| Quartermaster General's Department |
| Richmond, August 6, 1863 |
| |
| Major S. Mims |
| QM |
| Enterprise, Miss. |
| |
| Major, |
| The Secretary of War has referred to this
office a communication from Colonel Phil Stockton, Commanding
Confederate States Arsenal at Demopolis, Alabama, to Colonel J. Gorgas,
Chief of Ordnance, covering letters from yourself, from Major George
Whitfield, Quarter Master, and from other persons in relation to the
destruction by the enemy at Bolton's Depot, of a large quantity of
Government Cotton. The failure of the Southern {(of
Mississippi)} Rail Road Company to transport this cotton, is
alleged as the cause of its destruction. The papers show that repeated
demands for its transportation were made upon the authorities of the
Company, which were disregarded, and that during the pendency of these
demands the company furnished transportation for Cotton owned by
private persons. |
| I am instructed by the Secretary of War to
"hold money due this Company, to abide the result of an
investigation." |
| You are, accordingly, hereby instructed
not to pay to the Southern Rail Road any money due for transportation,
or otherwise, until you shall be notified of the result of such
investigation. You are also requested to communicate with Major George
Whitfield, and instruct him to the same effect -- also to stop any
money due this Company, that may be in the hands of any officers
subject to your orders. |
| A. C. Myers, Q. M. General |
|