Rufus Ingalls to Ambrose E. Burnside, March 19, 1864

GENERAL:

In compliance with your verbal request that I shall furnish you with a report of the operations of the quartermaster’s aepartment of this army while you were in command, I have the honor to represent that i have rendered one to General McClellan to cover the period during which I was his chief quartermaster, from July 10 to November 9, 1862, and that I have also rendered an annual report to General Meigs, Quartermaster-General, for the fiscal year ending June

30, 1863.* I take great pleasure in submitting to you the substance of the reports referred to, so far as relates to the time you were In com mand.

At the time you assumed command of this army, November 9, 1862, my records show that, exclusive of the force about Washington, there were present 3,911 army wagons, 907 ambulances, 7,139 artillery, 9,582 cavalry, 8,693 team horses, and 12,483 mules, making 37,897 animals. The army had recently crossed the Potomac at Berlin, marching by way of Salem and Rectortown.

On the 9th the headquarters were at Warrenton. It was well supplied with means of transportation, clothing, and forage. Our supplies had been received during October by the canal, Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Cumberland Valley Railroad, while the army stretched from Williamsport to Berlin.

On arriving at Warrenton our supplies were sent out on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and on the Manassas Gap and Warrenton branches. This road was in bad condition, and those best acquainted with its capacity, from actual experience and observation, as General Haupt and Lieut. Col. F. Myers, reported that it could not be safely celied on to supply so large an army. After passing over the road J was of the same opinion.

It is proper to remark, however, that since then the road has been vastly improved. A large construction party has been constantly kept upon it for many months past. New ties and rails have been put in where necessary ; new bridges have been built; the rolling-stock has peen increased, and the road has been conducted by Col. J. H. Deve- ~eux, a most energetic, systematic, and skillful superintendent, so that to-day the road can supply an army of 150,000 men certainly as far as Culpeper. At that time the Third, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps were not serving immediately with the army. It is necessary to be reminded of this, in order to understand the comparatively small number of wagons, horses, and mules reported on hand when you assumed command.

ha my report to General McClellan I state ” that subsequently our trains were increased to near 6,000 wagons and 60,000 animals of all kinds. After the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps had joined, we could then haul ten days’ supply.”

The following is my recapitulation of the means of transportation

preset with the forces when you relinquished the command, January 1863 :

Commané é 3 a 4 % >) 7 i]

fe 5 fe ‘3 = g 3 Bt $2 125 = c 2S

E q [a 5 < P=] a Headguarvers Army of the Potomac and in 367 21 606) 1,675) ... 30.8 1, 108 8,

epot. Right Grand Division (Sumner’s)..-…..– 1, 294 329 2,687) 3,836] 2,019] 5,116; 13,658 Left Grand Division (Branklin’s) ………. 1,426 406 3,506] 4,357] 2,202 4/880 15,035 Center Grand Division (Hooker’s)…….-.- 1, 250 361 2,732} 3,336 2,030) 4,990 13,088 Eleventh Corps (Sigel’s) Meee eee ceeatncees 549 117 1,744 2,647 894 1,257 6, 542 Twelfth Corps (Slocum’s)……………… } 470 125 1,185 171 656 1,270 8, 282 Reulye aeaee (De Russy’s) ………..- ao a 462s cece 1, 434 1,089 2, 935 ‘i wesc isct ema cee canes 160 1, 512

Detached cavalry (North Mountain). …… 41 2 157 l Sepeecss a ? ay Engineer Brigade (Woodbury’s)….-…..-. 113 Sil) 0 146 an coc ogliesocan an 284 1, 430 Grand total in Army of Potomac….{ 5,980! 1,403 14,385 , 18,879 9, 664 20,265 63,193

It having been decided to move the army by way of Fredericksburg on the Aquia and Fredericksburg Railroad, I was directed by you, on November 13, to proceed to Washington, and thence to Aquia and Belle Plain, and to make all necessary and proper arrangements for the supply of the army by that route.

