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perplexities of my situation, as well as the impossibility of making a correct estimate of what may be needed, and grant the issue.

The order of the Quartermaster General requiring the approval of the Secretary of War has caused me great trouble, and made it impossible to keep the Freedmen from suffering in some cases. In my opinion, a construction has been placed upon the order that was never intended by the authorities at Washington. For instance, my officers are not allowed transportation on cars or steamboats when on business for the Bureau; they cannot go to their posts, when they are placed on duty without paying enormously on the Railroads of the South.- Rations cannot be sent to the Freedmen Camps or Hospitals, as the Quartermaster refuses to grant transportation by rail or water for such stores.- Wood for Hospital fires, ambulances for hauling the sick, &c., are all stopped, without regard to circumstances or to the consequences of such action.

The interpretation that Colonel Whittelsey, Chief Quartermaster of the Department, puts upon the order is, that [[underlined]] nothing [[/underlined]] can be, or will be, done by the Q.M. Department, till the approval of the Secretary of War is