art of war more extensively throughout our end at this time an increase in the total numointments from each State and Territory, and king the number of appointments to be auom each congressional district and Territory 'rom "at large" annually by the President's each State and Territory and the District of perienced for years past in training the minds sent to the academy to prepare them for useprofession, arise mainly from the qualificaceedingly limited. While at the present time se the standard for admission, I do urgently t least five candidates to be nominated for ed by law, when every section of the country proportion of graduates entering the army be authorized by law, the examination of the eral sections of the country, at convenient at annual expense now incurred by partially cadets to their distant homes, insure a much could master the course of studies, and avoid ges from the academy for inability to acquire ciency for a graduate of this institution. officers of the department have been regn onth. These accounts had accumulated in Our years beyond the means allotted to the ect, and forward to the Treasury Depart ed and three monthly accounts, amounting examined and forwarded to the Auditor for à on hand at this time three hundred and be examined, amounting to $4,492,964 85. ng the past year in the examination of these will be brought up to the months in which No defalcation or losses in any way exist bility of the officers of the department. purchased for the armies in the field, either is being sold, and the avails will be returned ales to this date is $34,123 12. The resi Narrative collated from t FROM THE RAPI Accurate maps and topographical were much needed, and called for th plan No. 11.) Reconnoissances had the Rapidan, and the country was e army in November and December, 1 had furnished some information that gained during the campaign of the 1864, showed that the existing maps furnished but little suitable for select tirely deficient in details required for face of an enemy. The country prov ble character; and although in one of without any geographical information that this information would have to be movement of the army. To accomplis occupied day and night preparing map guides, for directing the columns, eithe euvred for position previous to attack. the volunteers, were the assistants of C assistants and men detailed from the commenced after crossing the Rapida front of Petersburg, and continued on o road within the lines of the army was e pushed as far to the front and on the fla ouce photographed in the field, and di these photographs were published as fast In this way several editions of eleven m ing surveys covering an area of 730 squ by means of odometers, on the headq miles; and others made with the cavalry over an aggregate distance of 310 miles. information obtained from captured maps On the 9th July, 1864, an order was i army against the intrenched position of harge of engineer officers and troops of the engineer battalion. property of the department in the hands of its agents is accounted for ly, and the returns examined in this bureau. mber of returns examined during the year is. maining to be examined.... aking the number of property returns rendered by officers RICH'D DELAFIELD, 220 43 263 General, and Chief Engineer U. S. Army. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. · Narrative collated from the reports of Colonel N. Michler. FROM THE RAPIDAN TO PETERsburg. rate maps and topographical information of the country to be passed over uch needed, and called for the earliest attention of the engineers (See . 11.) Reconnoissances had been made as far as the different fords of idan, and the country was so far well known. The movements of the November and December, 1863, between the Rapidan and Mine run, ished some information that proved of great value. The experience during the campaign of the army of the Potomac in May and June howed that the existing maps sufficed only for general information, and d but little suitable for selecting the routes of columns, and were eneficient in details required for the manœuvre of troops in the field in the an enemy. The country proved to be of the worst and most impracticaacter; and although in one of the oldest States of the Union, it was any geographical information among its archives. It became evident information would have to be obtained in anticipation of any forward nt of the army. To accomplish this, Colonel Michler's party was kept day and night preparing maps, much needed, in the absence of reliable for directing the columns, either as they moved on the routes, or manfor position previous to attack. Major Weyss and Captain Paine, of nteers, were the assistants of Colonel Michler, who had also seven civil Es and men detailed from the ranks. The labors of these assistants ced after crossing the Rapidan, progressed until the army arrived in Petersburg, and continued on other fields until October, 1864. Every hin the lines of the army was examined and surveyed, and the work s far to the front and on the flanks as practicable. Their notes were at otographed in the field, and distributed for use. Revised editions of otographs were published as fast as any new information was procured. vay several editions of eleven maps were arranged and issued, compriseys covering an area of 730 square miles. Other surveys were made s of odometers, on the headquarters train, over a