| Transportation Office, C. S. A. |
| Quartermaster's Department |
| Richmond, Va., Sept. 6, 1864 |
| |
| Genl. A. R. Lawton |
| Q. M. Genl. |
| |
| General, |
| The sale, by soldiers, of transportation coupons issued
to them on furloughs &c, is an abuse which has existed from the
beginning of the war, and appears to be rapidly growing. |
| General Bragg's Inspecting officer adverts to its great
prevalence in the South and West, and it is notorious in this City. Its
connection is as difficult as its evils are obvious. |
| A monitory {mandatory?}
order from the A. & I. G. office enjoining greater vigilance on those
charged with military police duties, and against the soldier who sells
or barters his transportation with some such penalty as docking his
furlough, or the denial of future indulgence in this respect, would
probably have beneficial effects. This belief is sustained by the good
results which have attended the orders from the same quarter against the
traffic in clothing, shoes &c, a practice much the same in principle
with the sale or barter of transportation tickets. |
| There is no law of Congress imposing penalties, but it
is clearly competent for the War Dept. to regulate and provide against
any abuses growing out of the administration of its affairs. |
| Respectfully |
| D. H. Wood |
| Maj. & Q. M. |
| |
| {on back of document} |
| A. Q. M. G. Office |
| Sept 8 1864 |
| Approved and respectfully forwarded to Adj & Insp. Genl |
| A R Lawton |
| QMGenl |
|