Additional Second Lieut. Albert C. Blunt, Third Artillery. First Lieut. Dan C. Kingman, Corps of Engineers.. First Lieut. Charles E. S. Wood, Twenty-first Infantry, A. D. C., August 28, 1881 September 8, 1881 September 8, 1881 PROMOTED. Second Lieut. Solomon W. Roessler, Corps of Engineers, to be first lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, to date.. December 31, 18-0 Second Lieut. John R. Williams, Third Artillery, to be first lieutenant, Third Artillery, to date... Second Lieut. William M. Medcalfe, Fourth Artillery, to be first lieutenant, Ordnance Department, to date.... Second Lieut. James L. Lusk, Corps of Engineers, to be first lientenant, Corps of Engineers, to date.. Second Lieut. William Crozier, Fourth Artillery, to be first lieuten- APPOINTED. Capt. Charles H. Hoyt, assistant quartermaster, appointed dis- First Lieut. Charles E. S. Wood, Twenty-first Infantry, A. D. C., First Lieut. Charles E. S. Wood, Twenty-first Infantry, A. D. C., appointed acting judge-advocate of the Department of West Point First Lieut. James L. Lusk, Corps of Engineers, appointed adjutant of the Military Academy. First Lieut. John T. Honeycutt, First Artillery, appointed assist- TRANSFERRED. Second Lieut. John T. French, jr., Fourth Artillery, from department of the Spanish language to department of the French language and English studies. Relative rank of officers serving in the Department of West Point. Names and rank. Corps or regiment. Highest brevet rank. BRIGADIER-GENERAL. Duty. Howard, Oliver O........ United States Army.. Major gene- Superintendent, commanding. ral. Miller, Marcus P colonel. Fourth Artillery...... Lieutenant-, Assistant instructor of artillery tac McClernand, Edward J.. Second Cavalry. Bacon, George E.. Wisser, John P. Roessler, Solomon W Lusk, James L.. SECOND LIEUTENANTS. Gillmore, Quincy O'M.... Ludlow, Henry H. First Artillery. Sixteenth Infantry. Ordnance Department Ordnance Department Engineers Ordnance Department Eighth Cavalry.. Third Artillery. Relative rank of officers serving in the Department of West Point-Continued. Relative rank of professors of the United States Military Academy. HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARTILLERY SCHOOL, Fort Monroe, Va., October 26, 1881. SIR: I have the honor to submit my annual report on the operation of the artillery school for the past year. In my report for 1880 I have given an account of the present organization of the school, and have also exhibited the code of regulations under which its service is performed. I therefore deem it to be unnecessary to say more in that regard in this paper than to invite attention to the fact that the time embraced herein is a continuation of the school term of two years, which commenced in May, 1880, and expires in May, 1882. Last year's report left my hands while the instruction pertaining to the division of the school known as the department of engineering was in progress; that is, part of the class of officers was engaged upon an actual reconnaissance of the country in the vicinity of Gloucester CourtHouse, Va., under Capt. Lorenzo Lorain, Third Artillery (at that time in immediate charge of the department), and part under Capt. James Chester, Third Artillery, assistant instructor, were prosecuting a regu lar topographical survey of Yorktown and vicinity, in compliance with a request from the Congressional Committee on the Yorktown Centennial. With reference to the former, I have the honor to report that the work was most satisfactorily performed, but that I am unable to exhibit the result at this moment, because the work of compiling the map has been unfortunately delayed by unforeseen causes. It is in progress, however, and when finished I shall forward a proper copy for your inspec tion. With reference to the latter, I am happy to be able to report the production of as correct and beautifully executed a map as has come to my notice in many years, and I cannot say too much in testimony of the zeal and painstaking accuracy, with which the gentlemen who were employed upon this survey have performed the task allotted to them, especially as it was somewhat cutside of what is contemplated in the present arrangement of the school. For this survey I have received, for the gentlemen who made it, a resolution of thanks by the honorable committee who had requested it. Active steps are now being taken to produce at the school photo-lithographic copies of the map, which, when finished, I shall have pleasure in forwarding. The map has been already used by the honorable committee in locating various historical points and in purchasing the site of the Yorktown monument, while copies of certain sections have been supplied to those officers of the general staff who have been employed in completing the military dispositions for the centennial which is about to be celebrated. I have said that the survey of Yorktown was somewhat outside of what is contemplated in the present arrangement of the school, because the delicately adjusted instruments which are necessary to success in regular planimetry are not at hand, and, if they were, the time demanded by a proper use of them cannot now well be spared. I wish it to be understood, however, that the importance of surveying is by no means lost sight of. In fact, it is my intention that this branch of study, in its military sense, and the practical application of it particularly, shall receive the fullest development possible, because the importance of the part in warfare played by ground, and the extreme utility to an officer of a good ready method of procuring intelligence, is too glaringly apparent to be in the least neglected in any military school of application. The remainder of