distance of 179 nd others made with the cavalry expeditions under General Sheridan, aggregate distance of 310 miles. These surveys were completed from ion obtained from captured maps. Six sheets were thus improved. e 9th July, 1864, an order was issued directing the operations of the ainst the intrenched position of the enemy defending Petersburg, and the lines of both armies. To this map cone siege. Over 1,300 miles of actual surveys eferred to. More than 1,200 maps were isdan, and over 1,600 photographic sketches ly, 1864. luties assigned the officers of the corps of en nzie accompanied General Gregg's second cavommand, after crossing the Rapidan, at Ely's and was in the action against the enemy's he 6th May he returned to the engineer batanied the third cavalry division, and continued a May, accompanying the division from Chanthe James river, and was present in the enand back. Colonel Michler crossed the Gerand was directed to reconnoitre the ground > the right of the position occupied by the redericksburg turnpike. At the crossroad, beid at Spotwood's, the enemy's cavalry was 5th corps, and Ricketts's, were formed in line ed forward to the right of the 5th. During e entire 6th May, Colonel Michler remained 6th May he made an examination of his front of an intrenched line, the right of which was offering facilities for outflanking the position. y assaults on both days opened the campaign, ng on the evening of the 6th May by a fierce my on the right of the 6th corps. Colonel ps to a new position, the left still resting on aving slightly fallen back; the line was reGermania plank road, with the right resting near es mill. The movement of the corps comas established in its new position by daylight. army again advanced. Lieutenant Benyaurd, the 6th corps along the turnpike to Chancel d to Piney Branch church, and thence to the ith the Brock road, near Alsop's, Benyaurd is road with Kilpatrick. He remained with gineer officers accompanied the commanding May to Todd's tavern, at the intersection of At this point a severe cavalry fight, under oon. On the 8th May some severe skirmishnce of the 5th corps and the enemy, then fallards Spottsylvania Court House. At dayountry along the Brock road, and parallel to on for the 2d corps, in the event of the ene About noon he was ordered to remain with day he reconnoitred to the west, along the bridge, across the Po. The columns of the ng southward. Towards evening he made a sily repulsed. On the 9th May the officers of eer battalion, assisted the different corps in intrenchments. On the 10th May the enthe passage of the 2d corps. Subsequently hey's divisions back across the river to a po t ་་ ་་ ་་ ་་ད་་ ་ས་ ་་་ ་་་་ day in reconnoitring in ing the enemy. Rain and muddy r 's corps, including the famous to strengthen it. In the course of th 6th corps, to the right of the 2d. was directed, in taken up by the 5th corps, and ende company with Duan works around Spottsylvania Court H seen from one or two commanding structed some time previously, in and wards Michler reconnoitred, with his and located certain buildings in Spot around it. In the afternoon he ac corps, across the Ny, to the left of position in front of Meyer's house, f sessed of it, on the other divisions 16th, and 17th, during a suspension roads, daily reconnoissances were m officers. On the 18th a general attad cided success, and on the 19th moven flank, the enemy making a similar 19th Michler, accompanied by Captai sent to report to Birney, who was hol flank, to give him information of the night, examining his position prepara light. On the night of the 20th M corps leading. Lieutenant Mackenzie and accompany his command, with wh was reached, and during the operations eral headquarters, having reconnoitred mand. On the 21st May, Michler was sent The movement of the army was conti 59-W Russell, the point of successful attack on the rebels by Upton's brigade. 1th May Captain Mendell, corps of engineers, guided the 2d corps o the left, preparatory to a general assault along the whole line, drivnemy. Rain and muddy roads checked the contest. The next day, May, the two armies fought from early dawn until darkness had for en over the contending hosts. Fourteen hours' fighting had failed to rebel army from its strong position. During the afternoon of the 12th ane and Colonel Michler reconnoitred the ground between the right of orps and the old Court House road, to select a line for a division of orps to hold, to relieve the other divisions of this corps. e 13th May, Michler was ordered to examine the line in front of Hanrps, including the famous "salient," to ascertain what should be done then it. In the course of the day he also examined the line of the s, to the right of the 2d. On the morning of the 14th, Michler ted, in company with Duane, to cross the Ny, and examine the line by the 5th corps, and endeavor to locate the position of the enemy's ound Spottsylvania Court House, detached portions of which could be one or two commanding points. They had evidently been consome time previously, in anticipation of the present move. Soon afterichler reconnoitred, with his assistants, towards the Anderson House, ed certain buildings in Spottsylvania, and other sections of the works t. In the afternoon he accompanied Upton's command, of the 6th ross the Ny, to the left of the 5th corps, occupying a commanding in front of Meyer's house, from which it was soon driven, but