[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
February 22, 1865.

Respectfully forwarded to the Department for its information.

Could not Major Paxton use the cotton and tobacco now in Richmond and Petersburg and at other points in the State for the purchase of these horses, which are much needed?

R. E. LEE,

General.

[Second indorsement.]

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

February 28, 1865

So much of this communication as relates to the purchase of artillery horses is respectfully referred to the Quartermaster-General.

By command of the Secretary of War:

H. L. CLAY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Third indorsement.]

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Richmond, March 3, 1865.

Respectfully referred to the Inspector-General of Field Transportation.

By order of Quartermaster-General:

CH. MORRIS,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

[Fourth indorsement.]

OFFICE INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF TRANSPORTATION,

March 4, 1865.

Respectfully returned.

This question was submitted by me to the honorable Secretary of War and the Quartermaster-General on 23rd of February, and it was decided that General Lee's order to obtain these articles was necessary as we had no money to pay for them. On 24th I so advised General Lee by letter, requesting his order. No reply has been received.

A. H. COLE,

Major and Inspector-General of Transportation.

[Fifth indorsement.]

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

March 4, 1865.

Respectfully referred to the honorable Secretary of War, and attention invited to the report of Major A. H. Cole.

A. R. LAWTON,

Quartermaster-General.

[Sixth indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, March 9, 1865.

Respectfully submitted to the honorable Secretary of the Treasury.

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,

Secretary of War.