The proceedings of the
Senate were yesterday opened with prayer by
the Rev. E. W. Sehon, of the Methodist Church.
The petition of the
President of the
James River and Kanawha Packet company was referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported back favorably
House joint resolution declaring the meaning of the act allowing hospital accommodations to sick and wounded officers.
The resolution declares subsistence to be included under the head of hospital accommodation.
The resolution was passed.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same committee, reported back favorably the bill to amend the act to provide and organize engineer troops.
Put on the calendar.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same, reported back adversely the bill to preserve the efficiency of old fire companies.
Mr. Sparrow, from the same, reported back adversely the bill to abolish the office of third lieutenant in the army.
Mr. Caperton, of
Va., submitted a joint resolution of thanks to
Virginia troops who had re- enlisted for the war. The resolution was agreed to.
On motion of
Mr. Semmes the Senate resolved into secret session.
The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Minnegerode.
A large number of joint resolutions of thanks to soldiers for re-enlisting were offered and adopted.
A letter was read from a lady of
Macon, Ga., tendering to the
Government a pieces of silver plate given to her as a wedding present.
The Speaker laid before the
House Senate bill to increase the efficiency of the cavalry of the Provisional Army, and to punish lawlessness in any portion thereof.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
The
House renewed the consideration of the bill reported from the
Committee on Printing to authorize the publication and printing of an analytical and alphabetical digest of the laws of Congress, compelled by
Messrs. Lester and
Brownell.
A substitute for the bill, offered by
Mr. Barksdale, of
Miss., was adopted.
A resolution was adopted tendering the courtesies of the
House to
Major-Gen. Robt. E. Rodes during his stay in
Richmond.
The
House then took up the bill reported from the
Committee on Military Affairs to provide a
general staff for the army; which, after some discussion, was passed.
The
House then took up for consideration the bill to provide for the payment of horses lost, captured, killed, or permanently disabled in the service.
The question was upon the substitute to the committee's bill, offered by
Mr. Boteler, of
Virginia, which was adopted.
The bill provides payment for horses which have been killed in battle, or which, having been wounded in battle, have since died or become permanently disabled by said wounds; also, for horses lost by unavoidable accident or capture, or by abandonment by order of a commissioned officer.
On motion of
Mr. Goode, of
Va., the bill to authorize the impressment of meat for the use of the army, under certain circumstances, was taken up, and after some discussion, adopted.
[This bill provides that under proper regulations and restrictions, one half of the bacon laid in for family use, amounting to the customary supply, may be taken when the necessities of the army require it.]
On motion, the
House went into secret session.
