|
Office Insp. Genl. of Field Transpt
|
| March 19th 1863 |
| |
| General Myers |
| Qr. Mr. General |
| |
| Sir, |
| The means of foraging Genl
Lees army, being an instructing subject, I respectfully submit the
following views for your consideration. |
|
The animals to be foraged in that army all told, mount to
19,312. At half ration (6 lbs) there will be required 2100 Bushels of
corn daily, or 63,000 Bushels per month, requiring to transport it 252
Rail road cars per month, or 8 cars per day.
|
|
To assist in procuring the requisite quantity, I suggest
that, in addition to the present mode pursued "by purchase &
impressment" notice be published at the "Court House"
of each county in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, & South
Carolina, inviting proposals for furnishing corn in bags or small
quantities, deliverable at the nearest Depot on the lines of
transportation. And all corn found within the limits of the states
named, (not absolutely necessary for the support of the inhabitants,)
shall be seized at the expiration of 30 days from the date of the advertisement,
be seized for the use of the army. By this method, and a proper appeal
to the patriotism of the people, I believe that sufficient corn can be
provided to keep Genl Lees army supplied.
|
|
As a means of checking speculation, and securing for the
use of the Government what corn they may have in their possession, a
strict prohibition should be imposed on all the lines of
transportation, against the freighting of any corn, except such as may
be passed by written authority from the Government officer charged
with the duty of procuring and forwarding corn for the army.
|
|
It may possibly become necessary in order to supply Genl
Lees army, to draw corn from South Carolina and I would recommend in
view of the very large supply already purchased in Georgia, and its
great distance from Virginia, that all corn now in South Carolina, be
immediately reserved for shipment to Richmond, and the entire amount
necessary for Genl Beauregard's Department be taken from Georgia. By
this plan we shall not only secure for the use of the army in
Virginia, all the surplus corn in North & South Carolina, but it
will enable us to use profitably the large surplus in Georgia.
|
|
As a means of prolonging our supply, I recommend that the
order reducing the ration, be extended to all the troops drawing
forage from the four states mentioned, and if the forage is judiciously
fed, and the animals not overworked, I believe the transportation can
be sustained on this reduction.
|
|
But in order to confine the issues to the reduced
allowance, and restrict requisitions to the actual number of animals
on hand, I recommend that an officer be assigned by the chief QMaster,
whose duty it shall be to issue and approve forage requisitions, and
to enable him to make them conform to the actual number of animals on
hand, he can be furnished by the inspector of field transportation,
with tables, showing the number of an{imals}
belonging to each separate command entitled to obtain forage.
|
|
*****
|
|
I have the honor to be very
|
|
Respectfully yr ob svt
|
|
A. H. Cole
|
|
Inspr Genl Field Tranpt
|
|