| P. 41 |
| The Transportation Department
grew so in importance as to make it necessary to sub-divide it,
placing one officer, or more, in charge of the shipment of ordnance,
etc., another in charge of troops and supplies of the commissary's and
quartermaster's departments. I was placed in charge of the latter.
But, as I was only a private, I had great difficulty in having my
orders obeyed by the men whom I would direct to occupy certain cars
provided them. Desire to overcome this difficulty of lack of authority
may have prompted the Secretary of War, General George W. Randolph {1862},
to recommend me for promotion, with the rank of Captain. Orders to
that effect were delayed for a good, long time, waiting a vacancy, as
the Quarter Master General stated. The promotion was, I was informed,
urged later by General Lee, and I received the appointment and was
commissioned {March, 1864}. |
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