OR, Series 4, Vol. 2, Page 304

Confederate States of America
Quartermaster-General's Department
Richmond, January 8, 1863
 
Hon. James A. Seddon
Secretary of War
 
Sir,
  On the 9th ultimo I had the honor to submit to you certain considerations relative to General Orders, No. 98, which assign Col. W. M. Wadley, assistant adjutant-general, to the supervision and control of railroad transportation. My aim was to exhibit the propriety if not the absolute necessity of requiring Colonel Wadley to report regularly to this office, and I presented views and facts tending to show that unless such a relation shall be established between that officer and this department much inconvenience and confusion will result. I beg leave to renew my suggestions and to present some views not included in my former letter.
  The second paragraph of General Orders, No. 98, prescribing the duties of Colonel Wadley, seems to be in conflict with paragraph II of General Orders, No. 112. By the former the direction of all Government agents or employees engaged in railroad transportation, the control of all machinery and rolling-stock belonging to the Government, the power to dispose of the same, the authority to appoint and dismiss agents heretofore employed by the Quartermaster's Department, and the sole supervision and management of railroad transportation are conferred upon Colonel Wadley. By the latter order the transportation of all ordnance, ordnance stores, and supplies is transferred to the Quartermaster's Department, to which it properly belonged, because it is a duty especially devolved upon it by the Regulations, as will be perceived by a reference, under the head of "Army Transportation," to paragraphs 985 to 996, inclusive.
  This order further charges the Quartermaster's Department with "the safe and speedy delivery" of these stores, and makes it responsible for the same, although by the terms of the previous order (No. 98) the control of all railroad transportation and the agents and employees connected with it had been transferred to an officer unconnected with this department and in no sense responsible to it.
  As stated in my former letter, all payments for railroad transportation are provided for in the estimates of the Quartermaster's Department, and all accounts therefore are audited and paid by it, while the power of contracting with the railroad companies and fixing the schedules of their compensation belongs to an officer who is not required even to inform the department of the terms of the contracts he may make. It seems evident that with this divided control over the same subject unity is scarcely attainable. I beg leave to observe further that by the Regulations all officers charged with the disbursement of money or the custody of public property in connection with military transportation are held responsible for the same, and required to give "good and sufficient bonds fully to account" therefore. To change the system of official responsibility and accountability prescribed by the Regulations involves a policy as to the propriety of which grave doubts may well be entertained.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant
A. C. Myers
Quartermaster-General

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