were procured under instructions from your office, the government, I presume, is bound to receive them. There will be 260 or 270 left, should all pass inspection, and how I shall dispose of them please advise me. Should you not require more wagons at the south or the west at present, these could be secured in the upper park of the arsenal, by placing over them a temporary board covering. None but good wagons will be accepted; and if the war continues, they will be wanted. E. HARDING, To General TH. S. JESUP, Acting. Assistant Quartermaster. Washington city. [Extract.] ALLEGHENY ARSENAL, SIR: I have shipped to-day, in obedience to your orders of 21st instant, to Lieutenant Colonel Hunt, at New Orleans, 14,125 horseshoes and 19,000 mule-shoes, with nails, &c. This property has been placed in charge of Mr. J. A. Fisher, a suitable conductor, and on board the steamer "Swan," with orders to push it ahead with all possible despatch. The boat will depart in the morning. E. HARDING, Acting Assistant Quartermaster. To General TH. S. JESUP, Washington city. [Extract.] ALLEGHANY ARSENAL, September 27, 1846. SIR: The iron section boats being built at this place ought to have been finished on the 16th instant. Five of them are nearly completed, and if no more are wanted it would be well, perhaps, to close the business. There is no reason why the time should be extended, unless the boats are absolutely required. To General TH. S. JESUP, E. HARDING, Acting Assistant Quartermaster. [Extract.] ALLEGHENY ARSENAL, SIR: Major General Jesup has ordered 300 wagons to be kept in depot here, and 100,000 horse and mule-shoes, which, with eight iron section boats now in progress, makes our expenditures very heavy. E. HARDING, Acting Assistant Quartermaster. To the QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 7, 1846. GENERAL: I have not met with that success thus far in obtaining wagons that I had a right to expect on my first arrival. I have sent for all the principal makers in this city, Lebanon, Franklin, and the opposite side of the river. Suitable seasoned timber appears to be one of the greatest barriers in the way. Two hundred will be the greatest possible number that can be had here, to be finished by the 1st of August. I suggest Pittsburg or some other point to be resorted to for the other 100-say 50 horse and 50 ox. The wagon builders tell me that many of their best workmen, both of iron and wood, have joined the volunteer companies. I have engaged about 100 wagons, and will see other makers on Monday and Tuesday next, when I am in hopes to increase the number to 200; but not the least prospect beyond that, unless the time of delivery could be extended to the middle of September. Harvest being near at hand, takes off many workmen. Will you please inform me if the middle of September will answer? .D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, OHIO, June 14, 1816. GENERAL: Since I last had the honor to report, I have engaged the requisite number of ox yokes and chains for the ox wagons; have engaged 110 horse wagons and very nearly 100 ox wagons, to be finished by the 30th July, delivering so many every ten days. I have a prospect of buying some ox wagons already made; and if possible, shall do so. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, OHIO, June 22, 1816 GENERAL: I received your letter dated 16th instant, directing me to purchase and send at once to Lieutenant Colonel Hunt three light draught steamboats on the Ohio river, viz: the Swiftsure, Utica, and New Haven. I have made the proper inquiries, and find the above-named boats are all worn out. Others, I think, of equal light draught, with double engine and side wheels, can be purchased here. I have made all the requisite arrangements with a person to report the arrival at this place of boats of this description, and some such are expected here in a very few days. Should any of them answer your views, as stated to me in your letter, I will buy them, and send them immediately to Colonel Hunt. Captain Sanders, of the corps of engineers, was here some few days since, and, as I learned from him, had chartered boats answering your description, for the use of the army on the Rio Grande. He went from here to Pittsburg to complete his instructions, which, from all I can learn, is a better place to procure such boats than Cincinnati or lower down the river. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, OHIO, July 5, 1846. GENERAL: I have shipped to Lieutenant Colonel Hunt about 40 horse and ox wagons, with harness, yokes, and chains; also about 10,000 bushels oats. My wagons are coming in faster than the agreements call for: I encourage them to do so. The only thing I am discouraged about is suitable steamboats for the Rio Grande. I have plenty offered, but they are single engine, and old boats. I have advised with competent persons about them, and they think as I did that they would not answer: one very good and suitable offered, but the price was so very exorbitant, viz: $20,000, I could not feel that I would be justified in giving it: all concur with me. that it was entirely too much. Boats have gone down the river purchased by Captain Sanders at Pittsburg, which is much the best place. A steamboat by the name of "Colorado" will be here tomorrow. I shall make every effort to purchase her, as I believe her well suited to the service. