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162 Head Quarter Dist. of Alabama Montgomery August 22, 1866 155/166 Shorkley 1st Lieut. Geo. Supt. B.R.F.A.L. Selma Al. Sir, Your communication of the 20th inst. is received. I send you herewith six blank orders for transportation. Very Respectfully Your Obdt. Servant O.D. Kinsman Bvt. Maj. & A.A.G. Head Quarter Dist. of Alabama Montgomery August 22. 1866 96/231 Arthur Capt. W.C. Cmssy of Substance Montgomery Ala. Captain I have the honor to inform you that the estimate of the number of rations to be issued to the several Counties of the State in the Month of September 1866 is the same as the estimate for the present Month. Very Respectfully Your Obdt. Servant O.D. Kinsman Bvt. Maj. & A.A.G. Head Quarter Capt. of Alabama Montgomery August 22, 1866 95/216 Elderkin Bvt. Maj. Gen. Depot Convoy Mobile Ala. Major I have the honor to inform you that the estimate of the number of rations to be issued to the several Counties of the State in the Month of September 1866 is the same as the estimate for the present Month. Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant O.D. Kinsman Bvt. Maj. & A.A.G. 163 Head Quarter District of Alabama Montgomery August 22 1866 159/166 Howard Major General O.O. Commissioner Washington D.C. General, I am in receipt of a communication from Genl. Saml. Thomas with extracts from the report of Major Eldridge, and directing by your order, that hereafter rations be issued only to the physically infirm and destitute. This morning Montgomery Advertise contains also extracts in [[?extenes.]] from the report as given to the public. It provokes much comment of no phase of which shall I take any notice. A year spent in sincere effort to benefit this people has only made me conspicuous object of their spleen, and I shall not now exert myself to correct their apprehensions. Touching the accuracy of the report I have only to remark that the suggestion continued in my note 25 June "that the Inspector take a horse and go &c." without which in my opinion he could form no adequate judgement, is precisely what he did not do. Not unnaturally it follows that whereas there is not a Country in Christendom however favored, where helpless and dependent persons are not numerous enough to compel public provision for their support this Officer finds a solitary exception in a State decimated and desolated by four years of Civil War. These considerations with what has been already submitted, will enable you to give the report its proper weight and bearing. Your direction to confine the issue to the physically inform and destitute, [[?t]] what has been all the while my purpose and endeavor: It will now be specially reiterated in orders. With regard however to the quantity and mode of issue I see no better mode of reaching so many and distant points than through persons of neighborhood reputation and acquaintance. And in view of the Statements, Official and unofficial made to me of the present condition of the state of what I read of the probable issue of an order cutting off all rations and the fact that the corn crop will not be