the time allotted to the department of engineering, that is, until 20th of December, 1880, was devoted to practical work in engineering (including practical photography), in conformity with the code of regulations, during which time each of the officers were required to prepare in addition an essay on the attack and defense of a sea-coast fort, the locality chosen being Fort Monroe, Va., and the class being equally divided on the offensive and defensive sides. The examination in the department of engineering took place on the 20th and 21st of December, being both written and practical. The results were eminently satisfactory and will form the subject of a special report. The report of the officer in temporary charge of this department, Lieutenant Harris, First Artillery, will be found in Appendix A, which will supply the details of the work performed. The department of engineering has met with a serious loss this year by the promotion of Major Lorain, First Artillery. To this officer is largely due the development of this branch of the school as it stands to-day, and it is my duty to say that I have been compelled to part with him with many regrets at being deprived of his valuable assistance. DEPARTMENT OF ARTILLERY. The time allotted to this department of study extends from January 5 to September 1 of the second year of the term. It is under the supervision of Maj. Richard Lodor, Third Artillery, who has been assisted by Capt. M. P. Miller, Fourth Artillery, and First Lieut. L. A. Chamberlin, First Artillery, and in the chemical branch by First Lieut. H. L. Harris, First Artillery. As the time for regular work in this course had not arrived when my last report was made, I deem it essential to invite attention to the following extracts from the reports of officers in charge, in order that they may speak for themselves. The full reports form Appendixes B, C, and D. [Extract.] FORT MONROE, VA., September 18, 1881. To the ADJUTANT OF THE UNITED STATES ARTILLERY SCHOOL, Fort Monroe, Va.: SIR: I have the honor to forward the reports of Capt. M. P. Miller, Fourth Artillery, and Lieutenant Harris, First Artillery, instructors in my department. From January 5, 1881, the officers under instruction in artillery were detailed daily, as they could be spared from the section room and laboratory work, to report for practical instruction in electricity and the use of velocity machines-the chronoscope under the charge of Lieutenant Osgood and the boulenge under the charge of Lieutenant Mills-as well as the use of the mercury densimeter, of Mallet's and Du Pont's gravemeter. Lieutenant Chamberlin, First Artillery, was my assistant, and had general charge. The officers were practiced in testing wires, lines, batteries, cells, sounders, galvanometer, &c. The use of the galvanometer and rheostat, arrangement of wires, and instruments for firing, comparison and arrangement of cells, and the velocity machines referred to were freely used, until all became familiar with the work and handy in the manipulation. The officers took great interest in this work, and two of them, Lieutenant Pratt and Lieutenant Gordon, were engaged in a special effort to obtain the velocities at the beginning and end of the trajectory of a 3" muzzle-loading rifle projectile. * In the sea-coast firing, during the months of July and August, the greatest possible care was taken to make it thoroughly available for future reference. All the circumstances which might affect the range or deviation were taken into account. A telegraph line, or cable, from the shore to the "ripraps," out of order and unused, belonging to the Western Union Telegraph Company, was underrun, and, after three days' work was repaired and connected with my electrical office aud a sounder at the ripraps. This arrangement enabled me to obtain the results of firing on the office plot within three minutes. The electrical arrangements and the daily details of officers and men were so perfect that not a hitch occurred, and finally the firing was easily completed in the time allowed, without hurry, haste, or confusion. The improvement over previons firing was manifested in the number of times the target was demolished; even the spar buoy was struck once at a distance of 3,000 yards. A full description will be given in a separate report. Lieutenant Zalinski, Fifth Artillery, had charge of the observations of wind deviation, and will make a report of this as well as regards the particular sights used. Torpedoes should be furnished, not for experiment, but for practice. Six or nine, with connections and arrangements as perfected by General Abbott, at Willets Point, with his instructions for their use, should certainly be allowed us, for it is conceded that artillery officers would have to use them, in connection, probably, with the engineers. Artillery officers are detailed for Willets Point for instruction, and finish the course; there is no reason, then, why it should not be kept in practice here. We should be prepared when the time comes-not wait until the time comes to prepare. * * In conclusion, I must mention the valuable services of Lieut. L. A. Chamberlin, First Artillery, my assistant in electricity. He spared neither time nor trouble, and performed his duties with great intelligence. * * I am, sir, your obedient servant, * R. LODOR, Superintendent of Theoretical Artillery, Electricity and Sea-coast Firing. [Extract.] FORT MONROE, VA., August 19, 1881. The ADJUTANT UNITED STATES ARTILLERY SCHOOL, Fort Monroe, Va. : SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the artillery instruction under my charge during the year ending July 31, 1881: It was carried out in accordance with the programme, embracing the science of |