While on the subject of the amendment of this Article of War, attention might well be directed to another grave defect (as it is conceived to be) in the law.

Although offenses savoring of fraud are happily rare in the Army, yet that is no reason why the laws for their prevention and punishment should be imperfect. As the 103d Article stands, it is doubtful whether a fraud or embezzlement that the perpetrator should have succeeded in concealing for two years could be reached by military justice, and thus it might result that such an offender would escape not only all adequate punishment, but even dismission from public service.

It is accordingly recommended that said article be amended by extending the limitation in all cases of fraud to five years from its commission and discovery, the time not to run during the time the accused shall remain absent from the country, or secreted, or if he shall have fled from justice.

REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL.

The report of the Inspector-General shows that he and his subordinates have discharged their duties with ability and zeal. Their inspection has established the fact that the commissioned officers, as a general rule, are temperate, zealous, attentive to their duties, and not addicted to vicious or hurtful habits. The opinion is expressed concerning the rank and file that we have never had a finer body of men in service than at this time.

The instruction in drills and other military exercises has been much interrupted during the year owing to the reduced state of the companies, the exceedingly small garrisons, and the large amount of labor necessarily imposed upon the men in building, repairs, care of public property, &c. Proper attention has been given to discipline, and it is reported as excellent.

The Inspector-General reports that the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., established under the act of May 21, 1874, is now in successful operation. The officers assigned to duty with it are competent and faithful in the discharge of their duties, and the convicts are properly governed and employed, while, at the same time, they are treated with humanity and kindness. On the 25th ultimo there were 373 military convicts confined in this prison.

All the shoes required for issue to the troops are now fabricated by the convicts at the prison, and are of excellent quality. Indeed, it is said by many officers that we have never before had as good an article in our Army, and as soon as the additional shops now in process of erection are completed, many other articles now purchased from citizens can, it is believed, be manufactured to better advantage there. At the same time, a large number of men would be instructed in useful mechanical occupations, that would tend to make them better qualified for self-support and better citizens when they are discharged.

The national cemeteries have all been inspected during the year by officers of the Inspector-General's Department, and found in excellent order. The superintendents, with very few exceptions, have evinced efficiency, diligence, and pride in the proper discharge of the duties devolving upon them, and it is believed these cemeteries will bear favorable comparison with any of the civilian cemeteries of the country.

PEPORT OF THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL.

The Paymaster-General urges the repeal of so much of the act of July 24, 1876, as forbids payment to officers of the Army of mileage for travel "on any railroad on which the troops of the United States are entitled to be transported free," and he states reasons for this request which seem to me entirely satisfactory.

I invite attention to the recommendation of the Paymaster-General that such legislation be had as will require that vacancies occurring in the Pay Department be filled by appointment from the captains of the line or from those who have served as additional paymasters.

I also make special reference to that officer's renewed recommendation for the establishment of the Annuity Scheme, which was approved in my last report, as well as by the President in his annual message. Upon a reconsideration of the subject I am still disposed to give it my emphatic approval.

The other recommendations of the Paymaster-General, all of them ap parently wise and judicious, are commended to the attention of Congress.

REPORT OF THE SURGEON-GENERAL.

The Surgeon-General reports the total number of deaths in the Army during the year, from all causes, at 256, or about twelve in one thousand. Of these, 121 died of disease, and 135 of wounds, accidents, and inju ries.

The removal of garrisons from threatened points, although in some instances deferred later than prudence would dictate, has saved the Army from any serious losses during the prevalence of the dreadful epidemic of yellow fever which has proved so fatal this year among the citizens of the Southern States.

The record and pension division of the Surgeon-General's Office has been called upon for informanion as to the cause of death of deceased soldiers in 21,074 cases, being rather more than an average number. There remained on file and unanswered at the end of the previous year 18,697 cases, so that the total number of cases to be searched during the year was 39,771. Search was made and replies furnished to the proper authorities during the fiscal year in 22,927 cases. At the close of the fiscal year 16,844 cases remained unanswered.

In the division of surgical records, a large number of very interesting and complete reports were received during the past fiscal year from

medical officers of the Army serving on the frontier with troops engaged in Indian hostilities on various matters connected with Army surgery; but perhaps no subject received such careful attention as that of conveying the sick and wounded from the field of battle to points of safety, and many were the devices that suggested themselves to practical officers to make the journey as comfortable as possible to the patients intrusted to their care.

The continued disturbances in the Indian country led to a number of engagements, resulting in severe losses, and a detailed statement of such losses is furnished by the Surgeon-General.

About 2,000 volumes and 3,000 pamphlets have been added to the library during the past year, making the total number about 46,000 volumes and 50,000 pamphlets. The index catalogue, including original papers in medical journals and transactions, has been completed to date, and the work of classification by subjects, including the preparation of a net-work of cross-references, is so near completion, that the work can be sent to the press at any time, and pushed forward as rapidly as the necessities of careful proof-reading will permit.

I concur with the Surgeon-General in the recomendation that Congress should authorize the printing of this catalogue, and I invite special attention to the estimate which has been prepared and forwarded for that purpose.

UNION AND CONFEDERATE WAR RECORDS.

