Edwin V. Sumner to Montgomery Ü. Meigs, September 20, 1861

Brig. Gen. MONTGOMERY Ü. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General, Washington, D. O.:

GENERAL: There are some things that are next to impossible and among them is to raise an army without money. We have received no money for your department since the estimate for March last, and the expenses of the Government have been greatly increased thereby (at least 20 per cent). I would beg you to comply with my estimates as early as possible. I hope you will make no contracts at Washington for transportation or anything else for my command. I can control these matters much better here than you can there. If I should find any collusion against the Government I can throw these people off altogether and resort to some other expedient. If the steamship companies should be at all unreasonable I can hire sailing ships for transports, and there would be but little difference in time in running south, as the prevailing winds are northerly on this coast at this season of the year.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,