Army On The Move

Washington, April 19.- Thousands of regular troops are on their way to the gulf. The entire available military i force of the United States is en route for concentration in the south. The bids for the transportaron of the troops were opened at the various points throughout the country and contracts signed by the assistant quartermaster general. The army was immediately set in motion, and during the afternoon telegrams were received at the war department announcing the departure of more than half the force to be coneenirated. By Saturday the four divisions of the army of occupation will be in camp at their respective headquarters -Tampa. Mobile, Chickamauga, and New Orleans. General Coppinger will command at Mobile and he is already on his way. He will be relieved by Colonel E. V. Sumner, commanding the Seventh cavalry. which is left in that department. General Shafter has turned over his former command, the department of California, to General H. C. Merriam, ■who will assume command on both departments of California and the Columbia, and is now on his way to take command at New Orleans. General Wade has been relieved at St. Paul by Colonel Bacon, Eighth cavalry. who will command the department of Dakota, and will start at once, as will also General John S. Clarke, with Colonel Sheridan and Colonel Lee, of his staff. The cavalry and light artillery. which will compose General Brooke's command. for the most part, has left for the south.