The records of the war of the rebellion, both Union and Confederate, are under the charge of the Adjutant-General of the Army. The work of preparing these for publication is under charge of Col. Robert N. Scott, U. S. A., to whose report I invite attention.

The work of collecting reports of battles by Union commanders, which were not originally forwarded to this office, has been unremittingly prosecuted since the close of the war, and a very large number has been added to the files through the medium of correspondence. There are yet some important reports missing, but hopes are entertained of procuring them.

The Confederate records obtained in Richmond at the time of its capture were brought here in 1865, and have been carefully arranged. The agent recently appointed by me, General Marcus J. Wright, has been assiduously and successfully engaged for the past five months in procuring interesting papers relating to that side. Through a candid and liberal understanding with the Southern Historical Society, as well as with several other possessors of such papers, this department is daily adding to its material for a history of the war. The department is now ready to transmit to Congress a considerable amount of matter systematically arranged, so soon as specific action by Congress shall enable it to do so. The appropriations heretofore made have been for preparing for publication, not for publishing. As a commencement in the

latter direction I submit that the following plan would generally be thought the best:

That the Secretary of War be authorized and directed to submit to Congress, at his early convenience, the reports of military operations and battles, arranged according to the judgment of the compiler as approved by the Secretary of War.

copies for distribution to copies for the Presi

libraries, &c., by members of Congress, and dent of the United States and the executive departments of the government, to be distributed by the Secretary of War; and copies to be sold by the Public Printer, at a small advance on cost price, at private sale, the proceeds of such sales to be available for the prosecution of the work of collecting and preparing other records for publication.

That $ be appropriated to continue the work of collecting and preparing the material for further publications under the direction of the Secretary of War.

That the Secretary of War be requested to submit to Congress plans for future publications as soon as prepared.

The Engineer Department has published a series of topographical maps from actual surveys of the various battle-fields, upon which are marked the positions of the two armies. These are, by themselves, a history of the war of no ordinary value and interest. Coupled with the battle reports now ready for publication they would present all that could be obtained or asked. This would immediately satisfy the ardent desire of the public, for which it has been impatiently waiting for years. The correspondence, telegrams, &c., could follow with little delay.

REPORT OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL-OFFICER.

The Chief Signal-Officer reports that the established course of drill and instruction in military signaling and telegraphy, meteorology, and the Signal Service duties at stations of observation and report, together with the drills of the Signal Corps with arms, has continued at the school of instruction and practice at Fort Whipple, Virginia.

The officers of the Signal Service pass the course of drill and instruction, and serve regularly at the post of Fort Whipple before being put upon any other duty. It is recommended that all officers of the Army intended to be instructed as acting signal officers, or to be temporarily instructors in geographical military departments for the field duties of the Signal Service, be here instructed before being put upon detached duty. There have been instructed during the year ninety-six men as assistant observers, and eighteen for promotion to the grade of sergeant. The wise legislation of the act approved July 20, 1878, permanently organizing the enlisted men of the Signal Corps, providing 150 sergeants, 30 corporals, and 270 privates, has been and will be productive of good results. It has done away with annoyances and embarrassments inevitable without it. It has fixed the service on an

honorable footing, and opened a career, of which they are proud, to the best class of young American citizens. The office files are crowded with applications for enlistment. The severe examinations are successfully undergone. The clause providing "that two sergeants may in each year be appointed to be second lieutenants" gives that stimulus of permanent service and promised reward so long and earnestly sought for. Until the results of this organization, up to this time so satisfactory, have been more fully tested, it is not advisable that changes be attempted.

One hundred and forty-seven stations of the first class have been maintained during the year to fill the systems of stations of observation from which reports are deemed necessary to enable proper warnings to be given of the approach and force of storm, and of other meteoric changes, for the benefit of agricultural and commercial interests.

Twenty-four stations of a second class, hitherto described as "sunset stations," at which a single observation is taken daily, at the time of sunset, by citizens employed for this purpose, have been continued in operation.

The daily exchange of telegraphic reports, had by comity of exchange with the chief meteorological office of the Dominion of Canada, has been continued, and warnings have been regularly sent from this office to enable signals to be displayed at the ports of the Dominion at times of threatened danger.

The issue for publication of the official deductions had at the office of the Signal-Officer, from the reports there received and now known as the Synopses and Indications, has continued during the year. There has been no failure of the delivery of any report to the press during that period. The total number of the reports thus furnished at the hours of 1 a. m., 10.30 a. m., and 7.30 p. m., daily, has been one thousand and ninety-five.

A careful analysis of the forecasts or "Indications" published, and a comparison with the weather changes afterward occurring, within the time and within the district to which each has had reference, has given the average percentage of eighty-four and thirty-six hundredths as verified. An average of ninety per cent. is believed to be attainable. The wide diffusion given these reports may be judged from the fact that they appear daily in almost every newspaper in the United States.

The display of cautionary day and night signals, by flag and lights, upon the lakes and the great ports of the United States upon the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, has been made systematically on occasions of sup posed especial danger at fifty-seven different sea and lake ports and cities.

The exhibition of symbol maps, on which the meteoric conditions are shown by symbol at the rooms of the boards of trade, chambers of commerce, and of other commercial associations, and at places of public resort, for the benefit of shipping and other interests; the display of bulletins; the distribution of weather maps and the employment of other