Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/66

 54 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Confederate States of America,

Quartermaster General's Office,

Richmond, Octo. 2.7, 1863. General J. E. Johnston, Aleridien, Miss. General :

I responded by telegraph to your dispatch of inst., sim- ply to say that I would reply by letter. It is clearly intimated in this dispatch, that the efforts which I made to secure to Stevenson's Division the funds that had been received by Maj. Barbour — your Ch'f O'r M'r for that organization, constituted an interference with your prerogative as a military commander. I should indeed be mortified, if I had so far mistaken my duty, and so far forgotten the consideration due to you, as to trench upon your powers and privileges, in the least possible degree. As this Bureau is responsible for the supply of funds for the pay, clothing, transportation, &c., of the army; and neither the army nor the country look to the commander in the field for the needful supply — the requisitions being made and funds fur- nished by correspondence between this Bureau and the re- .spective O'r Masters, without the assistance or intervention of the military commanders, I had thought it my duty to see that the distribution of these funds, in hulk, at least, was properly made, nor have I felt myself authorized to claim the service, in this behalf, of the commanding Generals, except when invited by them to do so. Not many weeks have elapsed since I took my seat in this office ; and, in that short time, I have not at- tempted to establish different relations between the Chief of this Bureau and the officers of the Dept, (nor between the former and the Generals in the field), from those which I found recognized by the officers about me, and sustained by the War Dept and the Executive. I respectfully submit, that in this in- stance, I have not transcended the limits prescribed by those, relations ; nor furnished you with any just cause of complaint. As you invite direct correspondence with you in reference to