Summary:
Throughout the war, Staunton, VA, served as an important Confederate base of supply. In this May, 1861, letter, General Robert Garnett writes Colonel John McCausland concerning his request for harnesses. Garnett orders McCausland to contact Michael G. Harman, quartermaster at Staunton, to fill his order for supplies.

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HEADQUARTERS VIRGINIA FORCES,

Lieut. Col. JOHN McCAUSLAND, Buffalo, Va.:

Richmond, Va.,

May 24, 1861.

SIR:

Your requisition for harness for a battery of artillery and for ammunition has been received. The Ordnance Department has been instructed, as far as practicable, to supply the ammunition, and to send it to the care of Maj. M.G. Harman, at Staunton, who has been instructed to adopt the safest and most expeditious means of sending it to you. You will confer with him by letter as to the best means of doing this. It is believed that suitable harness can be made or purchased, you are authorized to direct the quartermaster to buy it for you. There is none to be had here immediately. You will report what can be done in this respect. Send a copy of this communication to Col. Tompkins, commanding, &c.

I am, &c.,

R.S. GARNETT,
Adjutant-Gen.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 2, Serial No. 2, Pages 873, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.