the desirableness of the change proposed could be given than the experience of this year. Many of the grain contractors have already failed, and it is apprehended that all of them will do so, in consequence of the great increase in the price of grain, owing to its scarceness since the contracts were made. The recommendations of the chief commissary of subsistence regarding the furnishing new articles of supplies are approved and respectfully recommended. It will be observed that not all of the posts in the department have been inspected since I assumed command. This is due to the great extent of the department, the amount of wagon travel to reach all posts, and to the many changes made in my staff during the time. The inspections will be made as soon as possible and be duly reported. The acting judge-advocate discusses a very interesting point, and one attracting a good deal of attention at present-the necessity for longer taxing soldiers for the Soldiers' Home. His views, too, on the subject of garrison courts are approved. The troops in the department have been promptly and regularly paid during the year. The report of the medical director (K) embraces an interesting comparison of the relative rates of sickness with white and with colored soldiers in this department, reference to the quarantine laws of the State, and the results of his investigations on the subject of cattle dis eases. I desire to express my appreciation of the value to me of the services of the general staff officers at my headquarters, and of those of my personal staff. I am indebted to them for most faithful and efficient service. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. C. AUGUR, Brigadier General, Commanding. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Military Division of the Missouri, Chicago, Ill. 4, 4 A.-REPORT OF MAJOR-GENERAL HANCOCK. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ATLANTIC, Governor's Island, New York, October 31, 1881. SIR: In accordance with the instructions contained in your letter of September 16, 1881, I have the honor to transmit the following report of operations within the Military Division of the Atlantic during the past year: The geographical boundaries of the division remain unchanged. It is divided into two military departments, east and south, the former being under my immediate command, with headquarters at Governor's Island, N. Y., and the latter under command of Brevet Brig. Gen. Henry J. Hunt, colonel of the Fifth United States Artillery (with headquarters at Newport Barracks, Ky.), since January 6, 1881, at which date he succeeded Brig. Gen. C. C. Augur, the latter having been assigned to the command of the Department of Texas by General Orders No. 84, of December 18, 1880, from the headquarters of the Army. The establishment of the Military Division of the Gulf and the Department of Arkansas in December, 1880, under orders from the War Department, detached from this command the States of Arkansas and Louisiana. The division and department named were, however, abolished by General Orders No. 41, of May 6, 1881, from the headquarters of the Army, which restored the boundary lines of the Military Division of the Atlantic to those in force at date of my last annual report. The aggregate of troops serving in the Division of the Atlantic on the 30th September, 1881, was, by the returns of that date, as follows:: At this date the regiments stationed within the division are the same as when I made my last annual report, viz, the First, Second, Third, and Fifth Artillery, and the Tenth United States Infantry. The First Artillery, however, is under orders to change station to the Division of the Pacific, to be replaced in the Department of the East by the Fourth United States Artillery. The movement is expected to commence at once, under General Orders (75) of this year, from the headquarters of the Army, and my orders based thereon, already promulgated. The Third and Fifth Regiments of Artillery are, also, by the same orders, to interchange stations, the former going to the Department of the South, and the latter coming to the Department of the East. The movement of these regiments has already commenced, and will be conducted to a termination as quickly as transportation facilities will permit. Eve y endeavor has been made in executing the interchange of these regiments to economize in the matter of transportation, &c. Under instructions from the General of the Army the garrison at Washington Barracks, D. C., was increased in the month of February last by the transfer to it of the headquarters light battery and three foot batteries of the Second United States Artillery, constituting, at that post, a garrison of a light battery and four foot batteries. (Its garrison theretofore had been two foot batteries of the Second United States Artillery.) For the purposes of this increase one battery (C, of the Second Artillery) was drawn from Fort Johnston, N. C. (thereupon discontinued as a military post and transferred to the Engineer Department), and regimental headquarters Light Battery A and Battery D, Second Artillery, from Fort McHenry, Md. At the same time the gar rison of Fort McHenry was re-enforced by Battery I, Second Artillery, from Fort Ontario, N. Y., of the latter being discontinued as a garrisoned post, and left in charge an ordnance sergeant. Battery L, of the Second Artillery, heretofore stationed in the Department