| Columbia, May 3d 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| I arrived yesterday morning
and after gathering all the information in connection with my business
that I could, I intended to have gone up to Laurens & Greenville today,
but by holding over until the morning I shall have the company &
assistance of Capt Vance the District Qr Master who promises to go with
me through his district and I was anxious to hear from Major Guerin. |
| I have obtained from Major
Sloan a detailed list of all the Bacon that had been reported to him,
say his official rations for the month of March, thou for April not
having been yet compiled. Leaving out the Charleston District there were
at 42 depots 465,725 lbs {29 car loads}
Bacon that he reported to me over 600,000 lbs
{37 1/2 car loads}, and some, he does not
know how much has gone on to Charleston. The month of April will double
this quantity probably, but not come up to his statement of over
1,000,000 lbs {63 car loads} as I infer
from his intelligent District Qr Master Capt Vance. |
| I have an arduous task before
me, but will do all in my power to carry out your instructions & move
the Bacon. |
| Your telegram of yesterday is
just received, to which I reply "I leave in the morning for Laurens &
Greenville with a District tithe Qr Master. Please instruct Major Guerin
by telegraphy to direct his local Commissaries to obey my instructions
they may require his authority." The Major may be over punctillary(?). I
wrote him from Charlotte inviting his cooperation & suggesting that he
communicate with me here through the wires, but as yet I have no tidings
from him." |
| You shall be fully &
repeatedly advised of my movements. |
| I am Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|