CHAPTER III.

SUPPLY M'CLELLAN'S COLUMN.

GENERAL MCCLELLAN having moved to the Mountains, we at once secured the services of a number of Wagonmakers and Blacksmiths, and taking all the force we could spare from the "corral," set them to work fitting up wagons. They were steadily employed, day and night, and by Wednesday morning, July 4th, they had in complete running order, one hundred and nine wagons. During this time the Chief Wagonmaster was busy with his men matching and breaking horses; very many of them had never worked in harness.

By three o'clock the train was loaded, and at four it moved toward Buckhannon, where it arrived late in the afternoon of the following day. The few rations the troops already there had taken with them had given out, and the arrival of the train was hailed with delight. They at once surrounded it, and in spite of the Wagonmaster, who insisted on being permitted to deliver the stores to the Quartermaster, they took possession of everything edible and carried it to their respective camps, leaving their officers to

arrange the matter with the Quartermaster and Commissary, as best they could. But this was not all. The teamsters had hardly finished unhitching their horses, until they were surrounded by a crowd of officers, who, without ceremony, took possession of horses and wagons, and refused to give receipts for them. They insisted they must have the teams; the Wagonmaster protested against their being taken; and finally, after begging and coaxing, succeeded in obtaining lead-pencil receipts, on slips of paper, not two inches in width; in two instances on the margin of a newspaper: such vouchers would be scouted at at the Quartermaster-General's office, especially as nothing was specified, save horses and wagons.

We could do nothing. They had taken nearly all the train, and we have seen but few of the officers since. When the matter was mentioned to them, they were wofully ignorant of everything connected with it. The affidavit of the Wagonmaster, stating the facts, with the memorandum receipts attached, will relieve an officer whose property is taken, when it is impossible to obtain other receipts; while the officer taking it, is compelled to account for it. We received the following comforting dispatch from the Chief Quarter

master:

Buckhannon, July 7, 1861.

CAPTAIN CHARLES LEIB, A. Q. M.

Of all that train, I could only send back fifteen

wagons. It is absolutely necessary to hurry up supplies, and ammunition for small arms.

Hire all the transportation you can, and if necessary press teams. Send a good Wagonmaster with every twenty wagons, with orders to report to me. Send as much hard bread as you can, and please inform me how many wagons you can send to-day and to-morrow.

R. SAXTON, Chief Quartermaster.

In the mean time we were organizing trains, and pushing them forward, as rapidly as possible. For several weeks a portion of every train we sent out was seized, and the Wagonmasters sent back without receipts. In one instance a whole train was taken; the Wagonmaster fearing to return, left Virginia, and up to this time we have not seen him. The facts as to the taking of the train, were elicited of a teamster, who was with it.

Although frequently telegraphing the Chief of the Department and begging him to secure us the vouchers necessary, even he could not get them for us, as will be seen by the following telegram:

Buckhannon, July 9, 1861. CAPTAIN CHARLES LEIB, CLARKSBURG, VA. What is the prospect of supplies to-day. Hurry them up, as fast as possible. I am afraid the

troops will not be supplied. It was impossible to get formal receipts for your teams in the hurry and confusion of getting off McClellan's column. You will have to get them, from time to time, as you can, from the different Quartermasters in charge, and if on closing your account there is a deficiency, I will give such a certificate, in addition to your own, as will clear up your accountability at the Treasury. Please send up as many newspapers as you can; I have nothing to read. R. SAXTON, Chief Quartermaster.

As fast as stores arrived, we made the most determined efforts to send them forward, and experienced the greater difficulty in doing so, from the fact that but little of our transportation was returned. The course taken by the troops in taking possession of the stores the instant they arrived at their place of destination, and sometimes on the road, prevented us from obtaining the necessary vouchers, while Wagonmasters, fearful of being censured for giving them up, would not

return.

Early in July, a gentleman called at our office and stated, that he had been appointed Assistant Quartermaster of Volunteers, and was on his way to join General McClellan. A young Lieutenant of Engineers, also on his way to Headquarters, made a requisition for transportation, and we

gave the two what was termed an Ambulance, but which in reality was only a Cincinnati "Ginger Pop Wagon" repainted, and they left together. As they rode along, discussing the weather, the beautiful mountain scenery around and before them, and the probabilities of a speedy termination of the rebellion, the young Lieutenant inquired of our citizen appointee what he was going to Headquarters for.

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"I'm going into the Quartermaster's Department."

"Oh! you're going to be Chief Clerk, I suppose?" "No! I don't know that I am. I'm going to assist some Quartermaster."

"You're to be Foragemaster, perhaps?"

"I don't know yet what I'm to be, but here's my commission."

Why," said he, looking at it, "You're an Assistant Quartermaster!"

"Of course I am. That's just what I said. I'm to assist some Quartermaster."

"What corps were you promoted from?" "What corps! I never belonged to anything in my life but the militia."

"Don't you belong to the army?"

"No! I don't know shoulder arms from right face."

"Assistant Quartermaster! You'll find out what an Assistant Quartermaster is, old fellow, before this war is over."