NA, QMR 10/13/1864

Headquarters Third Military District
Department North Carolina and Southern Virginia
Office Chief Quartermaster
Wilmington, N. C.  Oct. 13th 1864
 
Brig. Genl. A. R. Lawton
Q. M. General
Richmond
 
General,
   I have the honor to state that the circular order from your office dated Sept. 15, 1864, as understood, is the source of considerable embarrassment in this Dept. Under this system the shipping Q. M. is relieved from giving his receipt for stores until he can turn over the Bill Lading, executed by the Rail Road. In the present state of transportation, from the inadequacy of the means, and the frequent pressure upon the Roads, a considerable time often elapses between the bona fide delivering of stores to the shipping QM, and their actual receipt by the Rail Road Co. The shipping Q. M. under this circular, declines to receipt for the stores until he can secure his Bill lading, as the circular expressly states that the system is intended to do away with the necessity of an exchange of receipts between the consigner and the shipping quartermaster. The consignor is thus placed in the position of having parted with property for which he is responsible, and failing to obtain a voucher for the same.
   A case has been mentioned to me today in which a large number of blankets have passed from the possession of one of my subordinates, and for two days he is without a voucher, owing to the impossibility of obtaining Bills of Lading from the Rail Road Co. I would respectfully suggest a recurrence to the former system of Transportation Invoices, or a modification of your circular to meet the necessities of the case.
Very respectfully
your Obt. servant
Jno. ?. ??son
Maj. & Chf Q. M.

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