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the department of the 22d instant. Shall further contracts be entered into; and if so, for what number and by what time?

The ship Caledonia Brandon, of 650 tons, is the first vessel for New Orleans. She sails on the 6th of August. We shall be able to send about 125 wagons in her. It is the wish of the department to ship also as many sets of harness as may at that time be finished; also to ship them hereafter as fast as they are finished, and opportunity serves.

H. BACHE,

Major Topographical Engineers.

Maj. Gen. Th. S. JESUP, Washington.

[Extract.]

PHILADELPHIA, July 31, 1846.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegraphic despatch of this date. Twenty-one wagons are already on board the Caledonia Brandon, and forty-two more ready and going on board. The further shipping has been stopped.

Major General T. S. JESUP,

H. BACHE,

Major Topographical Engineers.

Washington.

[TELEGRAPH.]

PHILADELPHIA, 7 P. M.,

August 1, 1846.

SIR: Your despatch of this date is received. It is hardly practicable now to remove the twenty-seven wagons from the Caledonia Brandon. The expense of taking them out would be nothing compared to the risk of the other packages stored among them, and the loss from delay in receiving the rest of her freight, as she must, in three working days, give place to the next ship of the line. I see no help for the matter now, without the department is disposed to break out the entire ship, and also to pay for demurrage.

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SIR: I have yours of yesterday's date. Will the steam schooner be required to report to this office? Twenty-eight wagons went

in the Caledonia Brandon, and one hundred more are now ready for shipment.

HARTMAN BACHE,' Major Topographical Engineers.

Major General T. S. JESUP,
Washington.

LEXINGTON, July 20, 1846.

SIR: I bought the number of mules you authorized me to buy for the public service. They are of the best quality that can be obtained in the State of Kentucky, or any other State in the United States. It was impossible to get them four years old; but I have not bought a single mule under three years old. They are now ready for delivery to the officers of the United States, and will be kept until the 20th, if required.

The river is in fine boating order; and if you intend to send the mules by water, I think the sooner you start them the better. If you want any more assistance in the way of buying stock in Kentucky, I would be glad to have it to do.

Major General JESUP, Washington.

BENJ. ROBERTSON.

MOUNT STERLING, September 2, 1846.

SIR: I hope you have been informed, before this time, of the superior quality of mules I purchased for you. It is the opinion of the best judges in this State that there never have been 400 such mules together in the United States. I purchased 401. They were all delivered at Lexington according to contract, and all received by Major Tompkins, and every one delivered by me at Louisville; and, while there, I was employed by Captain Heintzelman to purchase four hundred horses, which I have done, and I think very much to his satisfaction. I purchased the whole number in three days, and on better terms than they can be got in any other State in the United States. They are very good strong horses, and will average about fifteen hands three inches high. They were bought for a fraction over sixty dollars per head, and one thousand more of the same quality can be purchased here on the same terms. If Jou should want any more, you could not do better than purchase in this section of Kentucky; and if you should want any dragoon horses, I feel very confident this is the best place to purchase them. BENJ. ROBERTSON.

Major General JESUP.

PHILADELPHIA, July 20, 1846.

SIR: I find that wagons suitable for the public service cannot be had here in the open market, and have, in consequence, agreed to take from Wilson, Childs, & Co., and Henry Simmons, jr., 200 wagons, to be delivered as per enclosed memorandum of agreement. This is the best that can be done at present. These persons have in employ all the wheelwrights and wheelwright establishments in the city on whom reliance can be placed-at least I so understand. They are to let me know, when I return, whether each delivery can be increased some 5 in number. I have also made arrangements for the necessary harness.

The wagon makers above mentioned are of opinion that wagons that will suit can be purchased at York, Pa., as many, they say, were purchased there during the Florida war. The assistant quartermaster in Baltimore could no doubt very soon ascertain, as that I place is distant but some three or four hours from his station.

I learn that the following wagons have been shipped from this place to New Orleans, viz:

June 24-35;

June 26-55;
July 7-24;

July 18-53;

and about 40 more will be shipped during the present week. I shall
leave for New Jersey. I am apprehensive, from all that I can learn,
that but few ready made wagons can be had; however, I will write
from every place at which I may tarry, if only for an hour.
M. M. CLARK,
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

Major General T. S. JESUP,
Quartermaster General, Washington city.

NEWARK, N. J., July 21, 1846.

SIR: I reached this place last evening, and immediately made inquiries as to the probability of finding ready made wagons in the market, and, as I feared would be the case, ascertained that there were none to be had.

