id* C 2 3 
B. 
Report of the (luartermaster General, tvith accompanying State- 
meiits A and B. 
QUAllTeHMASTER GeNERAL's OfFICE, 
JVovember 22, 1823. 
Sir* In complianee with your instructions, I have the honor to 
siibmtt the accompanying statements A and B. The former exhibits 
the amount of money drawn from the Treasury, and received from 
other sources, by the oificcrs of the Qiiartei'master's Department, 
during the yeai- 1822, with the amount disbursed during that year. 
The latter exhibits the amount drawn and received by tliem, prior to 
the 30th of September of the present year, with the amount disbursed; 
so far as accounts have been received. 
As this is an oHice, notof settlement, but of administration, it does 
iiot afford the data, on which a statement can be made, which shall be 
strictly correct in all its details. Those can be furnished only at the 
oflice where accounts are finally adjusted; but it is believed, the 
statements submitted are so near the truth, that the only difference 
■which shall be found between them, and the detailed accounts of the 
Treasury, will consist of the amount suspended oi- disallowed at the 
Tieasury, during the pei'iod which they embrace. The best test of 
the efficiency of a department, is to be found, not in minor details, 
but in general results; and if we cismpare the expenditures of the 
l)resent year, with those for the same objects in corresponding pe • 
riods of pi'eceding years, the lesult will be found much in favoi* of 
tli^ presesit — though, during tlie year, nearly tv.o regiments have 
been cantoned, and many changes have been made in the stations of 
troops: besides, an expeditino lias been carried on against the Indians 
pf the Missouri, in wliich tiie trooj)s engaged moved upwards of fif- 
teen hundi-fd miles, and tiio sustainiiig C(ir})s moi-e tiian a thousand. 
Or. the subject of accountability, I think I am warranted in saying, 
tliat as inucli pi! lection has heea attained as possible, without further 
kgislHtivc provision; and I let! coniident that every cent placed at 
the jlisposa? ^fthe otliccrs of liie Department, during the whole period 
embi"acrd by the statements A and K, either has been disbursed, or is 
actual'y ii^ their hands, appiicahle to the public service, and will be 
accouKfed for (iuiing the year. 
I feel it to be my duty, before closing my report, to point out 
brlf'fly, some of tlie drfc^cts in the organization of the Department, 
a^nu to suggest such charges as experience has shewn to be necessary. 
In 1820, when the military frontier was not so extensive as at pre- 
sent, there were attached to the Departmpnt, in addition to the 
Quartermaster General and two deputies, sixteen assistants, besides 
eighteen regimcfital and bf^ttalion quartermasters. Tlie act of Con= 
