Alexandria depots 98 for the year ending 30th of September, ng the four years ending at that date. Es management of Brevet Brigadier General army, Commissary General of Prisoners, the s charge at thirty-two forts, prison barracks, well and humanely subsisted, having received of the ration to insure health, leaving in the mmissaries, as “savings," that portion of the persons living in entire idleness. The pecunias constituted a prison fund, available, under y general of prisoners, for the purchase of artirracks and hospitals, and for meeting other rs. General Hoffman has already, under your bsistence department a "savings" credit of the ports that there remains yet to be transferred 6 98, making a total amount of $1,845,125 99. ces, and the consequent reduction of the exnable it to meet all demands without exhaustrent fiscal year. eau is, habitually, up to date. The examinaaccounts is nearly as close up to date as it is however, facilitate the prompt examination of 3 of the officers of the Subsistence department, as well as the latter, to be sent, by the officers reau for its administrative action before going reasury. I do not doubt that the Third Auditor July 4, 1864, authorizing the claims of loyal for subsistence actually furnished to the army ed for by the proper officer receiving the same, y such officers without giving such receipt, to General of Subsistence, and making it his duty ed, there have been submitted as follows: Number approved for payment With your approval, it is propo the total quantity of each article During the past year two vaca The Subsistence department, at t The officers of this department, re To the able senior Assistant Commiss Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretar your approval, it is proposed to ascertain and exhibit, in a tabular form, al quantity of each article of subsistence stores purchased for use of the uring each year of the war, from 1861 to 1865, inclusive. Such a stateould form an interesting addition to the mercantile statistics of the country. er the act of March 3, 1865, for the better organization of the Subsistpartment, authorizing, during the continuance of the rebellion, the selecd assignment of commissaries of subsistence of the volunteer and reguvice to geographical military divisions, to separate armies in the field, to y departments, to principal subsistence depots, and to the office of the ssary General of Subsistence as assistants, with the rank, pay, and emol of a colonel of the Subsistence department, there have been so selected igned nine commissaries of subsistence; one from the regular service, ght from the volunteer service. There have also been selected and d, under authority of the same act, to inspection or other special duty, mmissaries of subsistence with the rank of lieutenant colonel; one from unteer, and the other from the regular service. Also, to divisions, two ssaries of subsistence with the rank of major; both from the volunteer ing the past year two vacancies have occurred in the regular service of bsistence department; one by the brief sickness and death, after much 8 and efficient field service, of Major John Kellogg, and the other by ation of Captain Edward R. Hopkins, a valuable officer. Both of these ies were filled by selections and appointments from the volunteer branch Subsistence department. Subsistence department, at the commencement of the war, contained but officers of all grades; it had reached this number by small additions, zed by law, from time to time, as the army was increased and the terricupied by it extended; the several additions subsequent to the act of 4, 1818, by which a Commissary General of Subsistence was originally zed, being as follows: by the act of March 2, 1820, two commissaries; act of July 5, 1838, five commissaries; by the act of September 20, our commissaries. Since the commencement of the rebellion there have Ided as follows: by the act of August 3, 1861, twelve commissaries; by of February 9, 18C3, live commissaries; making a total of twenty-nine of all grades. A further increase is not recommended until it shall be o appear that the present number of officers is inadequate to the service d of the department. officers of this department, regulars and volunteers, have, with but few ous, performed their duties with signal fidelity and success. Some of ave been held from serving with troops in the field, much against their and ambition. eable senior Assistant Commissary General of Subsistence, and to the other on duty in this bureau, is largely due the credit of the general good conof the affairs of the Subsistence department which I am enabled to report. ve the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. EATON, Commissary General Subsistence. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. DISBURS For medical and hospital supp Balance in the The ample provision for sick Upon the receipt of General Or The vast amount of medicines and Since April, 1861, there have bee As far as returns have been receive * Furnished during the year ample provision for sick and wounded existing at the date of my last I report was increased during the ensuing months until a maximum of (204) indred and four general hospitals, with a capacity of (136,894) one hunnd thirty-six thousand eight hundred and ninety-four beds, was reached. hospitals, hospital transports and cars, ambulance corps, and the purveypots, were kept in condition to meet all possible requirements, and Genherman's army was met at Savannah by four first-class sea-going steamers, ghly equipped as hospital transports, with extra stores and supplies for ousand beds, should it have become necessary to establish large hospitals is line of operations. on the receipt of General Orders No. 77, dated War Department, Adjutant al office, April 28, 1865, immediate measures were taken to reduce the exs of this department. Of the (201) two hundred and one general hospitals n January 1, 1865, (170) one hundred and seventy have been discontinued. of the four sea-going hospital transports have been discharged; the fourth constantly engaged in the transfer of sick and wounded from southern o the general hospitals in New York harbor. All of the river hospital have been turned over to the Quartermaster's department, and but a single al train is retained in the southwest. vast amount of medicines and hospital supplies becoming surplus through luction of the army have been carefully collected at prominent points, e being disposed of at public auction, most of the articles bringing their lue, and in some instances, their cost price. e April, 1861, there have been appointed (547) five hundred and fortyurgeons and assistant surgeons of volunteers; mustered into service (2,109) ousand one hundred and nine volunteer regimental surgeons, and (3,882) housand eight hundred and eighty-two volunteer regimental assistant suremployed as acting staff surgeons (75) seventy-five; as acting assistant ns (5,532) five thousand five hundred and thirty-two. ar as returns have been received, during the war (34) thirty-four officers medical staff have been killed or died of wounds received in action, (24) -four wounded, and (188) one hundred and eighty-eight have died from or accident incurred in the service; (1) one died in a rebel prison, (6) six ow fever. A completed record will increase this number. hundred and fourteen (214) surgeons and assistant surgeons of voluneported as supernumerary, have been mustered out. * Furnished during the year-artificial legs 1,388; arms 1,121. |