War Department, C. S. A, Richmond, September
19, 1861
|
| General Joseph E. Johnston |
| Headquarters Army of the Potomac |
| |
| Sir, |
| I beg leave respectfully to call your attention
to the inclosed correspondence, and to represent to you the
necessity of promptly discharging and returning the cars of the
railroad company as soon as they can be unloaded. This subject is so
important, not only to the public interests in general, but also
especially to the well-being of your army, that I am sure I need
only to call your attention to the complaint in order to insure at
once the necessary orders from you for its removal. |
| I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully,
|
| J.P. Benjamin |
| Acting Secretary of War |
| |
| [Inclosures] |
| Subsistence Department |
| Richmond, September 18, 1861 |
| Hon. J.P. Benjamin, Acting
Secretary of War |
| Sir: I received a dispatch from Major
Blair, desiring that 1,000 barrels of flour should be sent him from
Richmond because of non-arrival of 2,000 barrels ordered from
Lynchburg and Fredericksburg. This must be due to some difficulties
on the roads, as ample provision has been made at both places. The
agent of the Central Railroad writes that it is impossible to
transport the flour, and therefore I inclose a copy of the agent's
letter, stating the reason. |
| I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| L. B. Northrop |
| Commissary-General Subsistence |
| |
| Richmond, September 18, 1861 |
| J. H. Claibourne, Esq |
| Dear Sir: The Confederate States have
all of our cars at Manassas and Millborough. We cannot get them
back. We have only two cars now in Richmond. Our depot is blocked
up. If you send the flour today we shall be compelled to put it out
of doors, and the Confederate States must take the risk. |
| Respectfully, |
| S.
Hunter |
|