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ST. LOUIS, November 12, 1861.

COLONEL: Under orders from you I went to Jefferson City and established workshops for the use of government. These consisted of blacksmith, wagonmakers', and harness shops, in which were employed 24 blacksmiths, 10 wagonmakers, and 5 saddlers, all of whom were convicts from the State penitentiary at Jefferson City.

These workshops were constantly employed from the time they were started (October 2) until Friday, November 8, 1861.

The contract for the labor was made by Quartermaster Neville, under your orders, at the following rates per diem: Blacksmiths, $1 50; wagon-makers, $1 25; saddlers, $1; and there was of their time consumed in government service the following: 24 blacksmiths, 717 days in all; 10 wagon-makers, 312 days in all; 5 or 6 saddlers, 161 days in all.

From the above is to be deducted for short hours worked the following: 24 blacksmiths, 1 hour each day from October 9 to November 8, 79 days; 10 wagon-makers, 1 hour each day from October 9 to November 8, 29 days; 5 saddlers, 1 hour each day from October 9 to November 8, 14 days.

The property remaining on hand I have turned over to the post quartermaster at Jefferson City, Captain J. G. Klinck, to whom a complete inventory was given, but who refuses to receipt to me for the reason that I have hitherto acted without any recognized order from the government.

During the few days preceding the closing up of the works the labor was employed upon the manufacture of the parts of wagons, harnesses, &c., which could be sent forward to any train in motion, and would be sufficient, in every case of merely partial injury, to completely repair and set right whatever may have been damaged.

Most of the portions prepared for repairs of wagons, &c., have been handed over to trains, and have been consumed in the service of the army. All which is respectfully submitted.

Your obedient servant,

Colonel I. C. WOODS.

E. MORGAN DAVIS, Superintendent at Government Workshops.

In Warsaw, October 18, I had the honor of reporting the condition of the army transportation to be as follows:

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Prior to the 17th October, the day of my leaving Tipton for Warsaw, the old mules came by railroad from Rolla to supply thirty-five wagons referred to

in my report as "at Tipton from Rolla," belonging to General Hunter's division. Subsequent to that date, and prior to the 23d, the Douglas brigade regiment arrived at Tipton, having, in addition to their own wagons, twenty-five for General Asboth, to whose division they belonged. They joined General Hunter's column, en route, and I lost sight of them after that date.

General Hunter also procured quite a number of wagons, harness, and mules from the quartermaster at Tipton, prior to 23d October, the account of which was never forwarded to me, but which, in my opinion, must have increased his means of transportation enough to compensate for the fifty wagons which Colonel Wyman was to have brought by land from Rolla, and which never reached General Hunter's division. The division of General Asboth, as shown by the statement enclosed, was not supplied with enough transportation for both regimental purposes and field train; but this deficiency was compensated for in the facilities offered by the country through which we passed.

FORAGE FOR THE ARMY WHILE EN ROUTE FROM TIPTON TO SPRINGFIELD.

During the march of the army from Jefferson City to Springfield, the animals were fed with oats, corn, or hay obtained from the farmers along the line of our march. When this forage was taken from active secessionists, who had abandoned their property either to join Price's army or upon our approach, no receipt or form of acknowledgment was given them for the property, but when taken from Union men, or from citizens who claimed to be law abiding, then a printed form of receipt was given to each person, after an appraisement of the property, and an agreement of allegiance signed upon the reverse side, that being the form instituted at Tipton, for issue to loyal owners of property, impressed into the service for hire or for permanent use.

WANT OF TRANSPORTATION AS AFFECTING THE RATIONS OF THE ARMY.

In consequence of the scarcity of transportation, the advance divisions of the army were very short of flour, bread, coffee, sugar, and some minor articles. I was unable to respond to the requisitions of the acting chief commissary, Colonel Tracy, for means of transportation for the rations which were in abundance at the depots in Tipton, Jefferson City, and Sedalia.

