Thursday, December 3, 2009

Washington News

WASHINGTON, April 23 – The Bill reported from the Committee on Military Affairs, authorizes and requires the President to convene a board to consist of two officers of the corps of Engineers, one ordnance, one artillery officer, two officers of the Navy, two members selected by reason of their scientific and practical attainments, and an officer of the corps of engineers as secretary, whose duty it shall be to examine and consider our system of sea coast and land fortifications, with special reference to such changes as may be recommended by the Commission, to be commenced and prosecuted with out the previous assent of Congress.

The bill further provides that the amount appropriated at this session for fortifications, shall be expended under the direction of the President upon such defensive works as shall be recommended by the Commission, and authorizes the President to accept any sums of money, loaned or advanced by the several States, for the construction of defensive works for the protection of the States making such loans, upon such terms as shall be agreed on between the proper authorities.

The board is also required to examine and consider the propriety of constructing a Navy Yard and depot on the northern lakes – of a foundry for heavy ordnance, and also an armory and arsenal of construction west of the Allegheny mountains, and for an additional arsenal of deposit and repairs, and shall, subject to the approval of the President, locate the same at such points, as shall, from purely military considerations, appear best for the defence of the country.

The bill also provides that there shall be added to the number of cadets, of both the military and naval academies, a number equal to the present number allowed by the existing laws in those schools, to be selected one from each Congressional District and Territories, by the Academy board, from among such applicants as shall apply for admission, and who upon examination, shall be deemed best qualified; provided the number added shall have their expenses defrayed by their parents or guardians, who shall be required to deposit with the Superintendents of the Academies, each year, the estimated amount of money necessary to pay all expenses for one year, the cadets being subject to all the rules and regulations established from time to time, for the government of said Academies.

Horace Maynard, who returned from Tennessee and took his seat to-day, has declared himself in favor of a stringent confiscation act against the rebels. Several other border state members will support one.

The Senate Committee on Territories have instructed its Chairman to report a bill identical with that reported in the House by Mr. Ashby, organizing the Territory of Arizona. One section extends the Wilmot Proviso over every Territory now organized.

The following has been issued from the War Department.


ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, April 15.

GENERAL ORDER NO. 40

The Secretary of War has observed with some surprise that the commanders of one or two military departments, considering themselves empowered to do so, have undertaken to accept the resignations and otherwise discharge from the service of the United States, officers commissioned or appointed by the President on the volunteer staff of the army, all such discharges are irregular, and unless confirmed by the President are of no effect. None but the President can discharge an officer appointed by himself, and, as he has not delegated this power to any General, no General must attempt to exercise it.

By order of the Secretary of War.
(Signed.) L. THOMAS, Adjutant General, &c.


By General Orders issued from the War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, April 18, by the direction of the President, Brigade Surgeon, J. H. Thompson, U. S. Volunteers, is dismissed from the service as an alarmist, on the recommendation of his commanding General, Major General Burnside. On the recommendation of Brigadier General Sumner, commanding 2d Army Corp, approved by Major-General McClellan, commanding the Army of the Potomac, Major Van Seemhan, Capt. Botlicker, and Capt. Camp, 68th Regiment New York Volunteers, Lieut. Lombard, Battalion Adjutant, 2th [sic] Illinois Cavalry, and Assistant Surgeon Williams, 1st New York Artillery, are stricken from the rolls of the army for being captured by the enemy while straggling, without authority, beyond the outposts of the army, March 29th, 1862.

The headquartes of Lieut.-Col. Wm. Hoffman, 8th Infantry, Commissary of Prisoners, is transferred from New York City to Detroit, Michigan.

This morning the Senate Military Committee passed upon several nominations. Among those reported for confirmations was Gen. Shields, to be Major-General, and Col. Crittenden, of Kentucky, to be Brigadier-General.

Horatio King, Buchanan’s Postmaster General, was nominated to-day as Commissioner under the District Emancipation act, in the place of ex-mayor Berrett.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 3

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