J. Bankhead Magruder to S. S. Anderson, June 17, 1863

Col. 8S. S. ANDERSON, Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: In reply to your communication of the 13th instant, relative to Maj. S. Hart’s letter requesting authority for the impressment of cotton, I have the honor to state that I have a great doubt as to the right of impressing cotton under the impressment bill, and consequently decline to give Major Hart, or any other officer, authority to impress cotton without further instructions from the lieutenant-general commanding the Trans-Mississippi Department. I therefore respectfully request that Lieutenant-General Smith will issue either a general or special order authorizing the impressment of cotton, in order that my action may be in strict obedience and conformity with the commands of the general commanding the department, as, in my opinion, the order should emanate from the highest authority, and not myself, except in obedience to instructions.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,