LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,

Washington, March 22, 1906.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a revised and corrected compendium of general orders and circulars issued from this office, together with citations from Army Regulations, from Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury, and from the Opinions of the Judge-Advocate General of the Army in matters affecting officers of the Corps of Engineers.

2. The publication of a similar compendium for use of the officers of this corps was authorized by the Secretary of War June 26, 1902, and it has been found to be exceedingly useful and helpful as well as a great convenience, but the lapse of time and the many changes in orders, etc., render it highly desirable that a new edition, corrected to date, be provided for engineer officers charged with the duty of disbursing public funds.

3. I have therefore to recommend that authority be given for printing and binding 400 copies of the accompanying compendium, which embodies no changes in that heretofore authorized excepting such modifications and additions as are necessitated by the provisions of orders, circulars, etc., issued since the edition authorized in 1902 was printed.

4. If the authority now asked for is granted, it is proposed to include in the compendium the approved Engineer Regulations as at present in force, but no changes or modifications in these regulations are involved.

ROBERT SHAW OLIVER,

Assistant Secretary of War.

CHIEFS OF ENGINEERS, 1868-1906.

Chiefs of Engineers having command of the Corps of Engineers and charge of the Engineer Department, during the period (18681906) covered by the within orders, circulars, etc., assumed command as follows:

Brig. Gens. Henry M. Robert and John W. Barlow were appointed Chief of Engineers on April 30 and May 2, 1901, respectively, but did not assume command of the Corps of Engineers and charge of the Engineer Department.

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