| Columbia, May 7th 1864 |
| |
| Major S. B. French |
| CS |
| Richmond VA |
| |
| Major, |
| Referring to my reports of
last evening I have now the pleasure to acknowledge rect of your letter
of the 2d inst contents of which have my careful attention. |
| I have had no occasion to
employ as yet any assistants. The officers whom I have met, seems only
to require stiring up & to be informed of their duty, and I was
surprised that they had not been instructed by Major Guerin, who assured
me when I saw him in Charleston that he would avail of the suggestions I
made to him to hurry up shipments either by Wilmington or Charlotte as
might be more favorable & expeditious. I believe I have done all that is
necessary in the two Districts on the Greenville road. |
| I proceed to Chesterville this
evening & shall impress hard the shipping of bacon there, and give such
instructions to Major Trout as I may deem proper. Major Guerin has
endorsed me with full powers in the premises. There is a good deal of
Subsistence Stores in the state, and purchasing Commissaries would be
forced up to renewed activity. At present however they are paralyzed
from the want of funds, as was more or less the case wherever I have
been. I should have taken the 2 o'clock train today for Chester, but I
had to ??? for myself to meet my travelling expenses. Both the Qr
Masters & Comsy were out of funds and I th?? I could be serviceable to
Capt Witherspoon in the matter of erecting a government store house. He
has rented three store houses in the City; but I take it they will be of
but little use to him. The inconvenience delay & loss in moving corn
would be greater than any assistance they will afford. Capt Sharp is
building a store house for his road 150 by 30 ft & he proposes to add a
similar building to it at actual cost. He can do this I apprehend in
less time & cheaper than the Qr Masters, and at my suggestion that Capt
will make application to Major Rhett Q. M. for authority to do so. |
| I am in ??? communication with
Major Sloan who will give me every assistance & information in his
power. After getting through with my business at Chesterville I propose
to visit Lewisville & Florence, confirming & seeing no ??t corn with
Dist Commissaries then, & taking letters from Major Sloan to the tithe
Qr Masters & proceed thence on to Wilmington. Here I apprehend there
will be trouble. Would it not be well to provide me with fresh orders
from the Secy of War, Col Sims or the Qr Mr General to authorize the
prompt & first movement of bacon (especially if other subsistence
stores, form Wilmington. |
| Sixty cars are loading up
today which will clear out the Junction. |
| I am Major Very Respectfully |
| W H Smith |
| Major & CS |
|