of Texas, and subsequently in the Department of the South, and now at Yorktown, Va., is under orders to proceed to Fort McHenry, which will give that post its usual garrison of three batteries. In my last year's report I mentioned that it was proposed to assign Batteries E, G, and L, Second Artillery, then under orders to return to my command from the Division of the Missouri, the two former (E and G) to Little Rock Barracks, and the latter (L) to Jackson Barracks, La.. This was carried out in November, 1880, and at this date Battery E (Dunn's) is stationed at Little Rock Barracks, Battery G (Woodruff's) has recently taken post at Newport Barracks, Ky., relieving Battery H, Fifth Artillery (Guenther's), ordered to the North in the recently directed interchange of artillery regiments, and Battery L (Rodger's), withdrawn from Jackson Barracks to Atlanta and thence to Yorktown, is under orders to take post at Fort McHenry, Md., as herein before stated. Although the troops in this command have not during the past year been called upon for active service in the field, they have been required for the performance of duties, some of them delicate in their nature, and all of them necessitating promptness and efficiency. I may mention the inauguration ceremonies at Washington last March, the special duties required at Washington, Long Branch, and Cleveland, Ohio, in connection with the assassination, death, and funeral obsequies, &c., of the late President Garfield, and the recent Centennial Celebration at · Yorktown, Va., which imposed much extra service upon the force in my command; and I am gratified to be able to state that upon all of the occasions referred to, the duties were intelligently and efficiently performed by both officers and men, and in such manner as to reflect credit upon the service. The recent assemblage of about 1,000 regulars in camp at Yorktown (under the command of Col. H. B. Clitz), Tenth United States Infantry, for participation in the Centennial Celebration at that point, afforded an excellent opportunity for the instruction of the troops and the practice in drill, and equally necessary experience of field service obtained there, had a decidedly beneficial effect. Having no cavalry in this command, it was found necessary to send to Yorktown a detachment consisting of two commissioned officers and 25 men, with same number of horses (from Light Battery K, First United States Artillery, at Fort Adams, R. I.) for mounted service during the observances at that point. This detachment was returned to Fort Adams the 24th instant. In addition to the regular troops, there were present on that occasion a naval brigade (from the fleet at Yorktown) numbering about 1,100 officers and men, commanded by Capt. R. N. Meade, United States Navy, and about 7,500 State troops, from the following States, viz: Georgia, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, and Michigan, in ail about 10,000 men. (I inclose an approximate return of these State troops so far as they reported to me.) The entire force passed in review before the President of the United States on the 20th instant making a most creditable appearance; the marching and general military appearance of the State troops being exceedingly good. The Yorktown ceremonies are of so recent occurrence that it seems useless to enter upon a detailed account of them here. The occasion has been one of such public interest, and the details of the ceremonies so fully and widely disseminated, that a brief reference to them seems all that is necessary at this time. During the Centennial Celebration there, I issued a series of orders from my headquarters which referred only to that event and matters connected therewith, and I take occasion to inclose herewith a full file of the same. The light batteries of the Second and Third United States Artillery, both of which marched to Yorktown (the former from Washington Barracks, D. C., and the latter from Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor) are now on their return march to their stations; and of the four foot companies left at that point to guard public property, &c., three have been returned within the past few days to their stations, and the remaining company will be withdrawn as soon as the Quartermaster's Department has made disposition of the government property there. It seems proper to observe that the large encampment at Yorktown (consisting of upwards of 1,400 tents) for the accommodation of 10,000 troops, was mainly established by the labors of the regular troops, under the supervision of Lieut. Col. William P. Craighill, United States Engineers. It was also broken up and the public property disposed of by the same forces. In the Department of the South the posts at present garrisoned are, McPherson Barracks, Ga.; Little Rock Barracks, Ark.; Fort Brooke, Tampa, Fla. (summer post for the garrison of Key West Barracks, Fla.), and Newport Barracks, Ky. The companies at Fort Barrancas, Fla., and Jackson Barracks, La., having been withdrawn on the ap proach of the yellow fever season last spring and temporarily quartered at McPherson Barracks. This year, however, the South has been unusually free from that disease, but one or two cases having been reported among the troops. Recent orders from the honorable Secretary of War directed the abandonment of McPherson Barracks and the sale of the buildings thereat, and the distribution of