| Quarter Master General's Department |
| Richmond, June 2nd 1864 |
| |
| Dr. R. W. Gibbs |
| Columbia, S. C. |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| Yours of 21st asking
modifications of instructions to Prov. Marshals relative to passports
to citizens, has been referred to the Prov. Marshall Genl. who has
charge of this matter; with the request that Provost Marshals be
vested with some discretionary powers, & authorized to grant
passports, to private citizens, in all cases of urgent necessity. It
was with the greatest reluctance that I applied to the Sect. of War to
have any restrictions placed upon private travel, & it was not
done until it became manifest that without such restrictions our
armies must quit the field. I am happy to be able to say that the
results have vindicated the propriety of the means adopted &
enables us now so far to relax the rules as to permit private travel
in cases where there exists real necessity. |
| A. R. Lawton, Q. M. G. |
|