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 Authorization f 
 Conf Pam q#31 
 
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1st. The Quartermaster General is authorized to impress army supplies, labor and transportation 
 (except thai belonging to rail road companies and government contractors), when he shall think it neces- 
 sary to the public Ben ice. 
 
 2d. This power may lie conferred by the Quartermaster General upon purchasing officers and agents 
 of his department ; which officers may in turn confer similar powers upon such subordinates as the Quar- 
 termaster General shall approve. 
 
 3d. All army supplies, labor ami transportation impressed, will he paid for at reasonable prices, 
 not exceeding in any ease, rates ordered (rum time to time by the Secretary of War, and communicated to 
 the Quartermaster Genera] : an. I officers ami agents are specially instructed to give to the owners ;!: 
 receipts, stating distinctly the description, quality, quantity ami juice of the army supplies, or the kind, 
 rate of hire ami time employed of the labor ami transportation impressed : ami designating the officer by 
 whom paymen! tin' the same will he made, who, in case he has no funds on hand, shall give a certificate, 
 which will enable the parry to obtain payment from thr ncaresl disbursing officer of the department of 
 the Quartermaster General. 
 
 Ith. It shall he the duty <it' the officer or agent impressing as aforesaid, in leave to each person, 
 whose property is impressed, a sufficiency of supplies for the use of his family ami plantation, ami in 
 impressing, to take, in preference, army supplies owned by speculators. 
 
 5th. The officer or agent impressing shall in all cases cxhibil his written authority to impress, to the 
 party or parties interested, or to his or their agent ; ami no impressment shall he made (unless authorized 
 by the Secretary of War, or under necessity, ordered by generals commanding armies in the field), except 
 by officers ami agents authorized as above, ami by them only in conformity to orders; and any one acting 
 without or beyond authority in the above, will he held strictly responsible. 
 
 6th. The Quartermaster General slmll aee that a minute ami accurate return of all such impressments 
 as come within the range of his d< partment, be made to his office monthly, and a record thereof be kept. 
 
 (Signed) JAMES A. SEDDON, 
 
 Secretary of War. 
 Dec. 26th, 1862. 
 
 Official. 
 
 Q. M. General 1 * Office, 
 
 Richmond, Pec. 20//,, 18M. 
 

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