Viewing page 14 of 58

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Office Asst Commissioner
B.R.F. & A.L.
Montg Ala May 11th 1866

Howard O.O. Maj. Gen. & Commissioner
Washington D.C.

General
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt this morning of your several communications of the 4th inst. touching the supply of food and seed grain for destitute farms in this State.

Since my letter of the 4th inst Col Cadle having returned, a conversation of some hours took place between Govr Patton Mr Cruickshank, Col Cadle, and myself. The result, while it did not move me from the position taken in my note that we should see the effect of what was ordered before doing more, was yet such as to lead me to apprehend a formal request for an increase in next Months estimate, under pleas of a nature and variety that we cannot well [[?]].

If I am correct, I shall forward their request to you with next months estimate.

The proposed supply of grain was a new matter inviting study. It was plain that the best and only way to prepare the rolls required (in which all the precautions mentioned will be observed) was that used in determining who should receive rations. The Probate Judge, being instructed by the Governor calls on the Justice of each precinct for a list, made oath These are revised and consolidated by the Judges and county overseers in council. They are then forwarded to the State Commissioner.

By this method I can get most of them to you by the 1st prox.

But by that time the planting season will have passed while Just now such relief would be most useful. Here when I learned that the muster out of Cavalry had left great stores of corn and oats which were probably still on hand at Mobile, Nashville, and New Orleans, I thought it right to telegraph you of this source of supply. At the same time, it seemed to me that in this case a sale on credit, was practicable and on every ground better, than gratuitous distribution. And I though it as little as the State could do, to where the General Government of

details. So after sending my first dispatch I went to the Governor, and proposed that he buy of the government the corn which he found it immpossible [[impossible]] to buy with bonds in open Market. To this he readily responded and I sent my second dispatch, first reading it to him - My feeling is that whatever can can be done in this way will be a benefit comparatively unqualified, and that ample precedent is found in the recent sale of rolling stack to a much larger amount, and on more questionable security. Should this proposition be received I would remark that owing to the extreme want, of ready money here the reasons Steamboat transportation, say from Memphis to Florence, and from New Orleans to Selina or Montgomery should be furnished by the Quartermaster and the cast of transportation added to the price

Very Respectfully
Your Obdt Servant
(signed) Wager Swayne
Bvt Maj General.

Office Asst Commissioner
B.R.F. and A L
Montg Ala May 11th 1866

Whiting L.J. Capt & Actg Supt
Mobile Ala

Captain

I learn through Col. Beecher that Col Washbum decided that the dirt composing? certain forts- around Mobile, and brought from other property to build, the forts was a fixture and could not be taken away. On the same grounds it might be decided the iron and timber were fixtures. We do not recognize any thing as a fixture on private property that has been placed on that property by the Rebel Government, Let the parties removing the forts leave dirt enough to fill the ditches and bring the ground to the same contour as before. The rest should be sold the benefit of the Bureau.
over-

Transcription Notes:
"inst." = of the current month