| Macon Geo. Jany 18, 1864 |
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| Maj J N Mallet |
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Supt C S Laboratories
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| Macon, Geo. |
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| Major, |
| I have to report as follows concerning
the alcohol which was shipped to Col Brown Richmond, in my charge as
special messenger. I arrived at Augusta on the 16th of December
1863, on arriving there I made my report to Maj Winnemore AQM, that
the barrels were leaking, and required coopering, he said he would
have them attended to, but failed to do so. I left Augusta on the
22d Dec, arrived at Columbia So Ca on the 24th Dec, there I reported
to Capt Thos R Sharp AQM, that the barrels were leaking & needed
repairs, he informed me that a cooper was employed at the Charlotte
Junction, to do such work, but at no time during my stay in
Columbia, was the cooper to be found at the depot. I left Columbia
on the 29th Dec, arrived at Charlotte N. C. on the 30th Dec,
reported the condition of the barrels to Maj Echols QM, who had them
coopered. Nothing transpired from that time till I arrived at Gaston
N. C. on the evening of the 7th inst. On the 8th the barrels were
transferred, to a Petersburg car No 61, with but one door, and
several planks broken off the sides, the barrels were very badly
stowed, being piled on top of each other, which caused them to leak.
Arrived at Petersburg on the morning of the 9th, reported to the
QM's agent Mr Stith, and also to the Quartermaster there whose name
I did not learn, "that one of the barrels had been evidently
broken open, and considerable loss from leakage had been sustained
in consequence of bad stowage. I called the attention of the agent
of the RR at Petersburg to these facts, and he acknowledged that the
stowage was bad, and that theft had evidently been committed. By
direction of the Quartermaster the barrels were separately weighed
and a list thereof furnished me, which I left, with Capt W N Smith
MSK Richmond Ars'l by order of Col W LeRoy Brown. I arrived at
Richmond on the 12th inst reported to Col Brown that the alcohol had
arrived, and handed him Invoices for the same, Capt. Smith informed
me that he would send receipts by mail |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your Obt. Svt. |
| S. A. Leonard |
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