DEPARTMENT OF WAR, January 2, 1827. SIR In reply to a letter of the Chairman of the Military Committee of the House of Representatives, of the 8th of May last, transmitting a resolution of the House, of the 6th of March last, directing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire and report the amount received, by each officer of the Army, since the year 1821, who has been brevetted and paid according to his brevet rank; the time for which such pay was allowed," &c. I transmit herewith reports of the Second and Third Auditors, with documents appended to each, lettered A, B, C, respectively, and a report of the Adjutant General of the Army, lettered D, which furnish the Committee with the information required by the aforesaid resolution. Hon. JOSEPH VANCE, I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, JAMES BARBOUR. Chairman of the Military Committee House of Reps. 66 TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Second Auditor's Office, 26th December, 1826. SIR: I had the honor of receiving from you, on the 8th of May last. the copy of a resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States, of the 6th of March preceding, which is in the following words: "Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire and "report the amount received by each officer of the Army, since the "year 1821, who has been brevetted and paid according to his brevet "rank, the time for which such pay was allowed-what station or se"parate post he commanded for which such payment was made-the "name and lineal rank of the officer-what amount has been paid to 'any officer for extra services-to whom paid, and for what-where "and how employed: Also, to inquire and report the number and "grade of officers whose services can be dispensed with, without in"jury to the public service: And also, inquire and report the amount "actually received for the last three years, by the General, Field, "and Staff Officers of the Army, keeping each year separate, with "the name and rank of each officer; and the rule adopted by the De"partment for which brevet pay, or extra pay, has been allowed;" accompanied by your directions that I would report such information, in relation to it, as this office can furnish. Agreeably to your instructions, I now beg leave to hand you, herewith. three statements which contain all the information the files and records of this office afford on the subjects embraced in the resolution. The statement marked A, exhibits the amount received by each officer of the Army, for the years 1822, 1823, 1824, and 1825, who has been brevetted, and paid according to his brevet rank, and the time for which such pay was allowed; consisting of pay, subsistence, forage, and allowance for servants. The statement marked B, exhibits the amount that has been paid to any officer for extra services, to whom paid, and for what, where, and how employed. The statement marked C, shows the amount actually received for the years 1823, 1824, and 1825, by the General, Field, and Staff Officers of the Army, consisting of pay, subsistence, forage, and allowance for servants. In extending to brevetted officers the compensation of their brevet rank, the Accounting Officers of the Treasury were governed by the act of Congress, of the 16th of April, 1818, the first section of which states, that the Officers of the Army who have brevet commissions, "shall be entitled to, and receive, the pay and emoluments of their "brevet rank when on duty, and having a command according to "their brevet rank." Their station, therefore, did not enter into the consideration of the Accounting Officers, in making the allowance, but merely the extent of their command; nor can an answer to that part of the resolution be furnished by this office. The compensation allowed Officers for disbursements on account of Arsenals, and the payments for extra services to such Officers of the Army as were stationed at the Seat of Government, were predicated on the regulations of the War Department, of the 27th of February, and the 10th of August, 1818. In all other cases, the accounts received the special sanction of the Secretary of War. Hon. JAMES BARBOUR, I have the honor to be, Secretary of War. Very respectfully, Sir, |