troops to other posts. These orders are in due process of execution, and, taken in connection with General Orders No. 75, current series, from the headquarters of the Army, above referred to, causing changes in the stations of artillery regiments, will result in giving the Department of the South the following garrisoned posts: Mount Vernon Barracks, Ala.; Jackson Barracks, La.; Fort Barrancas, Fla.; Key West Barracks, Fla. (summer post Fort Brooke, Tampa, Fla.); Little Rock Barracks, Ark.; and Newport Barracks, Ky. I inclose the several reports of the chiefs of the staff corps at these headquarters, exhibiting the operations of their respective departments during the period for which they are made. They afford evidence of close attention to all essential details, and exhibit a proper regard for economical administration of the public funds which some of them have been required to disburse. Inspection duty in all branches of the service within this division has been thoroughly performed during the year, and with beneficial results. The reports of the inspectors will be found interesting, and their several recommendations and remarks are considered judicious and well-timed. I ask attention to those of Major Arnold in regard to the want of uniformity in the matter of knapsacks or clothing bags and haversacks, of which, it appears, there are now five or six distinct patterns in use, one company alone having two or three styles. I doubt not the attention of superior authority has already been directed to this subject, and that the measures which have been taken to insure uniformity in other directions will, in time, extend to all essential portions of the soldier's equipments. I agree with the inspector that the new helmet is a very decided improvement in the dress and soldierly appearance of officers and men. Rifle practice has this year been pursued with unabated zeal in this command, and the report of Captain Litchfield, Second United States Artillery, on special duty at these headquarters as instructor in this branch of the service will be found interesting. Owing to the special duties required of the troops at Yorktown, &c., it was thought best to postpone until November, the competitions prescribed by General Orders No. 44, current series, from the headquarters of the Army, to take place during October. At this date orders are being made to assemble, as far as practicable, the marksmen at Governor's Island, so that the competitions may yet take place. Although the troops at most of the posts labor under disadvantages in regard to ranges and other essential matters, the several printed reports of practice, issued during the year, give evidence of material improvement, and in some cases of great per fection. I take this occasion to say that, in my opinion, the government cannot be too liberal in its appropriations for instruction and practice in this important branch, and for perfecting the arms which should be placed in the hands of the marksmen of the Army. The discipline and general condition of the troops, as reported to me, are satisfactory. The many improvements made of late in the matter of post schools, reading-rooms, lighting company quarters, &c., have all had a beneficial effect, and at no time within my recollection has the condition of the soldier been more satisfactory, or his mental, moral, and physical wants been given more intelligent consideration. Instruction in all the military branches is carried out, so far as the small garrisons at many of the posts will permit, and, notwithstanding some drawbacks, there has been improvement in this direction. It may be stated here that it is proposed, in the near future to discontinue several posts in the Department of the East (now occupied by one or two companies only), and transfer their garrisons to other posts; this, in the direction of economy, and the concentration of the troops in larger bodies. In accordance with instructions, this report and all of its inclosures are submitted in duplicate. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, The ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U. S. ARMY, Washington, D. C. P. S.-A photograph of the encampment at Yorktown is now in course of preparation, and when finished, it is my intention to forward copies of the same for file with this report. List of inclosures to annual report. 1. Report of inspector-general of division. 2. Report of inspector-general, Department of the East. 3. Report of judge-advocate of division. 4. Report of chief quartermaster of division. 5. Report of chief commissary of subsistence of division. 6. Report of medical director of division. 7. Report of chief paymaster of division. 8. Report of Capt. H. G. Litchfield, Second Artillery; on special duty in connection with rifle practice. 9. Report of commanding general, Department of the South. 10. Approximate return of State troops encamped at Yorktown, Va. 11. File of General Orders issued at Yorktown. 4 B.-REPORT OF BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL HUNT. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Newport Barracks, Ky., September 30, 1881. SIR: I have the honor to submit a report of the condition and operations of the Military Department of the South, for the year commencing October 1, 1880. Inclosed is a chronological list of the principal movements of troops, and of events that have occurred during the year, marked A. |