John R. Baylor to J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, C. 8. A, December 14, 1861

Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War, C. 8. A.:

SIR: I have the honor to forward you a statement of the disposition of the “Federal drafts? captured at the’surrender of Fort Fillmore, amounting in all to $9,500, $5,500 of which were on the assistant treasurer of New York. The other $4,000 were drawn on the assistant treasurer at Saint Louis, Mo. Isent the drafts by Mr. William MeGrorty to New York for collection, which resulted as follows: $4,500 were paid

by the assistant treasurer, New York; the other $1,000 draft was not

paid, Mr. Cisco, the assistant treasurer, stating that the drawer had no funds in the Treasury to his credit. The $4,000 draft on assistant treasurer Saint Louis were left by Mr. McGrorty in New York. for collection. Saint Louis being under martial law, Mr. McGrorty felt it unsafe to go there in person. I have since received no information if the drafts have been collected or not. Ihave paid outof the above amount the following sums, viz: $500 was claimed by Lieutenant Plummer, acting assistant quartermaster, U. S. Army, as private funds, which I refunded him. Four hundred and eleven dollars paid Samuel J. Jones, sutler at Fort Fillmore, for corn delivered the quartermaster, U. S. Army, and not paid for by the United States. The corn was in store at Fort Fillmore when the post was abandoned, and Lieutenant Plummer, acting assistant quartermaster, certified to Mr. Jones’ claim after the capture of the Federal troops at San Augustine Springs. . Three hundred dollars I have paid Mr. McGrorty for part of his expenses to New York in prosecuting the collection of said drafts. The balance $3,289. I send you herewith the quartermaster’s receipts for that amount. The

“drafts on Saint Louis, left in New York for collection, I will duly account

for when informed of the payment thereof.

I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,