OR, Series 4, Vol. 2, Page 231

Quartermaster-General's Office
Richmond, December 9, 1862
 
Hon. James A. Seddon
Secretary of War
 
Sir,
  I respectfully beg leave to again call your attention to the operation of General Order, No. 98, assigning Col. W. M. Wadley, assistant adjutant-general, to the supervision and control of railroad transportation, and also to repeat some of the views I had the honor to present to you verbally. By the provisions of the Army Regulations the Quartermaster's Department has been charged with the duty of providing transportation for troops and all army stores, equipage, and supplies. During the present war it is well known the Government has been greatly dependent upon the railroads of the Confederacy for the transportation of troops and supplies, and has been obliged to employ them to the utmost extent of their capacity. All contracts with the railroad companies have been made by this department, and the payment of their accounts has consumed a large proportion of the estimates made for expenses of military transportation. The control of this important means of transportation has been one of the most responsible duties of this department, mainly because of its intimate connection with the movements of our armies in the field and their dependence upon it for the prompt delivery and quick removal of military supplies; and the railroads have become so much identified with most of the duties of this department that much inconvenience, confusion, and embarrassment will result if their supervision be transferred to another department of the public service altogether unconnected with this. I do not object to the policy of placing all railroad transportation under the supervision of an able and competent officer, as Colonel Wadley is known to be; on the contrary, I had the honor to suggest that such an arrangement should be made, with the expectation, however, that the superintendent of this transportation should report to this department and act under its authority. The absolute necessity for this is, I submit, most apparent, as it is essential to the dispatch of the business of this office that I should be regularly and promptly informed of such regulations for railroad transportation as might be adopted by the general superintendent, and particularly that I should be advised of the terms of compensation agreed upon, that the necessary estimates to provide for its payment might be made. For these and other reasons, which will be readily suggested, I submit that the effect of the general order referred to will be to occasion difficulty and embarrassment to this department unless Colonel Wadley be directed to report regularly to this office.
A. C. Myers
Quartermaster-General

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