Benjamin F. Butler to Winfield Scortt, June 19, 1861

Lieut. Gen. WINFIELD ScorTt, Commander-in-Chief, U. 8. Army:

GENERAL: I avail myself of the opportunity to send to Washington to inform the General-in-Chief that I have not as yet received the transportation which he assured me I should haye, and for which, I doubt not, he gave orders. I have waited impatiently, but with resignation, because I supposed that the exigencies of the service required so much

‘ at Washington as to prevent my being supplied. I also desire to call his attention to the fact that I have great need of mounted men for outpost service and vedettes. A company or two would be of great service. I have as yet received no horses for my light battery. I have the harness and guns, and could provide the men if I had the horses. I was reduced to the necessity of sending my own saddle-horse to Big Bethel, to endeavor to convey orders nine miles from my camp, that being the only horse not on duty away from the forts which had a saddle, and those horses were my own personal property. If the exigencies of the service will permit, it will be of great advantage that I should receive some aid in this matter.

I have the honor to remain, your obedient servant,