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, July 17, 1846. SIR: Your letter dated July 10th instant I have received. I immediately wrote to Captain Heintzelman relative to the mules. at Lexington bought by Benjamin Robertson. I shall leave tomorrow for that place, where Captain Heintzelman will meet me, when we will decide upon the best route to get the mules safe and most expeditiously to the Rio Grande. At the request of Captain A. R. Hetzel I sent my agent to Columbus, in this State,' and purchased 45 mules, with a promise of 15 more, which I expect will arrive here to-day, when they will be sent to New Orleans, to Lieutenant Colonel Hunt. None of them are under three years old, good size, and more than half well broke to harness. They will cost delivered here a few cents over $71 apiece. I have a transport already for them, and shall employ two good steady men to accompany them, for the purpose of feeding and otherwise attending to them. I have sent to Colonel Hunt over 100 wagons, and from 16 to 17,000 bushels of oats. The wagons are coming in fast; oats are scarce and high; as soon as harvest is over they will be more plenty. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. LOUISVILLE, KY., July 21, 1846. SIR: I leave here this morning, in company with Captain Heintzelman, for Lexington, for the purpose of receiving from Mr. Robertson the mules he has purchased by your direction. On our arrival at the place we will decide on the route they will go. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, OHIO, July 28, 1846. GENERAL: Yesterday I returned to this place from Lexington, Kentucky, where I went to receive the mules purchased by Mr. Robertson on your instructions. I have received from him 401 mules, and paid for the same, averaging $102 each. Mr. Robertson, has, in my opinion, done himself great credit and good justice to the government. I do pronounce them a good lot of mules. Captain Heintzelman went with me to take charge of them. On consulting with Mr. Robertson and others accustomed to driving stock, they recommended water transportation, via New Orleans, which I have adopted. Good and trusty hands, such as Mr. Robertson has recommended, will accompany them to New Orleans. He (Robertson) engaged to deliver them at Louisville, where the largest class of boats can be had to take them to New Orleans. The river is now in good order-at least 10 feet of water. This I consider the best and most expeditious route to send them. This determination is arrived at after conversing with the most experienced in the matter: On my return I found several communications on my table from your office, which I shall answer in detail to-morrow. The first detachment of mules leaves Louisville on the 29th instant for New Orleans. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, OHIO, July 30, 1846. GENERAL: I have an agent now in Kentucky purchasing 200 mules, to be forwarded, in addition to the 401 purchased by Mr. Benjamin Robertson, to Lieutenant Colonel T. F. Hunt, at New Orleans. I started a person yesterday through this State for mules. He gave every assurance that he could procure 100. None are to be under three years old, sound, and free from all blemish. I feel greatly in hopes to collect the 400 for the Rio Grande, and start them off by 15th of August. The mules received from Mr. Robertson are now being forwarded to New Orleans from Louisville. The river is high. I have sent since here, to Lieutenant Colonel Hunt, 229 horse and ox wagons, 165 sets of four-mule harness, 300 ox yokes, and 250 ox chains, extra wheels, and other extra parts of wagons. I shall send to-morrow 25 wagons more, with ox yokes and chains. I will have ready by 10th or 12th of August 150 more horse wagons, with harness complete. I find it difficult to get suitable wagons ready made. I may pick up some 30 or 40, which I am now at. All the wagon makers about here I have at work; and should it become necessary to increase the number beyond what I have stated, and give 10 days additional time, some 100 or more could be made. Will you please to let me know? Should not some of the harness be for horses, as you have directed Captain Heintzelman to procure 400 draught? I am anxiously looking for Captain Drum; he will be of great service to me at present in engaging teams, as I have my hands full with wagons, harness, &c., and a detachment of 2d United States infantry are now here on their way to Texas. I will have to find transportation. for them, and supply them with some camp equipage. I have furnished from this place 30 wagons and harness to Captain Heintzelman for Kentucky mounted troops. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. CINCINNATI, OHо, August 3, 1816: GENERAL: I heard this morning from my agent in Kentucky. He has purchased 150 mules, and will be able to secure 200 more in that State; the balance we will get in Ohio. I will thank you. to have funds sent me as early as possible. The mules will be delivered the last of this week; money will be required to pay for them on delivery. The last of the lot purchased by Robertson left. Louisville for New Orleans on the 1st inst. Captain Drum has arrived. I have ordered Captain G. W. Smith, one of the volunteer quartermasters, to report to Captain Heintzelman, to assist him in the purchase of horses. D. D. TOMPKINS, Major and Quartermaster. |