The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-17
TRANSPORTATION OF TROOPS.

Some complaints have been made about the tard
ness Of our military arrangements. We undertake
to say, that there is no just foundatio for them
On the contrary, the utmost energy has been dis
played in making the necessary preparations. Nc
appropriations were made by Congress for carrying
on the war until about the middle of May
and then it was impossible for the War Depart
ment to foresee the whole extent and character
Of the arrangements which might be necessary fol
carrying the war into Africa" As soon, however
as the great events on the Rio Grande began II
develop the plan Of operations the quartermaster''
department devoted all its energies to the procuring
Of transportation for the troops.
We have called at the quartermaster's Office to,
day to obtain information, and Gen. Jesup was polite
enough to lay open his past arrangements before
US. We satisfied from his specifications that he
has spared pains in obtaining the necessary boats
from all directions. We shall not enumerate all the
various Of supply to which he has addressed
himself We will confns ourselves to the follow.
ing details:
Among the letters which he has received is one
from Col. Thomas F. Hunt, from New Orleans
July 4. He "reports that he had purchased
steamers Undine, for $4,000; Troy, s6,OOO J. E.
Roberts, IS, 900, the 18th June, the Brownve, for
SO, 900, the 18th June; steam schooner James Cage
for $4,000, on the 18th; Hatchee Eagle, the LIST
July, for IS 900. All have been despatched to the
Rio Grande except the last-she detained for re-
pairs deemed necessary. Undine and James Cage
have been coppered, and otherwise repaired. The
Cage is a good seaboat, and suited for Tightening
vessels at sea, &c. The Undine sent temporarily
to La Buca. Has chartered steamers Big Hatchee,
the Warren, the Exchange, and the w A. Mercer,
which have also departed for Brazos Santiago"
Extract of letter from Capt. John Sanders the off
Ger appointed by General Taylor 10 purchase or char
ter boats, dated July 2, 1876, at Piitsburg:
advises he had purchased five light draught
steamers for the Rio Grande, rs follows WhiteriHe,
the Corvette, Rough and Ready Colonel Cross, and the
all splendid boats Of their class"
Extract Of a letter TO General Jsup:
GALVESTON, June %, 1876.
GENERAL: left New Orleans in the Alabama the
evening Of the 18th; she had supplies for Robins
Ferry These were landed at Galveston, and trans
portaton at once provided for them up the Trinity.
Fortunately the waters are high, and it is probable
they will get up. The price of freight high,
but the best bargain the means Of the place admitted
was made by Lieutenant kingsbury, with my aP-
probation No time TO be lost. few days
later, and the river would have been impraccabe
We anchored off Brazos the evening of the Oath;
wind was strong the next morning, and the sea
high, still the Monmouth came out to us. But she
could receive only the mail, which was transferred
with much difficulty and some peril. Towards
night our anchor gave way, and we stood off. The
next morning early were back again, but the sea
was higher than ever. The day before about TWEEN
ty sail were at anchor outside Ia large number within
where the Harvey sunk.) They had all stood
of, excepting two squarsrigged having volunteers
on board, which had left New Orleans two days be-
fore u.s. The wind continuing violent until the
evening of the 9th, came in here to recruit
water the volunteers, (about 300O with more than
fifty passengers, having reduced our supply too
low. Some of the companies had also got out of
provisions We hope to start again Tomorrow eve
ming with better luck The Alabama is frs rate
boat. None other could have stood the gales she
has out.Iived. This month has been unusually
stormy it is said.
Very respectfully, | am, general, your obedient
servant,
HENRY WHITING.
General THos. 8. JEsUP,
Quartermaster General. U. s. Army,
D., Washington city, ID. G.