T. H. J. Wood to L. Starling, August 15, 1863

Lieut. Col. L. STARLING, Assistant Adjutant-General, Twenty-first Army Corps:

Sir: I submit the following report of the condition of this division in regard to its fitness for the contemplated movement :

In conformity with General Orders, No. 171, from headquarters of the department, I have allotted to the regiments transportation in the proeorion of one wagon for every 75 company officers and enlisted men, one wagon to the field and staff of the regiments, one to the medical department, and one to the quartermaster’s department.

The above allotment of transportation leaves forty-nine wagons to be used as a division supply train. In accordance with a dispatch from department headquarters, under date of August 6, directin ten days’ forage and rations to be put in the hands of the troops ane packed ready for movement, I have caused the subsistence for that period to be issued to the troops, and prepared for a sudden movement; but I have been unable to obtain the prescribed amount of forage (ten days’), notwithstanding every effort has been made to do so.

I have only been able to get grain enough to issue to the brigades the full allowance for ten days for their horses and half the allowance for their mules; and I have not been able to get grain for the time prescribed for the animals attached to my headquarters.

Besides the ten days’ rations placed in the hands of the troops to be prepared for a sudden movement, my commissary has remaining in store about ten days’ subsistence. This amount could be about transported in the division supply train of forty-nine wagons, each wagon taking in addition grain for its own team for ten days. Of course, if the movement is delayed it will be necessary to replenish the subsistence in store to meet the current wants of the division, and at the same time keep the stock on hand up to ten days, that being, as already remarked, the measure of the capacity of the division supply train. I would be glad for this report to be transmitted to department headquarters.

very respectfully, your obedient servant, i