which exhibits a great reduction not only in the number, but also in the form of the disease. The total number of patients in the contagious hospital this day is only 113; in October and November it was over 200. My letter of the 7th instant to you, and that of Doctor Sillman, of November 5, to the Surgeon-General, advises the erection of a tent hospital on the Jersey shore, which I will have done as soon as Surgeon Silliman advises me to do so. On account of the great abatement of the disease I have ample hospital room here, and Doctor Sillman and myself are of the opinion that the erection of a new frame hospital would be a useless and unnecessary expense, and before it could be accomplished the disease will most probably have entirely disappeared. Awaiting your final decision in this matter,

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. SCHOEPF,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Post.

[Inclosure.]

POST HOSPITAL, Fort Delaware, December 17, 1863.

SIR: In accordance with, instructions received I have the honor to make you the following report, viz:

Total number of patients admitted into the contagious hospital from September 1, 1863, to December 17, 1863,526.

September. October. November. December 1. 17.

Admit Died. Admit Died. Admit Died. Admit Died.

ted. ted. ted. ted.

Vario 23 7 200 78 138 70 27 21

la

Vario 17 1 14 --- 73 --- 34 ---

loid

Total 40 8 214 78 211 70 61 21

Morning report December 17, 1863:

In hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Died. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

------

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

------

------

Total number in hospital from September 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 526

Total number deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Respectfully submitted.

WILLIAM F. WOOLSEY,

Acting Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 21, 1863.

Colonel WILLIAM HOFFMAN,

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: The Secretary of War directs that you instruct the officers in command at Camp Douglas, Fort Delaware, and Point Lookout to turn over to the officers that may be designated by the Secretary of the Navy such of the prisoners of war under their charge as will take the oath of allegiance and enlist in the Navy of the United States. A weekly report of the men so transferred will be transmitted for the information of the Secretary of War.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ED. R. S. CANBY,

Brigadier-General and Assistant Adjutant-General.