| Confederate States of America |
| Transportation Office |
| Quartermaster's Department |
|
Richmond, Va Mar 18th 1865 |
| |
| Col. F. W. Sims |
| Q. M. |
| Richmond Va |
| |
| Col., |
| I respectfully call your attention to the
enclosed letter from Mr Fink Supt &c, also to the following statement in
connection therewith -- |
| viz: The trains were taken by order
of the Q. M. Genl. to supply transportation for two (2) brigades of
troops ordered to Lynchburg during Sheridan's raid, Genl Lee gave me a
verbal order to have the trains ready in a few hours. Upon examination it
was found that but six (6) cars besides the N{orfolk}
& Petersburg trains were available to take up nearly 5000 men. A report
of these facts was made both to Genls Lee & Lawton when they were
informed that one N. & P. train contained nine (9) car load of cotton.
The emergency was thought to be such as to justify the unloading the
train where it stood instead of hunting up a storehouse & having the
cotton hauled thereto, only about two hours being given to unload &
prepare for the troops then marching, & thought to be near the depot.
After unloading Genl Lee directed that the troops should camp near the
depot & that the transpn be held subject to his order. Two (2) days
after, he ordered the shipment of the troops & during the interval the
cotton was unavoidably exposed to injury & pillage. The men were loaded
on the cars near the cotton & they no doubt pulled some of it out, &
otherwise damaged the bales. Immediately upon return of the N. & P.
train, at the request of Mr. Fink two disinterested parties were called
in to examine the condition of the cotton before reloading. We found it
in bad order, some of the bales so much injured as to render them
difficult to handle or count. The gentlemen with us decided the damage a
follows |
| viz: |
6 |
Bales half stolen = |
3 Bales |
| |
12 |
" fourth stolen = |
3 " |
| Total loss estimated at |
6 Bales |
|
| Mr. Fink says in counting the bales one
was missing. I knew nothing of the number in the cars & how many were
reloaded, it being impossible for me to superintend the unloading &
loading. I think the assessment above very liberal, but it was
almost impossible in the condition of the cotton to arrive at any
definite quantity. |
| I gave special orders that the car or cars
loaded with miscellaneous stores should not be unloaded & directed that
they should be put in such a place as the officers in charge of the
train should select. This was obeyed & the Government is in no way
responsible for the loss of the Bbl of Sugar as claimed herein. The
conductor and other employees on the train should have seen that the
stores therein were not disturbed when the cotton was being unloaded. |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your Obt. Servant |
| P. H. Mayo |
| Capt & A. Q. M. |
| |
| {On back of document} |
| Richmond 25 March 65 |
| Respectfully referred to the QMGeneral with the
suggestion that the Govt pay a fair reimbursement for the 6 Bales Cotton
deemed to be lost by reason of the seizure of the cars; and in so much
as relates to the claim for the Barrel of Sugar alleged to have been
stolen from a car on the same train some cars not having been seized the
Qr Mr Genl will order it not to be paid |
| F W Sims |
| Lt Col & QM |
| |
| Respectfully returned to Lt. Col. Sims whose views as
represented in his endorsement are approved. |
| By order of QM Genl |
| E E McLean |
| Lt. Col. & A. Q. M. Genl. |