Summary:
Army quartermasters, because of their direct access to military supplies, had
plenty of temptations toward corruption, and were often accused of indiscretions
when supplies ran low. In this February, 1864, letter, Robert E. Lee writes
General Alexander Lawton to explain his reasons for revoking an order that
allowed quartermasters to purchase supplies for their families. Lee reasons that
doing so would help remedy the Confederates' increasing supply problem. Lee also
refers to the public prejudice toward commissary officers.
HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
Brig. Gen. A. R. LAWTON,
Quartermaster-Gen.:
February 11, 1864.
GEN.:
I have had the honor to receive your letter of February 8, calling my attention to Col. Larkin Smith's indorsement in reply to mine of February 1. You have misunderstood the purport of my indorsement, which makes no charge against officers of the Quartermaster or any other department of using supplies in an unauthorized manner. I was not aware of the distinction drawn by Col. Smith between post quartermasters and quartermasters of military posts. My intention was to draw the attention of Col. Smith to the fact that officers at many military posts in the country, such as Staunton, Liberty, Farmville, Danville, Richmond, &c., under article 1127, Army Regulations, are allowed to purchase supplies for their families. It is believed that large amounts of commissary stores are consumed in this way which it would be prudent to send to soldiers in the field. About the date of the indorsement of February 1, I wrote to the Secretary of War recommending a modifications of regulation 1127 so as to take this privilege from officers at posts, in order to husband our limited supplies and remove causes of dissatisfaction in the army and among the people. If the Secretary of War has no power to modify the privilege, I would respectfully suggest that Congress pass a law upon the subject abolishing the law in question. A proper inspection of the military posts would show the extent of the evil.
I can appreciate the difficulties under which Col. Smith has labored in his efforts to collect the tithes by a well-regulated system, and no one can more cordially wish him success than myself.
I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 33, Serial No. 60, Pages 1161, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
