J. Gorgas to and Chief of Ordnance, May 27, 1864
Richmond, May 27, 1864.
Str: I have the honor to lay the following statement before you, and request that if possible you will render such assistance as may be needed in the premises. On the 5th instant requisitions were issued from this office for the various disbursing officers connected with this Department to the extent of $2,500,000. Others have since been added, making in all about $3,500,000. Up to this morning not one of these requisitions has been made out, and pay-day is now rapidly approaching. I am informed that this Department is only allowed to draw some $2,600,000 per month, which is entirely inadequate to the current expenditures, according to our last estimates, somewhat over $4,000,000 per month (including Trans-Mississippi). The abovementioned requisites are absolutely needed, and I beg that you will authorize the same to be issued as early as practicable.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Colonel and Chief of Ordnance.
MAY 27, 1864.
Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR:
The $2,600,000 is not a limit; it is only the pro rata of the Ordnance
Department upon the basis of an aggregate expenditure of $50,000,000
per month. The appropriations for six months for all the bureaus
being $503,000,000, and the Ordnance Department $23,000,000, this