fc.-Continued. Order 7.--Diseases of urinary and genital organs. Class IV.-Local diseases. Order 8. Class V.-Violent diseases and deaths. accidents. Diseases of Order 9.-Diseases of the integu. Order 1.-Wounds, injuries, and mentary system. RECAPITULATION. Discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability during the year ending June 30, 1878. Designations. Provost guard, general ser- 18 June. Total. 1877. 1877. 1877. 1877. 1877. 1877. 1878. 1878. 1878. 1878. 1878. 1878. 1877–78. Taken sick or wounded during the year, as shown by monthly returns. Transferred to Government Insane Asylum, Washington, D. C. 550 U. S. MILITARY PRISON, July 1, 1878. SIR: In presenting my second annual report I have the honor to state that, with the exception of a few weeks of absence in the months of July and August of last year, I have continued uninterruptedly to perform the duties of my office. During my absence my place was very acceptably and efficiently supplied by the Rev. Mr. Woart, the chaplain of the post. The attendance upon religious services, and the interest in them upon the part of the prisoners, have been encouraging, and there is reason to hope that in some instances, at least, the seed of divine truth has "fallen into good ground." Besides the Sabbath services, as opportunity offers, I converse with the men individually, seeking to learn their characters and to gain their confidence, and at the same time to impart such counsel as may be adapted to their particular cases. I have sought by kindness and sympathy to win them to a better life, and by pointing them to Him who is their righteousness and strength, to show them the way to its attainment. Especially have I availed myself of the opportunity afforded in my visits to the hospital to gather from the inmates such facts pertaining to their education, their religious training, their habits, and the influences to which they have been subjected, as would qualify me the better to act as their spiritual instructor and guide. The want of a suitable chapel and school-room has been a great hinderance to the successful prosecution of my labors. The room used as a chapel, besides being entirely too small to accommodate even one-half the prisoners, is unattractive and poorly adapted to such a purpose. With the proper facilities for carrying on the work we might reasonably hope for a largely increased attendance upon our services and much greater results. In concluding this report, permit me to congratulate you upon the good order that has prevailed in the institution during the past year, and the comparative rareness of the occasions in which it has been found necessary to resort to severe discipline; also, to thank you for your kindness and readiness to co-operate with me in all that pertains to the interest of my department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, To the GOVERNOR. A. D. MITCHELL, Chaplain. [First indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army. I have nothing to add to the report of the governor of the prison except that the great want of the institution is work for its inmates, and that work can only be supplied by assigning to the prison the making of articles needed by the Army. Boots, harness, and kindred supplies can be made here cheaply and well. I beg to again invite the attention of the Secretary of War to this subject, as it is not possible that the prison can be to any considerable extent self-supporting unless the government utilizes the labor in the fabrication of articles needed by the Army. JOHN POPE, Brevet Major-General, U. S. A. [Second indorsement.] ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War with copy. The want of suitable rooms for chapel and school-room, mentioned in the report of the prison chaplain, is a serious one, but it is not seen how it can be supplied without an appropriation of funds for the purpose by Congress. The clothing issued to prisoners, the quality of which is described in the report of the prison quartermaster, is of the old stock and pattern on hand in the Quartermaster's Department. Attention is invited to the indorsement (1st) h reon of the commanding general Department of the Missouri. E. D. TOWNSEND, [Third indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, In General Pope's opinion the great want of the military prison is work for its inmates, and that work can only be supplied by assigning to the prison the making of articles needed by the Army. Boots, harness, and kindred supplies can be made here cheaply and well. He invites the attention of the Secretary of War to this subject as it is not possible that the prison can be to any considerable extent self-supporting unless the government utilizes the labor in the fabrication of articles needed by the Army. W. T. SHERMAN, General. |