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380 Head Quarters Sub Dist of Alabama Montgomery Ala Feb 6th 1867 374/385 Howard Major General O.O. Commissioner &c Washington D.C. General I have the honor to submit the following statement, with exhibits, showing what has been done under the authority and directions given me for the purchase of Corn and Bacon and their distribution to the poor and helpless of this State. The original appropriation being for a period of three mouths; in one of the usual conferences between the Governor, the State Commissioner and myself it was determined that pending the question whether transportation should be paid from the fund so designated two purchases should be made such to consist of twenty thousand sacks of Corn, and one hundred thousand pounds of bacon. It was considered that each purchase would consume about one half the appropriation if transportation were paid from it, otherwise a little more than one third, and that the time the purchase should be made to cover should be graduated accordingly. The order requiring further that the duty should be confided to "a bonded officer". Application was at once made to the Head Quarters of Maj Gen Thomas for an officer of known probity and experience for the purpose. In the correspondence which issued two or three officers were at intervals detailed, but were successively withdrawn, the final announcement being that it was impracticable to comply with my request. Meanwhile But Maj William A. Elderkin, of the Subsistence department at Mobile had signified to me his leisure and willingness for the duty. Accordingly he was ordered to report in person but being temporarily ill a letter of instructions (hereto attached) was transmitted to him. To my surprise instead of using the discretion vested in him to visit the principal depots of the grain growing Section, he confined his purchases to the markets of Mobile and New Orleans, from which last port supplies for North Alabama were re-transported to Memphis, past which place they had already come. As his vouchers came in our regret was heightened by discovering that in a time of considerable fluctuation in the provision market he had 381 unfortunately found it near its top-most ebb, so that our estimates were altogether at fault. We were however to experience a further disappointment. It was observed that supplies for Talladega and Tuscaloosa had not been delivered at those points and after some correspondence, it was elicited in conversation that they had not been delivered at all, although purchased and paid for in Mobile, vouchers having been given in advance of their delivery. Immediately upon ascertaining this fact, the suffering in the vicinity of Talladega and Tuscaloosa being severe, I dispatched Major Elderkin to New Orleans to obtain from the Subsistence department a quantity of pork and flour, and directed him to personally oversee their shipment to those points. The details of this transaction will be found in the correspondence hereto annexed. I ought perhaps to have done more than simply notify Major Elderkin that I must report the whole affair to you, but he hoped daily that the delinquent merchant would make good his deficiency, and I hoped to be a able to report this all at the same time. I do not learn that it has been effected. The entire details of what is herein related are shown in the annexed correspondence. Neither the fact that nothing had been shipped to either Talladega or Tuscaloosa, nor the further fact that vouchers had been given in excess of actual receipts transpired until after your recent visit, or both would have been made known to you. The difficulty which you observed at Huntsville was very promptly remedied and instructions issued to Col Callis which preclude a recurrence of the same. The shipments to Greenville and Decatur were found to be considerably deficient in quantity when received. The vouchers for transportation have consequently not been paid, and will not be until the loss to the Government has been adjusted. The delay and mortification involved in this experience induced me to defer as long as possible a second purchase, testing again the question on necessity. Finding it unavoidable I have committed it to the joint charge of W.C. Arthur late Captain and Commissary, (who has as you suggested, been made a bonded officer for that purpose) and Col Edwin Beecher, Paymaster and disbursing Officer. Together will be able to make payment immediately in drafts, and thus secure the lowest cash price in any market. Whenever Capt Arthur shall
