Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-20
rhe QuartermasteF's Dcpartn ent Of the
Depot ofthe SOuth-COl. Rlwell.


70 terminate his long and ardurous duties
in this department, undoubtedly to be
placed in some other important position -
His friends will soon be able TO welcome
the pstfiot-not sged-yet whose whiten-
ing looks indicate the magnitude Of the
work he has performed. The absolute de-
pendenee Of the army upon him for its ex-
istenoe and efficiency has been response
bility which he hiss felt and promptly met.
Our generals have won victories and glo-
~ leading on cur brave soldiers-but
there are other generals than those who
win victories in the ield-Whose match
less skill, labors and fer sightedness have
supplied our forces with everything nee
esssry to their comfort and support. A
Qusrtermsster not only has to make his
cequisitions, but must see TO it that his
acquisitions are filed. With q chief
Qusrtermsster, this work is immessursbly
increased for he must know that his as
5istant Quartermssters have everything
that shall be required. Also to him the
commisssry, ordnance and medical de-
partmentsIlook for transportation to their
iepots and from them to every portion OF
his department In the Department Of the
South our army has possession Of few
Sea islands, both near together and widely
scattered, and nowhere do they occupy the
main land except in the State of Florida,
consequently there has to be an immense
amount " Marine transportation, and as
It gathers into the magnificent hsrbor at
Hilton Head, you are surprised at its mag
aitude and extent. Tsrry 8 httle-the
Government wharf is crowded with yes
sells Of all kinds, loading and unloading
from morning till night and from night
till morning-you say there is the utmost
oonfusion-but lock again over the harbor.
Many of the vessels you saw yesterday
nave disappeared and others have taken
heir places. Sssbrook, ST. Helena, Beau
FORT, Folly Island, Morris Island, Pswnee
Landing, Tybee Island, Fort Pulaski, Fer
aandina and St. Augustine have had their
supplies issued from the great Government
iepots at Hilton Head and away the steam
ers have gone with them and the dispatch
ss TO supply our forces stationed at those
various places. Out Of confusion comes
order, aad so we'll has the chief Quarter
master regulated the shipping department
that there is seldom anything lost, and he
| is able to exhibit sn account Of everything,
i UkthhkHf QUA Uk BhtNE4 mMANA uab ubUI
shipped to HMM proper manner, or been
shipped to any place in the department
Il has been pet theory Of the ColoDelE
hat the Government should have none
but the best TO fill her important Offices
and he has fully carried out this idea In
organizing the working forces of bis de-
partment The honest faithful, earnest
nan only shall be kept the speculator and
the drone shall be rooted out, is the eau
ion administered to every man employed
So thorough has been his oourse in this
matter and SO terrible his punishment up
on the offender, tnat 90 whore you will
no matter Of how little importance the po
sitioD, every leader, every foreman, every
clerk iE an earnest, Jealous lsboreT, doing
the utmost in his power to accomplish tht
work a. signed him, in the shortest tint
and in the best msnner possible. Tit
only faYoritism the Colonel appears Il
know is that demanded by the works o
the earnest employee. From his mass o
papers and perplexity of business h
rides to the dock, or elsewhere, to sscer.
tain the progress Of work, and wherever
he goes is eheered by his smile, the weari
ed laborer adds fresh vigor to his tireC
limbs without complaint, working as lonl
ss may be required to perform his task.
DOCK BUILDING.
When our forces first occupied Hilton
Head, the cargoes Of all vessels were frs
unlosded into lighters,sn then rowed Il
the beach. Afterwards short dock wa
built which proved to be beinsdequste to tn
work performed, and afterWard an immens
dock l, 400 feet long was built and rail
road track laid uponit, running its who'll
length, and from it leading to every store
house on the island. The iron for thi
purpose was obtained from Florida anC
many tuns more have been carefully storeC
waiting an emergency Of demand from
any quarter, Besides the docks at Hilton
Head, other dock have been bull
where the necessities Of the Department
required. The consumption of timber ant
lumber in their construction has beer
enormous, the mass Of which has beer
from the yellow pine, SO plenty on thest
islands. On the dock at Hilton Head, both
horse and steam power are used in the dis
charging of cargoes, and with such speeC
are the goods hauled, that ships like tht
Arsgo and Fulton are discharged in from
/ bHEAAJ 70 lnAINJ AOuAH. All INC AhlbO
required for building docks, depots, maya
zines, batteries, Notifications, SC, Sc, i
furnished by the Quartermsster's depart
ment.
IMPROVEMENTS.
1t is impossible to present detailed
view Of ell OF the improvements made b.
the Chief Qusrtermaster in this Depart
ment. AS q shrewd business man turn
to account every means offered to sdVanc
his own interests, so has he made every
thing, so far as possible, productive o
! wealth, to the Government. Three saw
mills have been constructed, two Of which
are now standing, and they are constant
ly running, cutting yellow pine lumber
Immense store houses have been construc
ted for storing ordnance, oommissary
medical and Qusrtermssters' stores. Fo1l
steam condensers, for manufacturing fresl
water from the salt water, are constantly
kept in operation to supply tie Depart
ment with fresh water.
THE MACHINE SHOP.
To keep the large number Of steamer
in the Qusrtermasters employ afoat,
large machine shop has been constructed
and over two hundred men are constantly
engaged in making repairs. The coas
and bars are the most difficult and danger
GUS on the Atlantic, and there being NJ
fresh water rivers into which the steamer
can run, the boilers and engines soon Civ
out msking machine shop for repairing
them Of the greatest Importance to th
Govesnment Mechanics Of all kinds ar,
duly organized in their respective shop
ready to make or mend anything which
department 600 miles from where it re
eeived its supplies, could possibly need, -
slI Of whom, are organized and paid by tn,
Qusrtermaster's spartment-while theJ
receive their supplies from the great Quar-
termasters Depot, which is supposed t.
eontain everything that oould be required