reposit, on the other divisions of the 6th corps coming up. On the 15th, 1 17th, during a suspension of the contest by rain and impassable ily reconnoissances were made of the enemy's position by the engineer On the 18th a general attack was made by our army without any deecess, and on the 19th movements were made to turn the enemy's right e enemy making a similar move on our right. On the evening of the hler, accompanied by Captain Turnbull, of the corps of engineers, was port to Birney, who was holding the enemy in check on our right give him information of the nature of the ground. He remained all amining his position preparatory to a renewal of the attack by dayIn the night of the 20th May the army moved by its flank, the 2d ling. Lieutenant Mackenzie was ordered to report to General Hancock, mpany his command, with which he continued until the North Anna ned, and during the operations on that river, and then returned to genquarters, having reconnoitred the successive lines taken by that com 21st May, Michler was sent across the Mattapony to ascertain the of any fords above the bridge by which the 6th corps could cross n the line of march from Anderson's (Smith's) mill. A reconnoissance made towards Mud Tavern, on the telegraph road. Information was ed that the enemy had abandoned Spottsylvania Court House, and was outh by the telegraph road towards the North Anna, to take up that strong position. ovement of the army was continued on the 23d of May. The 2d and were in the advance. Each forced a passage of the North Anna. On May the whole army, except two divisions of the 9th corps, effected the f that stream. On the morning of the 25th Michler made a reconof the whole line from Noel's station to the river. A log bridge had tructed in addition to the one at Quarles's; these, with the Chesterfield ral pontoon bridges, afforded perfect facilities for crossing. -W The uring the day to re-cross the whole army. examination of all the bridges and crossings, during the day near the railroad bridge. On ossing of the river commenced and continued owell, of the corps of engineers, guided the 9th 27th, Michler and Mackenzie examined the ylor's ford and Normand's ferry on the Pason's ferry, to ascertain whether it would be atter point, and the result proved satisfactory. over-town was seized the same day. By the ad all passed over the several pontoon bridges purpose. Apprehensive that the enemy might rossing the river, Major Duane and Colonel e to aid in forming it and see that it was conosition had been occupied and many parts of it the Tolopatomoy, and the right on Crump's e corps of engineers, was sent in the morning e of the position, and was present during the connoitring force. reconnoissance in force was ordered in the dind Shady Grove church, and along each of the Mackenzie accompanied the 5th corps, LieuTurnbull the 2d, Captain Mendell one division joined another division of the same corps. On ordered to join the 5th corps, and Lieutenant s, with Lieutenant Mackenzie, were constantly llowing day in making reconnoissances along Ferent lines taken up as the army changed po endell and Lieutenant Benyaurd were ordered White House to protect it against any sudden been moved from Port Royal to that place. th Lieutenant Gillespie, of the engineers, and the country southeast of Old Church tavern er which to move the different columns simul in position at Cool Arbor. A general attack s entire front, which was repulsed. The morna most gallant assault by the army along its et of driving back the enemy across the Chicking at the time parallel to that stream. Early irected to make a reconnoissance along the 2d ion and strength, and, later in the day, to ex3th corps and Birney's division of the 2d corps. nore closely arrayed against each other, sepa forty to one hundred yards, each awaiting in ation the fierce attack of the other, but neither oth contending forces had already experienced on of the body could be exposed at any moe sharpshooter warned all against rising above ments. All lay close to the ground, it being knees to reach the line. e position of the works with Captain Farquhar, 1 Michler reported to the commanding general storming the position of the enemy in front of ts great strength, and there being no suitable attempts had been made to force On the 9th June Michler was the movement towards the east The ground selected by the en mill pond, almost directly in fro the construction of the batterie Gillespie directing one portion was finished on the followin Howell made a reconnoissance certain the practicability of er unfavorably. On the night of the 12th J contested field so long occupie set in motion. On the 13th, by direction of ceeded in advance of the army the ground from Swynyard's, ing, and thence over Gun's Hil Kellovan's creek. This exam tle to be taken up to protect The line selected covered Swy Herring creek, and crossed t the s uthern point of which it be thrown. The 2d corps read trench, which work was subsec June steamers commenced fer cox's landing to Wind-mill Po deavoring to find direct roads le down Wynoke neck, but soon It was ascertained that approac the direction of General Weitz preparatory to building the pou it having yet been received at Weitzel turned over the entire thrown under Duane's direction was ordered to select a short li of the remainder of the army a space to park the latter, he se from Tyler's mill, the right to |