This morning I saw several wagon makers, and was to be informed during the afternoon what could be done in the way of supplying us. There appears to be much difficulty in furnishing such, in all respects, as required in the specification given me.

Should alterations or changes in the specification be authorized, they will furnish 25 wagons in the first twenty days, and 50 every ten days thereafter, at $130 each, delivered here or in New York. Waiting to hear from you will make no difference in the time of delivery. I have consequently deemed it as obligatory on me to wait your instructions, as in those of the 18th instant you say that in those (wagons) contracted for, the specifications must be adhered to. Almost any reasonable quantity of harness can be had, and I

think at fair prices. I shall to-morrow morning proceed to New York, and ascertain as far as I can what can be done in Jersey City and Brooklyn. Would it not be well to instruct Captain Vinton as to those two places, as well as New York? I have just received your letter of the 19th, enclosing a copy of one from Mr. Carter, of this place. He is not a wagon maker himself, but is extensively engaged in making and furnishing spokes to all the wagon and coach establishments in the State.

M. M. CLARK,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

NEW YORK, July 25, 1846.

SIR: I left Newark on the 22d instant, saw some wagon makers in Jersey City and this place, and on the evening of the same day proceeded on to Troy. On my return yesterday afternoon I received your telegraphic note, and found that I had gone further than necessary.

I could

Immediately on landing I met several persons from Newark, who informed me that an agent of the department had been in that city for the purpose of purchasing and contracting for wagons, and wished to know from me if he had authority to do so. give them no information on the subject, and so informed them. I have not yet entered into written contracts, but have authorized persons to go on to make wagons, and will have at least 60 by the 20th of August, and the same number every ten days thereafter; that is, if they do what they say they can; and all say they think more may be delivered, but certainly the number mentioned. Contracts will be entered into so soon as they can be written out. On Monday I will see other persons, and may get more. M. M. CLARK,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

NEW YORK, July 27, 1846.

SIR: In my letter of the 25th instant I stated that I had been to Troy. There were no ready made wagons to be had in that city or vicinity. I was informed by a Mr. Rosevelt, (recommended to me by Major Baker, of the ordnance department,) and a Mr. Beach, that they were certain they could get up 200 wagons in their county, Onondaga, in 60 days-the first 100 in 20 days. These wagons would be good and strong, though the running gear would not be of the dimensions required by the specification; for instance, the tire but 2 inches instead of 21 inches wide. A Mr. Lansing was also of opinion that he could get up some 50 or more from the small country shops within some 25 or 30 miles of Troy. He ap peared to be certain that he could furnish the number mentioned, but of course would not enter into contract till he could ascertain

positively. It was my intention to have returned to Troy, and to have gone into the interior where Rosevelt and Beach reside, (probably have engaged all or a portion of the wagons they could get up,) and to other places where it was said wagons could probably be had; also to have gone to Springfield, Worcester, New Haven, &c., after having set the New York, Newark, and Jersey City folks to work. I have been to Jersey City and Newark today. In those two places and this city I have engaged 83 wagons, to be ready for delivery by the 20th of August, and possibly may get contracts for a few more. The contracts will stipulate for the same number to be furnished every ten days, until about October the 20th. I found it would be an endless job for me to write out all the contracts, and consequently sent a form to a printer to have a number struck off.

M: M. CLARK,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE,

New York, August 20, 1846.

SIR: Of the wagons contracted for by me, ninety have been received, and the remainder, which were to have been delivered today, will be brought in as fast as they can be put on board the vessels. The whole number will be from 115 to 125, with a sufficient number of sets of harness.

Captain Thistle's clerk was in my office two days since, and said that he had 80 wagons in this city and some 300 in Boston, and made some inquiry about shipping them. I told him that I must be furnished with lists or invoices of those to be shipped from this place. No doubt they will be delivered in due time.

M. M. CLARK,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE,
New York, August 21, 1846.

SIR: Your communication by telegraph was received last evening. The "Edith" is partly loaded, and cannot now go to Boston. I will leave for Boston as soon as I possibly can. It is necessary, however, that I should remain here two or three days longer to pay for the wagons and harness coming in.

It is necessary that I should be informed as to the number of wagons to be delivered in Boston, the price to be paid for each, the names of the contractors, and the number to be furnished by

each.

If light draught vessels cannot be had to take all the wagons, must heavy draught ones be employed to take them to Brazos San Iago, or must they be shipped to New Orleans? It will be a diffi

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