For the repair and construction of roads and bridges, under the bureau of Topographical Engineers, for the use of armies in the field, $100,000. Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, J. J. ABERT, Colonel Corps Topographical Engineers. Hon. W. L. MARCY, ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington, January 22, 1817. SIR: I have to acknowledge a reference to this office of a letter from General Jesup, quartermaster general, dated Brazos Santiago, 24 January, 1847, complaining that he has to perform duties which pertain to the ordnance department, viz: to procure sling carts for moving heavy ordnance, "and to do a great deal more," which is not specified. He also recommends that a corps of enlisted ordnance men, under a competent officer, should be provided for "every depot of the army in the field." In relation to all these complaints, I respectfully report that there are no heavier ordnance in that quarter than 18 pounder guns; all which are mounted on travelling carriages, and requiring no sling carts. There are some 12-pounder guns which can easily be carried on a common wagon; also, two or more light mortars-none of them a load for two good horses. As regards a corps of enlisted men, about forty were sent to the Brazos, and are understood to be distributed between that place, Camargo, and Monterey, under competent ordnance officers; about sixty have also been sent with the siege train from New York to perform the necessary labors pertaining to the expedition under command of Major General Scott. The letter of General Jesup is returned herewith. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HON. WM. L. MARCY, G. TALCOTT, Lieutenant Colonel Ordnance. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington city, February 25, 1847. SIR: I have the honor to enclose, herewith, a copy of the correspondence of this department "in relation to transportation of General Taylor's army," called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 1st instant. I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WM. L. MARCY, Secretary of War. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington city, May 17, 1845. GENERAL: Upon the supposition that, in the event of any impor. tant movement of the troops under your command, additional means of transportation might be required, I directed, some weeks since, the construction at Philadelphia of thirty four-horse wagons, and sixty sets of double wagon harness, (thirty for wheel and thirty for lead;) one-third the number for mules. These wagons and sets of harness have been reported ready for shipment, and I have this day directed that they be shipped to the care of Major McRee, quartermaster at New Orleans, who has been instructed to hold them subject to such further disposition as you may think proper to indicate. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. To Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, U. S. A., Fort Jesup, Louisiana. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: Major Thomas will ship to you from Philadelphia, in a few days, thirty four-horse wagons, with harness complete. On their arrival they will be stored and held subject to the orders of Brigadier General Taylor. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: I have received your letter of the 14th instant. The wagons and harness will be sent to Major S. McRee, quartermaster, New Orleans, who has been instructed in regard to them. It will not be necessary to send the lead harness. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. To Major CHALES THOMAS, QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, GENERAL: On the 17th instant I advised you that thirty wagons and harness complete had been ordered to be sent from Philadelphia to New Orleans, where they would be held by Major S. McRee, quartermaster, subject to your order. It has since been deemed ad visable to have them forwarded, immediately on their arrival at New Orleans, to Nachitoches, and Major McRee has been directed accordingly. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, U. S. A., Fort Jesup, Louisiana." QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, GENERAL: I have the honor to advise you that, in the arrangement of the officers of the quartermaster's department to appropriate stations, it has been found necessary to withdraw assistant quartermaster Captain R. S. Dix from duty at Fort Jesup, and to assign him to a northern station. He has been accordingly instructed to turn over to assistant quartermaster Captain O. Cross the public property in his hands, and to repair, with all convenient despatch, to the head-quarters of the army. Captain Cross has been directed to relieve Captain Dix, and to take upon himself the chief direction of the affairs of the quartermaster's department at Fort Jesup and its dependencies until further orders. Assistant quartermaster Captain Crosman will be ordered, as soon as he can close his concerns at his present station, to repair to the head-quarters of the 1st military department, for duty within your command. I avail myself of the present occasion, to inform you that the thirty four-horse wagons and harness complete, recently made at Philadelphia, were shipped thence some ten days since for New Orleans, destined for your command. The officer of the quartermaster's department to whom they have been consigned, has been instructed to forward them immediately to Fort Jesup. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. To Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, Commanding 1st military department, Fort Jesup. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, GENERAL: A remittance has this day been required for Lieutenant Colonel Hunt, deputy quartermaster general, recently ordered. on duty at New Orleans, of $25,000, to meet any extraordinary expenses in the movement of the troops under your command, which he may be called upon to make; and a remittance of $10,000, for the same object has been required for Captain Cross. Further remittances will be made whenever the exigencies of the service may require them. Any intimation which you may think proper to give to this department of your views and wishes in relation to its con cerns within your command, will receive prompt attention. Captain Crosman has been desired to hasten the closing of his concerns at his present station, in order that he join you at an early day. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. To Brigadier General Z. TAYLOR, Commanding 1st military department, Fort Jesup, La. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S, OFFICE, MAJOR: I will thank you to procure, by contract or otherwise, 30 four-horse wagons, and complete sets of harness for the same, without unnecessary delay, and have them shipped to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas F. Hunt, at New Orleans, of the description last ordered. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. To Major CHARLES THOMAS, QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington city, August 17, 1845. MAJOR: Your letter of yesterday, advising me of the shipment for New Orleans of the wagons and harness which you were requested to have made on the 16th ultimo, came to hand this morning. Whether Mexico has declared war or not, we may want more wagons in Texas, and your suggestion as to the expediency of having more ordered is judicious. Order twenty more to be made without any unnecessary delay, and twenty sets of 4-horse wagon harness or mule harness. The making of the wagons should not be hurried: see that they, as well as the harness, be of the best materials and workmanship. Advise me when they are ready for ship ment. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, COLONEL: The concentration of troops, and the probability of active field operations on our Texan frontier, impose upon this office the obligation of increasing the number of officers of the quartermaster's department on duty with the "army of occupation," and the assignment of an officer of rank and experience to the general supervision and direction of the affairs of the department in that quarter. Quartermasters Thomas and McRee are under orders. for Texas, as well as assistants Sibley, Ogden, Hill, and Ketchum. Crosman and Cross are already on duty there, and you, colonel, are designated, in accordance with the views and wishes of the War Department, and those of the quartermaster general, heretofore indicated, to take the immediate direction and control of the various concerns of the quartermaster's department within the range of the command exercised by Brevet Brigadier General Taylor, at whose head-quarters you will report in person with as little delay as possible. To Colonel TRUEMAN CROSS, HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. Assistant Quartermaster General, Washington. QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington city, September 10, 1845. SIR: You will take immediate measures to have 85 four-horse wagons built for the use of the army serving in Texas; harness for that number of wagons will also be procured, one-half for horses and the other half for mules. HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster General. To Major CHARLES THOMAS, QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: In order that we may have the means of repairing our wagons in Texas as they become injured, you will be pleased to employ and send to that country three good wheelwrights and three blacksmiths. You will also send a supply of seasoned spokes, fellies, and hounds, in the rough state-say, 1,000 spokes of each kind; 500 fellies; 50 pair hounds, and 50 tongues; together with a com plete set of smith and wheelwright's tools. To Major CHARLES THOMAS, HENRY STANTON, Assistant Quartermaster Genera'. Quartermaster, Philadelphia. 37 |