Unknown to Thomas Sharp, March 12, 1864

Sir: You will proceed without delay to Nassau and thence to Nova Scotia for the purpose of purchasing and forwarding to some Confederate port via Nassau the machinery and material described in the inclosed memorandum, to be used in the manufacture of army shoes. You will apply for funds on reaching Nassau to Maj. R. P. Waller, quartermaster at that point, who is authorized to advance you the sum of £3,500, enough to triplicate the order in behalf of the shoe establishment at Atlanta, which, with the risks of the blockade, will probably secure the receipt of two complete sets. Be sure to separate the three lots in shipping them and so pack the same that whatever may come to hand may be complete. Use all possible dispatch in the business and communicate from time to time your success to this office. It may be that some of the material and shoemakers’ tools

*See General Orders, No. 31, p. 203. + Not found,

CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES. Zit

can be purchased in Nassau and forwarded without delay from there. Major Cameron, quartermaster at Wilmington, will aid you in securing passage from Wilmington, and your necessary personal expenses, of which you will render an account on your return, can be defrayed from the funds you will receive. A. R. LAWTON, Quartermaster-General.

P. 8.—Should you have the funds to spare you can purchase a small quantity of the chemicals mentioned in your letter of the 13th ultimo, with a view of making some experiments to shorten the process of tanning.