| Quarter Master General's Department |
| Richmond, March 31st 1864 |
| |
| Capt John Frizzel |
| A. Q. Master |
| Atlanta, Georgia |
| |
| Sir, |
| Yours of 25th enclosing
notification that you had tendered to the Superintendent of the Western
& Atlantic Rail Road $940,627, amount due that Road for transportation
for the months of October, November, and December 1863, and January
1864, which tender was refused in present currency, has been received.
It has created no little surprise. On the 21st December the sum of
$850,000, was sent to you on your Estimates for October, November and
December 1863. Of this amount $513,600 was for the Western & Atlantic
Rail Road, on the 17th of February $400,000 was sent you on your
estimate of January, of which $221,000 was for Western & Atlantic
Railroad, and on the same day you were ordered to pay the accounts of
the Western & Atlantic Railroad without deduction for loss or damage. |
| Governor Brown, who had
written urging payment of amount due was notified of this fact, and as
these instructions obviated the difficulties which had before delayed
payment, it was expected that you would at once pay the accounts for the
four months ending 31st of January. Your failure to do so has involved
you in serious difficulty and may cause heavy loss to the
Government. |
| On the 9th of March the
further sum of $460,000 was sent on your estimate for February, of which
the sum $261,000 was for the Western & Atlantic Railroad. Your tender of
payment of these large amounts, the greater portion which had been in
your hands for a month, bears date March 25th. The delay requires
explanation. |
| A. R Lawton Q. M. Genl. |
|