32 



UNITED STATES. 



be made it is not now possible to determine 

 with any degree of accuracy. The only fact 

 at present settled beyond a doubt is, that the 

 tux upon the military resources of the country 

 has bi-.-n K-- than would appear by considering 

 simply the number of men embraced in the dif- 

 foivnt calls for troops, or the number of credits 

 allowed upon these calls. 



The colored troops continued, during 1865, 

 to form a large and efficient portion of the 

 army, and at the several battles before Nash- 

 ville, the capture of Fort Fisher, the final op- 

 erations around Richmond, and numerous mi- 

 nor engagements, sustained their previous well- 

 earned reputation for bravery and soldierly 

 qualities. Such was the popularity of this 

 branch of the service that, in addition to the 

 101,950 colored soldiers reported in arms in 

 November, 1864, 49,509 were enlisted within 

 the next six months, which, considering the 

 difficulties of recruiting from this class of the 

 population, must be considered a very large 

 number. Of these 4,244 were recruited in the 

 insurrectionary States and credited to the other 

 States under the provisions of the act of July 

 4, 1864. The whole number enlisted into the 

 service during the war was 178,975, and the 

 losses within the same period from sickness, 

 desertion, or casualties incidental to military 

 life, amounted to 68,178. On July 15, 1865, 

 the number of this class of troops in the ser- 

 vice was 123,156, organized as follows : 



One hundred and twenty regiments of infantry 98,938 



Twelve regiments of heavy artillery 15,662 



Ten batteries of light artillery 1.811 



Seven regiments of cavalry 7,245 



Total 123,156 



This was the largest number of colored soldiers 

 in service at any one time during the war. The 

 following table shows that commissions in these 

 organizations, which at the outset few compe- 

 tent officers were willing to accept, subsequently 

 became in considerable request : 



Number of applicants for commissions 9,019 



Number examined 8,790 



Number rejected 1,472 



Number appointed ". 2,318 



Total number of appointments and promotions 3,573 



From the returns made at the bureau for 

 colored troops, it appears that the whole num- 

 ber of claims for compensation on account of 

 the enlistment of slaves from Delaware and 

 Maryland was 3,971, of which twenty-five have 

 been paid, amounting in the aggregate to $6,900. 

 Two hundred and ninety-four were rejected, 

 and the remainder are under consideration by 

 the local boards, or the commission established 

 by General Orders of October 3, 1863. 



The surrender the army under Gen. Lee, on 

 April 9, 1865, gave the death blow to the South- 

 ern cause; and although considerable forces 

 under Johnston, Taylor, and Kirl.y Smith still 

 kept the lu-lil, the speedy termination of the 

 war seemed so certain that the Government 

 determined at once to curtail its immense mili- 

 tary estalishraent, and thereby reduce the ex- 



penses, which were rapidly eating into the re- 

 sources of the nation. The immediate release 

 of half a million or more of men was also ur- 

 gently needed in the agricultural districts, where 

 in the preceding year the want of able-bodied 

 farm laborers had been keenly felt. Accord- 

 ingly, as an earnest of what was to follow, the 

 Secretary of War issued on April 13th, four days 

 before Lee's surrender, the day before the assas- 

 sination of President Lincoln, the following 

 notice : 



WAR DEPARTMENT, "WASHINGTON, April 136 p. ir. 



The Department, after mature consideration and 

 consultation with the Lieutenant-General upon the 

 results of the recent campaigns, has come to the fol- 

 lowing determinations, which will be carried into 

 effect by appropriate orders to be immediately issued. 



First To stop all drafting and recruiting in the 

 loyal States. 



Second To curtail purchases for arms, ammuni- 

 tion, quartermaster and commissary supplies, and 

 reduce the military establishment in its several 

 branches. 



Third To reduce the number of general and staff 

 officers to the actual necessities of the service. 



Fourth To remove all military restrictions upon 

 trade and commerce, so far as may be consistent with 

 public safety. 



As soon as these measures can be put in operation 

 it will be made known by public order. 



EDWIN M. ST^NTON, Secretary of War. 



Before the close of April, the measures con- 

 templated in the foregoing notice began to be 

 carried into effect, with a rapidity surprising 

 to those who could not appreciate the perfec- 

 tion to which the necessary machinery had 

 been brought by four years of experience ; and 

 in an almost incredibly short time, the great 

 bulk of the armies scattered over the country 

 was returned to the peaceful pursuits of civil 

 life. The following general order gave the 

 necessary details : 



General Orders No. It. 



WAB DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, ) 

 WASHINGTON, April 28, 1865. ) 



For reducing the expenses of the military estab- 

 lishment, ordered, 1st, that the chiefs of the respec- 

 tive bureaus of this Department proceed immediately 

 to reduce the expenses of their respective depart- 

 ments to what is absolutely necessary in view of an 

 immediate reduction of the forces in the field and in 

 garrison, and the speedy termination of hostilities, 

 and that they severally make out statements of the 

 reductions they deem practicable. 



2. That the 'Quartermaster-General discharge all 

 ocean transports not required to bring home troops 

 in remote departments. All river and inland trans- 

 portation will be discharged, except that required 

 for the necessary supplies of troops in the field. Pur- 

 chases of horses, mules, wagons, and other land trans- 

 portation will be stopped, also purchases of forage, 

 except what is required for immediate consumption. 

 All purchases for railroad construction and transpor- 

 tation also to be stopped. 



8. That the Commissary-General of Subsistence 

 discontinue the purchase of supplies in his depart- 

 ment, except such as, with what is on hand, be re- 

 quired for the forces in the field to the first of June 

 next. 



4. That the Chief of Ordnance stop all purchases 

 of arms, ammunition, and materials therefor, and 

 reduce the manufacture of arms and ordnance stores 

 in Government Arsenals as rapidly as can be done 

 without injury to the service. 