To remedy this want as far as possible, I aided him at Warsaw and at Yost's Station in his endeavor to procure mechanics to work the various mills he found near the line of our march. I furnished also means of transportation to gather in the wheat and old corn procured by thoroughly examining the farm houses and out-buildings as we passed along.

At Springfield, for the first time, the new corn was considered in a fit state to be ground into meal for the use of the troops. Large quantities were gathered and so ground at the steam mill in the town, which, with fresh beef and salt found in Warsaw and Springfield, formed the principal food of the soldiers.

At Warsaw the regiment of Colonel Carr was supplied with flour and cornmeal by the colonel using a small donkey mill near their camp. Salt was found in Warsaw in quite large quantities, and taken possession of by Colonel Tracy, acting chief commissary of subsistence on your staff, and some considerable molasses was also found at the same place, and taken. The steam mill in the town of Warsaw was worked by order of Colonel Tracy, with millers and engineers taken from the regiments. Post bread, of unbolted flour, was baked in an oven made or found in the town, and supplied to the troops.

By a concert of action with Colonel Tracy, acting commissary of subsistence of your staff, I succeeded in getting the weight of our rations very much reduced. By your approval he changed the proportion, making them much better

adapted to our wants. By the new army regulations, 1861, the 1,000 rations are in weight as follows:

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In the last requisitions from Colonel Tracy, made upon me at Springfield, and which I transmitted to my agents in Sedalia, this ration was, as to number, reduced and altered to the following proportions:

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A reduction of nearly two-thirds; an immense saving in transportation, and, in the same proportion, an addition to the mobility of your army.

I ceased to act officially after the publication of your farewell address of Saturday, November 2, and since that date have taken no cognizance of the army transportation.

In conclusion, I beg leave to express the opinion that the army you left at Springfield was capable of great efforts in celerity of movement. The divisions of General Sigel and General Asboth have earned particular distinction in this respect. They had become habituated to marching with little baggage, scanty transportation, and short rations; they were getting familiar with camp life generally; rain and bad roads were no strangers to them. The division of General Asboth, more particularly, had learned to live on fresh beef, salt, and corn meal.

SOME CAUSES OF WANT OF TRANSPORTATION.

There were great and serious delays in our transportation getting forward from the railroad.

When once the wagons, animals, and harness were at Tipton there was but little energy or knowledge of the business shown by the quartermaster's department there in organizing teams and sending them forward to the army. My orders to the quartermaster were frequent and urgent, but yet the delay continued. A train of pack-mules, for one item, was delayed at Tipton a fortnight, waiting for some trifling article from Saint Louis. These pack animals were intended to accompany the advance of the army, as a means of transportation

for the baggage of any cavalry scouting party moving across the country where no roads existed.

This comparatively small matter of the pack animals is referred to by me as an illustration. The packs were furnished in Saint Louis before you left; the packers and mules reached Tipton the day after I left that place for Warsaw,. on the 17th of October; yet the train was met by us at the Osage river on the 6th of November, on our return from Springfield.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,

St. Louis, September 24, 1861.

Allow me respectfully to recommend to the attention of the general commanding that the quartermaster here should be ordered to buy no more horses in Missouri. The number on hand is large and embarrassing, and, besides, they can be bought at any time when wanted. I would state that I believe nearly or quite enough horses have already been bought and contracted for in Ohio, to mount the cavalry and supply the artillery, while for transportation purposes mules are preferable.

I would also respectfully recommend that the quartermaster adopt the system of advertising, the quartermaster reserving to himself the right of rejecting any or all bids. offered. Wagons, harness, and all articles needed in the transportation department should be bought at the discretion of the quartermaster, whether to be purchased in open market of responsible men, or from the manufactories at regular prices, or obtained by advertising in the same manner as proposed to be done in the purchase of mules. The system, as adopted by General Meigs, is to open the bids when a day is fixed. On that day he buys from the lowest bidder, takes any number he pleases; on the following day the same way from other bids, and so on, thus securing his animals at reasonable prices and keeping entire control of the market.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major General J. C. FRÉMONT.

