Mr. VANAERNAH. I move to strike in line 11, the words “ 50 privates” oann: to insert in lieu thereof “ 100 privates." The object of creating an army is to have one that will be of some practical use. I have no hesitation in indorsing the letter which was presented from Generals Grant and Sherman, and other general officers in the field, asserting the fact that there are always in field operations 30%. of the men sick. I think those military men have understated the fact. My experience as a medical Officer in the Army would lead me to believe that 50%. of men are disqualified by physical isabilit, whether during actual campaigns, or on 0rd! nary duty. In October, 1862. I landed here with a regiment of 562 enlisted men. We were sent to the army of the Potomac; we were engaged in no active campaign, in no battle; the regiment suffered from no epidemic disease, no disease of a contagious character. Yet just 7 months from the day when we arrived here at Washington we went into the battle of Chancellorsville with 438 enlisted men. The regiment had been depleted to that extent during those 7 months. though we had no active campainin, and were not subjected to the casualties O battle or to contagious or epidemic disease. My observation leads me to the belief that what was true of that regiment was true of all the new troops that entered the Army in 1862. Supposing that to be the fact, I submit that, if we put in the field companies numbering only 50 men each, they will at the end of 6 months have dwindled down to companies of 25 or 30 30 at most, probably 25, perhaps not more than 20; because, sir, the volunteer organization of t ie Army was not do lcted to any great extent by desertions; but tiis is not a fact in regard to the regular Army in which desertion has been a cryin evil, order after order having been issued for the arrest of deserters from the regular Army. Now, supposing that there should be a dim inution at the rate of 40%. in 7 months, as there was with the troops furnished in 1862, we should, under this hi 1, have our companies reduced in a period of half a year to 23 or 24 men. Thus our Army would become a great skeleton without any vital organization fitting for performing efficiently the functions of an army. such an army would simply eat the substance of the people without rendering any valuable service. I submit that, as it is contrary to the spirit and habits of the better part of our people including the agriciiltnrists and the sons O agricultnrists, to enlist in the regular Army, it would be impossible, under the circumstances, to keep these companies full. I have seen a note from the Adjutant Generals office, stating that between October, 1864, and January, 1866there had been only about 39,000 men enlisted into the regular Army.