| Engineer Bureau |
| Aug. 19, 1863 |
| |
| Maj. Chas. S. Carrington |
| Q. Master |
| |
| Major, |
| Your letter of the 31st utl. dated at
Columbia was referred by me to Col. W. H. Stevens Corps Engrs &
Chief of construction D. N. Va. with directions to give such
instructions to Mr. Baggett & his other Agts in reference to the
purchase of corn & meats &c. for feeding the negros at work on
the fortifications as will not interfere with the rates legally
established. Col. Stevens reports that he has given the instructions
& adds that "Mr. Baggett has made no purchases since the
correspondence of date July 15th. |
| I must request you not to interfere with
the purchase made by the Engineer Agents. Corn & meat are
essential to the negroe force employed on the defences of Virginia
& N. Carolina. Col. Stevens informs me that he had the authority
of both Maj Genl Hill & of the quarter Masters Genl for the
transportation of the supplies purchased by his agt Mr. Baggett near
Tarboro & that your agt retained, notwithstanding, causing the
loss of $6,000 worth of corn & bacon by the raid on the Tar River.
I have been also informed that the Rail Road was not over promised
with transportation at the time that prisoners should have been sent
forward. |
| If any portion of the purchase heretofore
made by Mr. Baggett are still kept back by your order I have to
request that they b e released & forwarded without delay. |
| If I am correctly informed the question of
transportation on R. Roads is one committed to Capt. Sims A. A.
Genl. & superintendent of transportation & this will prove a
nice arrangement if it prevent the recurrence of like ??? for the
future & the consequent loss of provisions now so much needed for
our military operations. |
| I am sir |
| Very Respectfully |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col Engrs & Chf Br. |