Indorsed as follows:

I. C. WOODS, Colonel and D. of T.

Approved and Quartermaster P. T. Turnly ordered to comply.
By order of Major General Frémont,

J. H. EATON,

Colonel, A. D. C., and Military Secretary.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,

St. Louis, September 25, 1861. Requisition signed acting regimental quartermaster twelfth Missouri volunteers, was approved by you, and Captain Bradshaw or 'ered to issue it.

Other requisitions have passed through my hands, and been approved by me, and ordered to be issued. Other requisitions have been sent direct from commanding officer to Captain Bradshaw to issue. The complications which must necessarily result from a divided responsibility, I would respectfully suggest that the good of the public service requires that all requisitions for transportation should pass through my hands before being ordered to be issued by Captain Bradshaw. Some system must be arranged between us.

Respectfully,

Captain P. T. TURNLY,

I. C. WOODS, Colonel and D. of T.

Assistant Quartermaster, United States Army.

SEPTEMBER 26, 1861.

This arrangement is right.

Colonel Woods will control the issue or management of all transportation wagons, ambulances, steamers, cars, &c., and pack mules. Captain Bradshaw will take note hereof. P. T. TURNLY, Assistant Quartermaster.

LOSS IN PURCHASES FROM WANT OF FUNDS.

It may not be inappropriate here to state that, in my opinion, based upon observation and experience, where the cost to the government for any supplies furnished to the army of the western department has been increased one dollar by the combination of parties in interest wishing to obtain contracts, it has been increased ten dollars by the want of funds with which to make the purchases. In the department of transportation this want of funds has been a heavy drawback. Losses have arisen from a want of proper corrals, from improper feeding, and from incompetent attendance upon the draught animals in St. Louis. There has been a want felt of proper shops in St. Louis for shoeing and wagon work. The public property, in many cases, has been exposed to damage from the elements; with the inefficient guard maintained, stampedes of the animals, and losses therefrom, were not uncommon.

In my opinion, too much stress cannot be laid upon the evils which the withholding of money from your department has caused you. Money lies at the basis of the most simple wants of the soldier, and withholding that money from the executive officers here, who had charge of supplying those wants, has compelled them, as a first step, to use the credit of the government or to do without them. Instantly, when they attempt to use credit, the control over all supplies passes from the government into the hands of those who do have money, or into the hands of merchants, speculators, banks and capitalists, who form the intermediate link between the producer and the government. Money must be used to procure goods or products from first hands, and when any department of the government ceases to have money, it must lose connexion with the producers, must make use of the middle men as a substitute, and must pay dearly for its want of money and for its experience. In any department without money, there is no course left to choose between high prices or ceasing to move the machinery of the department.

WASHINGTON, February 14, 1862.

GENERAL: Since my official report to you, on the 20th of November last, I have seen the report of the Van Wyck investigating committee of the House of Representatives, in which the members of that committee, O. H. Van Wyck, E. B. Washburne, W. S. Holman, R. E. Fenton, H. L. Dawes, and W. G. Steele, have put their names to the following statement, on page 96 of their report: "That I was one of the gang of California patriots who hovered like sharks about the headquarters of the commanding general;" and on page 93, referring to a horse contract, they say: "Your committee believe, from the testimony of Captain Turnly, that this was a scheme by which the said Colonel Woods (who was denominated on the staff of General Frémont director of transportation,') intended to defraud the government, and that he found in this man Sacchi, in the language of Captain Turnly, a good person through whom to work."

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The facts are, general, that I never had any interest, presently or remotely, pecuniarily, politically, or otherwise, in any purchase or sale, made to or for your "department," whether made by contract or otherwise; never from any

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