| Meridian Miss |
| October 27th 1863 |
|
|
| Maj. Thos LeBaron |
| Chief Qr Master |
| |
| Sir, |
| Enclosed I have the honor to
hand you accounts of Steamer Como Farrand for two days detention at
Selma. If I correctly understand the duties of the daily line of boats
it is to wait for Govt freight or troops without extra charge. If they
have the exclusive privilege of carrying Govt freight they should not
charge for detention when they do not have sufficient boats to do the
business promptly. Even if there should be any charge the price to me
looks high. I had a boat chartered at Pensacola of Twenty Two Hundred
bales Capacity at One Hundred and Thirty Dollars per day. Please
return the papers with your views and oblige. |
| Your obdt Servt |
| George Whitfield |
| Maj & Q. M. |
| |
| {on back of document} |
| Office chief Qr Mr Dt of the Gulf |
| Mobile Nov 1st/63 |
| Respectfully referred to the Captain of Sm
Comodore Farrand, for his statement. |
| Thos. M. LeBaron |
| Maj &c |
| |
| the St Comod Farrand was detained two days
at Selma by order of Col Jenifer (the Commander of the post) for
transporting troops to Montgomery. the first day while we were in port
the Str Cherokee took on board (450) Four hundred and fifty troops.
the Second day the Str Duke (which had just arrived from Montgomery)
took Seven hundred and twenty five troops, so we had to leave without
any, in consequence of being detained in Selma we did not reach Mobile
in time to go out on our regular day and consequently had to lay over
a week to get into our regular turn. the amt asked for does not pay
more than half the actual expenses of the boat while laying in port.
not calculating anything for the profits of the trip. had we have
carried the troops that were given to the Cherokee (not a regular line
Boat) or the Duke which arrived after we were under impressment 24
hours we should not have made any additional charge, but under the
circumstances think we are legitimately entitled to the amount asked
for. |
| W M Ea?? |
| Captain of Steamer |
| Como Farrand |
| |
| Office ChfQrMr |
| Mobile Novr. 7th/63 |
| Respectfully returned to Maj Whitfield QrMr.
This charge is well grounded & very reasonable the least account
of losses to this Steamer is at least $5000. |
| Thos. M. e Baron |
| Maj &c |
| |
| Meridian Miss |
| Nov 13th 1863 |
| Respectfully returned to Maj A M Barbour
with references of the Acct of the Steamer Como Farrand & Maj Thos
LeBaron |
| Geo Whitfield |
| Maj & QM |
| |
| Office Chf QrMr |
| March 24 1864 |
| Respectfully refd to Capt H St Paul within
the request that the Bill be paid |
| E G Mohler |
| QrMr |