| Quarter Masters Office C. S. A. |
| Raleigh N. C. September 20th 1864 |
| |
| Lt Col F. W. Sims |
| Chief Rail Road Bureau |
| Richmond Va. |
| |
| Col. |
| Yours of the 18th requesting an
explanation of charges of gross negligence in forwarding B/L
preferred against my office by Capt Jno. F. Divine A.Q.M. Goldsboro
N. C. is at hand. |
| In reply I most respectfully invite your
attention to enclosed certificates from Agent North Carolina Rail
Road Company & ??? Jas. A. Henly, my transportation agent. The
former states that he forwarded by the freight Conductor the
original B/L for the five barrels of vinegar in question. The latter
states that the triplicate B/L was mailed from my transportation
office by himself on April 24th 1864 to Capt. Jno. F. Divine AQM. I
enclose you a certified copy of the duplicate B/L, now on file in
said branch of my department. In contradiction of Capt Divine's
charges, should you think further testimony necessary I will obtain
from the N. C. R. R. Company a certified copy of the original B/L
receipted by Capt Divine on the delivery of the stores in question
& on which the said Company has collected its freight charges
from Maj Chas. M. Smith. In turning over these five barrels of
vinegar for shipment, no transportation invoices as is required in
circular from Qr Mr General Sept 1st 1863 were furnished by Capt W D
Reynolds ACS, the original consignee. The frequent non compliance of
officers with the above mentioned circular in this particular was
reported to you in my letter of Sept 12th 1864 |
| Allow me to return you my thanks for the
high opinion you express of my office Hoping that the above
testimony may be satisfactory, |
| I remain Colonel |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your Obt Servt |
| W. E. Peirce |
| Capt & A. Q. M. |