Albert S. Johnston to Samuel Cooper, January 17, 1861

Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General, Washington, D. 0.:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report my arrival at this place on the 14th instant, and that, in accordance with the orders of the General-inChief, I assumed command of the department on the 15th. I beg leave to ask the attention of the General-in-Chief to the fact that the different staff departments of this department are without funds. The quartermaster’s department is destitute, and the other departments nearly so, having on hand only very small amounts of money. It is indispensable to the public interest that they should be promptly furnished with funds. If it be true that there is a large amount of public money in the mint at this place, which I have heard, I would respectfully suggest that a sufficient portion of it to meet the wants of the Government for the military service be placed to the credit of the disbursing officers of the department. The requisitions of the chiefs of the staff departments not having been filled—it is to be presumed from a scarcity in the sub-treasuries of the East—it is therefore that I take the liberty to suggest that there probably exists the ability to comply with them at this place.

with great respect, your obedient servant,