r.H, un3 
 rant 
 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 (Letter of seer 
 Conf Pam #466 
 
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 Richmond, Ya., Dec. 12, 18G4, 
 
 To the House of Representatives : 
 
 In response to your resolution of the lOtb ult., I herewith trans- 
 mit a communication from the h'ecretary of War, which conveys 
 the infoimation requested, so far as the records of his Department 
 enable him to furnish it, and states the reasons which make it im- 
 practicable for him to reply more definitely as to the amount of 
 money expended in payment of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi 
 since the assignment of Gen. E. K. Smith to the command of the 
 Department. 
 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS. 
 
LETTER OF SECRETARY OF WAR, 
 
 War Department, C. S. A., } 
 
 Richmond, Dec. 8, 1864. \ 
 
 To the President of the Confederate States : 
 
 Sir : I have received the following; resolution of the House of 
 Representatives, referred by your Excellency to this Department : 
 " Besnlved, That the President be requested to inform this House 
 Avhat amount of money ha?, been expended in the payment of the 
 army of the Trans-Mississippi Department, since the assignment of 
 Gen. PI K. Smith to the command of that Department." 
 
 The Quartermaster General, to whom the resolution was sent 
 for report, has written in reply two letters, herewith submitted, in 
 which all the information on the subject in his possession is fur- 
 nished, and the reasons stated why he is unable to make a more 
 satisfactory report. 
 
 Ver^ rcspectfuliy, your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES A SEDDON, 
 Secretary of War. 
 
LETTER OF QEARTERMASTER GENERAL. 
 
 War Department. ) 
 
 Quartermaster General's Office, \ 
 
 Richmond, Nov. 2Gth, 1864. ) 
 
 Sin : I have the honor to iickrowledi^e the receipt of the reso- 
 lution of the House of Representatives of the l9th instant, for- 
 warded to Toii by the President, upon whicli ,\ou endorse " for 
 prompt attention and report," whi^h resolution is as follows : 
 
 " Resolved. That the President bi requested to inform this House 
 what auiourit of troney ^^as been expe'.ded in the payment of the 
 army of the Tra's-Mlssist'ijjpi Hepartment since the ass'grnment of 
 Gen. E. K. Smith to the comunnd of that department." 
 
 And in reply I haA-e to slate, that I am unnble to furnish any in- 
 formation on the subject, as no accounts for the piyraen's made to 
 the troops, or for disliursem* n<s nn accfumt of supplies fun ished 
 by the Qiuinermasters Department have bren recMved a*-, ihis 
 office S'nce the assignnipnt of Gen. E. Iv. Smith to the comn and of 
 the Trnn-'Mi^^is^ippi department; it ha-? iii? been ^^nerally under- 
 stood here th^t the nece^-sary aut.) ority for obtaining: the pnper 
 supply of funds and areountab-lity for the same had been commit- 
 ted to the supervision of Gen. Smith. 
 
 in cor.seqiience of the diiliculry a?ii dan.ii:('r(>f crossintj (he Miis- 
 issippi, no resrular aci'ount-' have been ^^uSijected to t!ie risks atten- 
 ding it, but have been retailed ovei- there for future transmisBion 
 to this BurcTu. 
 
 The amount.^ rciiuesied by this IJ-.ircau to Ite sent to that Deftart- 
 nicnt, can be furnished if desired. 
 
 I ha^o the honor lo be, hii-, 
 
 \'ery rosrjrctrnlly, v<tur obediont servajit, 
 
 A. R. LAWTON, 
 <.^unrtcrmao<tcr General. 
 Hon .JAMKS A Si;i)i>ii\. SccreUiiy of Wai-, liichmoml, Va. 
 
LETTER OF QUARTERMASTER GENERAL. 
 
 War Depautmext. 
 
 Quirrtermaster Generates Office, 
 
 ) 
 
 Richmond, Dec. 2nd, 1861. ) 
 
 Sir : As )cquestcd 1>y your oiidorscmeii^, I send a statement of 
 the funds retiucsted to ])e sent to tlie Trans Mississippi Department, 
 to accompany my report in answer to the reaolwtion of the House 
 of Representatives, askinj^ " what amount of money has been ex- 
 pended in the payn)CBt o!' the urniy of the Trana-Miasissippi De- 
 partment hiiacc the a8si,u;nmont of Gen. E. K Smith to tijc commaad 
 of that deparlmeut." 
 
 Gen. Smith was assigned to duty in the Traos-MissiBsippi, Jan. 
 14, 186rJ, From t.ho 3d Juno to the l"2th August, 1863, requisitioES 
 vrere made to Lhe amount of $36,099,809, as per statement hcrewitt. 
 Of this sum, $12,922,287 wys pent to ihat department in drafts 
 drawl on the ! reasury in th'^ citv of Richmond. 1 ho drafts have 
 lately (by an arrangement effected here) been directed to be return- 
 ed for cancellation. $15,117,522 was in drafts payable at Shreve- 
 port, La.; and $8,060 000 on ihe Depositary at San Autonia, Texas. 
 Whether all or any part of the two last named amounts have been 
 made available to i\ e disbursing officers, I am unable to say. 
 
 Ascertaining that the funds before referred to had not been 
 available, and anxious to meet the urgent demand? of this branch 
 of the public service, 1 submitted (on the 2oth October, 1863) a re- 
 quest tf-at the sum of $26,018,567 be sent to the credit of the ofl5- 
 cers of the department, to pay the army and meet expenditures to 
 the 25th December. 1863. 
 
 On the 25ih April, I again called attention to my former c^mrau- 
 ni ation, and requesr.ed that the additional sum of $15,000,000 be 
 add* d to the sum theret ifore requested for service of the Trans- 
 Mi-si.-sippi Department 
 
 What ponion of ihe last two sums were sent, if any, I am una- 
 ble to say. I have not been informed that any had been furnished. 
 
 From this statement it will appear that the total sum requested 
 by this department to be furnished the Trans-Mississippi Depart- 
 ment, fo-- the pay of tlie troops and for tho service of the Quarter- 
 master's Department, amounts to $77,118,376. 
 
 It is proper to add, that I have been informed that arrangements 
 have been perfected, by which funds needed in that department, 
 vill be supplied on that side of the Mississippi, without reference 
 to this office. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 A. R. LAWTON, 
 Quartermaster General. 
 Hon. J. A. Seddok, Secretary of War. 
 
pH8.5