Unknown to Montgomery C. Meigs, January 26, 1865

Quarter master -General:

(Through Brig. Gen. L. C. Easton, chief quartermaster.)

General: I have the honor to respectfully report, in compli^({ with the order of the Quartermaster-General, dated at Savannah, Ga December 26, 1864, that on the 15th day of November last the bu teenth Army Corps left Atlanta, Ga., with about 850 six-mule team and 150 two-horse and two-mule ambulances, divided among the tor divisions of the corps, which amounted to about forty teams to th thousand troops for duty, not counting non-effective or civil employe About 225 of these wagons were loaded with ammunition, each carr • ing 2,500 pounds net ammunition, which was not diminished muo until we commenced the siege of Savannah. 4. • 1

About 500 wagons were loaded with commissary stores, torty-eig boxes of hard bread each, and other stores were more heavily loade.

The remainder of the trains were loaded with hospital stores, pineer tools and materials, a small quantity of camp and garrison eqipage, and officers’ private baggage. Eight wagons were loaded wii

shoes and socks. • a fi b

Each wagon and ambulance, in addition, on the start, carri^ n e days’ forage of grain and three rounds of shoes for its team. Betc? this forage was expended plenty was found in the country, and iina

* wagons were emptied issue forage was gathered and brought in by

! mounted “bummers.”

When we set out our mules were in bad condition, having been ‘ starved around Atlanta for want of forage, but soon recruited on the ‘ march by good care. Fresh mules were gathered to replace the broken down from persons whose names are unknown, and when we arrived at Savannah our trains were very fine.

An active lieutenant and regimental quartermaster was detailed to assist the division quartermaster in the movement of his trains, and usually remained in the rear with a small detachment of negro pio¬ neers and good, fresh mules, ready harnessed, to help forward any wagon in distress. Miles of corduroy were built almost every day by organized pioneers, without which the trains could not have been moved.

The pontoon train belonging to the Army of the Tennessee was ‘ badly appointed and utterly without organization, and therefore caused much trouble and delay. The trains of the Fifteenth Corps ‘■ were often called upon to go back a day and night’s march and haul it up, and finally had to take one-half of it to haul all the time. Why it was in such condition is unknown to me. Had it not been for this ‘ matter the march would have been made by our trains with ease, and the mules improved every day until we entered Savannah; after which they were soon much reduced for want of forage, having noth¬ ing but a very little rice for a considerable time.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your most