| Quartermaster General's Office |
| Confederate States of America |
| Richmond, Dec. 26, 1864 |
| |
| Lieut. Col. F. W. Sims, Quartermaster,
has been assigned to the general superintendence of transportation
by rail road, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly. Officers
of this Department connected with that branch of public service,
will make to him all reports heretofore ordered; and he may, with
the approval of this Bureau, call for additional reports, or
dispense with any of those now in use, as he may see proper. |
| He will arrange the forms for
transportation, and alter or amend the present system of shipments,
as circumstances may require; will give instructions to all officers
and direction to all business connected with rail road
transportation, and will inspect, either in person or by an officer,
the manner of conducting this business, in order that perfect
uniformity may exist in its management. |
| He will arrange with the several rail
roads the tariff for performing government transportation, subject
to the approval of this Bureau, and take charge of and employ all
engines, cars, machinery, tools or other property of the government,
owned or used for rail road purposes; and may exchange, sell, lend
or rent such machinery, with or to any rail road company, to
facilitate the work of transportation; and all captured cars,
engines and materials for rail road purposes, will be reported to
him; and he will make such arrangements to put the former in
efficient condition, as he can command. |
| He may communicate, through this office,
with the Heads of the several Bureaux, in order that business may be
facilitated, and he more readily understand their difficulties of
transportation, and supply such remedies as necessities require and
the circumstances permit. |
| He will make such monthly reports to
this Bureau as will furnish a general view of the system adopted,
with proposed changes, and the condition of rail road
transportation, the destruction or renewing of rail road rolling
stock, &c. during the month. |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Q. M. General |
| Approved: |
| James A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
|