On the 16th, in company with Generals Woodbury and Haupt, I went to Aquia and Belle Plain on a reconnaissance. We found the old wharf and entire depot a mass of ruins, and the interior of the country still in the hands of the enemy.

It was decided to erect temporary landings at both Aquia and Belle Plain, to land supplies and haul them to the army with wagons on its arrival, while permanent arrangements on a proper scale could be made. The plan was most successfully executed.

I returned to Belle Plain about the 19th, and joined your headquarters, near Falmouth, where you had just arrived.

Supplies of subsistence and forage were landed at Aquia and Belle Plain, and were ready for delivery as soon as the wayous arrived.

The wharves were constructed of barges and trestle work, and answered every purpose. Meantime the depot at Aquia was made as spacious and commodious as any one we have ever had. Large wharves were constructed and store-houses erected to accommodate all departments. I placed Capt. T. E. Hall, assistant quartermaster of volunteers, in charge, with several other officers to assist him. Captain Hall was finally succeeded by Lieut. Col. A. Thompson, assistant quartermaster and aide-de-camp, and afterward by Lieutenant-Colonel Painter. Frequent inspections were made by myself and Colonels Sawtelle and Myers.

General Haupt placed Mr. W. W. Wright at Aquia as superintendent of the railroad. His management was vigorous and most business-like and efficient. Hntrepéts or stations were established along the line of the road at convenieut points for the delivery of supplies, the principal] one having been at Falmouth, under Capt. L. H. Peirce, assistant quartermaster of volunteers. His duties were very laborious and responsible, and he performed them with signal credit.

The depot at Belle Plain was kept up all winter, under Capt. P. P. Pitkin, assistant quartermaster of volunteers; who for more than two years past has exhibited remarkable energy, sagacity. and untiring zeal as a depot quartermaster. ;

Most of the Eleventh Corps and a portion of the cavalry were supplied from a depot on Aquia Creek, at Hope Landing. This place was under Capt. J. G. C. Lee most of the time. Captain Lee proved himself to be a most excellent officer.

It will be seen that to supply so large an army from these points required not only a perfect system but also great labor. Take, for instance, the item of forage; the full allowance required the daily receipt, distribution, and issue of some 800 tons of grain and hay. In addition, were subsistence, ordnance, hospital, and quartermaster’s stores generally. It was difficult to provide hay enough during early winter. The contracts were ample, but contractors found it difficult to find transports sufficient, besides the weather was unpropitious; but after the beginning of February the full ration was furnished. I am aware of no time when there was suffering among the troops and animals for want of any supplies which I had the power to provide.

The battle of Fredericksburg was tought on December 13, 1862. Before the battle, arrangements had been made to send all surplus property to the rear, to free our depot, in order that they might be abandoned at once without ‘ss, and to put all our necessary supplies of forage, sub14% OPERATIONS IN N. V. A., W. V. A., M. D., AND P. A. .Cnar XXX.

sistence, ammunition, and medical stores in our wagon trains, which were carefully packed and well guarded at selected points. These trains were not to cross the river with the army, but were to be held in readiness tu move at the proper moment. ;

In all.our campaigns our trains, though large, have never impeded the progress of the army tou my knowledge; nor need they, if proper disposition be timely made in orders by the general in command, and the quartermasters perform their duties.

In all the principal battles of this army our trains have been well guarded at a distance from the field, and_no disasters have ever happened to them. Situated as you were at Fredericksburg, the trains, in case of success, would have constituted your only magazines of supply for several days. The land transportation was considerably reorganized while you were in command, but the amounts allowed for baggage and supplies have been gradually and constantly reduced to the present time.

The allowances to-day are prescribed in General Orders, No. 100,* copy herewith, marked A. The rule established in this order will be found useful if applied to our other armies. There would be, besides, the advautage of uniform system.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,