A board or commission charged to awarda just compensation to loyal owners in the State of Maryland whose slaves enlisted in the military service of the United States has been in session at Baltimore, Md., since December, 1863. The whole number of claims presented to October 4, 1864, is 1,015, five of these being for men drafted.

Up to October 1, 1864, 244 of these claims had been passed upon by the commission; of these nine were rejected, and upon the remainder awards were made proportionate in each case to the term of service which the recruit had prior to enlistment owed to the claimant. Twenty-five of the accepted claims, amounting in the aggregate to $ 6,900, have been paid by the disbursing officer attached to this Bureau. Unpaid claims amounting to $ 47,800 are now on file in this office.

For a more detailed statement of the disbursements in connection with this Board your attention is respectfully invited to the report of the disbursing officer, Captain LeG. Benedict, assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, which is herewith.*

By the death of S. F. Streeter, esq., late president of this Board, the Government has lost a servant justly distinguished for his integrity and efficiency.

The Board recently appointed by the Secretary of War to investigate similar claims arising in the State of Delaware, has commenced its sittings. Only eight claims have yet been presented.

Brigadier General L. Thomas, Adjutant-General of U. S. Army, who has superintended and directed the organization of nearly all the new regiments raised in the slave States and States in rebellion, will, it is presumed, make a detailed report of his operations.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. W. FOSTER,

Assistant-Adjutant-General of Volunteers.

SURGEON-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, D. C., October 20, 1864.

Honorable E. M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following statement of finances and general transactions of the Medical Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1864:

The funds derived from all sources and available for the expenses of the Medical and Hospital Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1864, were -

Balance remaining in Treasury June 30, 1864, being

residue of the appropriation for the ensuing fiscal

year, under the act approved February 9, 1863....... $ 8,522,423.27

In the hands of disbursing officers ................ 250,828.10

Deficiency appropriation act, approved March 14,

1864 ............................................... 3,296,000.00

Amount refunded by Subsistence Department on account

of board paid for sick soldiers in private houses

and hospitals ...................................... 66,522.03

Amount refunded from appropriation for supplies,

transportation, and care of prisoners of war ....... 97,195.44

Amount refunded by Suire, Eckstein & Co., Cincinnati,

Ohio, being amount overpaid to them in the settle-

ment of their accounts in 1861-62 .................. 10,677.43

Proceeds of sales of condemned and unserviceable

property ........................................... 11,327.64

Proceeds of medical stores sold, by authority of Major

General U. S. Grant, to the inhabitants of Vicksburg and

vicinity ........................................... 2,596.22

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* Omitted.

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