Thomas W. Sherman to Rufus Saxton, September 13, 1861

Capt. RUFUS SAXTON, Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Army:

SIR: You will provide transportation in good, sound, and safe steamers for fourteen regiments of infantry from this place to localities not to be designated in the contract; said transportation to be ready to leave on the 5th of October. Besides the troops above mentioned, but in connection therewith, are to be transported some 1,400 tons of ordnance and ordnance stores, and the commissary and quartermaster’s stores, horses, &c., that will be hereafter turned over to you for that purpose.

Sufficient water must be provided for the men and horses for at least fifteen days, and proper and ample arrangements for cooking, &c., for the whole force. As it is very uncertain when the steamers can be discharged, and as some of them may be required for some time after reaching their destination, without any facilities or means of recoaling, the largest amount of coal must be taken, without prejudice to the stipulated cargo. No stipulation, however, should be made to keep the transports over fifteen days, and indeed this clause had better be left out altogether if practicable. Should it prove advantageous to the public interest to have a couple of these vessels in readiness by the 1st of October, in consideration of the immensity of your material and the difficulty of depositing it, you are authorized to do so, but the public economy must be consulted and adhered to in every contract.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,