LVA, RRB 3/18/1865

Confederate States of America
Transportation Office
Quartermaster's Department
Richmond, Va Mar 18th 1865
 
Col. F. W. Sims
Q. M.
Richmond Va
 
Col.,
   I respectfully call your attention to the enclosed letter from Mr Fink Supt &c, also to the following statement in connection therewith --
   viz:  The trains were taken by order of the Q. M. Genl. to supply transportation for two (2) brigades of troops ordered to Lynchburg during Sheridan's raid, Genl Lee gave me a verbal order to have the trains ready in a few hours. Upon examination it was found that but six (6) cars besides the N{orfolk} & Petersburg trains were available to take up nearly 5000 men. A report of these facts was made both to Genls Lee & Lawton when they were informed that one N. & P. train contained nine (9) car load of cotton. The emergency was thought to be such as to justify the unloading the train where it stood instead of hunting up a storehouse & having the cotton hauled thereto, only about two hours being given to unload & prepare for the troops then marching, & thought to be near the depot. After unloading Genl Lee directed that the troops should camp near the depot & that the transpn be held subject to his order. Two (2) days after, he ordered the shipment of the troops & during the interval the cotton was unavoidably exposed to injury & pillage. The men were loaded on the cars near the cotton & they no doubt pulled some of it out, & otherwise damaged the bales. Immediately upon return of the N. & P. train, at the request of Mr. Fink two disinterested parties were called in to examine the condition of the cotton before reloading. We found it in bad order, some of the bales so much injured as to render them difficult to handle or count. The gentlemen with us decided the damage a follows
viz: 6 Bales half stolen = 3 Bales
  12      "   fourth stolen = 3    "
Total loss estimated at 6 Bales
   Mr. Fink says in counting the bales one was missing. I knew nothing of the number in the cars & how many were reloaded, it being impossible for me to superintend the unloading & loading. I think the assessment above very liberal, but it was almost impossible in the condition of the cotton to arrive at any definite quantity.
   I gave special orders that the car or cars loaded with miscellaneous stores should not be unloaded & directed that they should be put in such a place as the officers in charge of the train should select. This was obeyed & the Government is in no way responsible for the loss of the Bbl of Sugar as claimed herein. The conductor and other employees on the train should have seen that the stores therein were not disturbed when the cotton was being unloaded.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant
P. H. Mayo
Capt & A. Q. M.
 
{On back of document}
Richmond 25 March 65
Respectfully referred to the QMGeneral with the suggestion that the Govt pay a fair reimbursement for the 6 Bales Cotton deemed to be lost by reason of the seizure of the cars; and in so much as relates to the claim for the Barrel of Sugar alleged to have been stolen from a car on the same train some cars not having been seized the Qr Mr Genl will order it not to be paid
F W Sims
Lt Col & QM
 
Respectfully returned to Lt. Col. Sims whose views as represented in his endorsement are approved.
By order of QM Genl
E E McLean
Lt. Col. & A. Q. M. Genl.

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