Ss. P. Moore to L. Polk, January 29, 1864

Lieut. Gen. L. POLK, Commanding, &c., Meridian, Miss.:

GENERAL: I beg leave to represent to you the necessity of perfecting, before the organization of the spring campaign, some arrangement by which the sick and wounded sent to the rear of large armies, preceding, during, or after engagements, may be more comfortably provided for. Reason and experience conclusively show that this cannot be accomplished by a medical director independent of the prompt and energetic action of a commissary and quartermaster. In order to insure concert of action upon the part of these three officers the plan laid down in papers marked A and B was referred for the consideration of the Commissary and Quartermaster Generals. No conclusion has yet been arrived at by them as far as is known to this office, and the necessity for some action being promptly taken suggests the propriety of the matter being directly referred to the commanders of the independent commands. In paper marked C will be found the plan previously adopted by General Lee for the Army of Northern Virginia, so far as the Commissary Department is concerned. This, however, would hardly be sufficient for the requirements of your command, as it is not made applicable to temporary or wayside hospitals, for the establishment of which as great a necessity does not exist in the former as in the latter, but for which the plan is also especially designed. It is hoped that the commanding general will consider it to the interest of the service to adopt promptly the proposed or some other plan approved by his judgment as best adapted for securing the object desired.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,