W. M. H. Echols to D. B. Harris, July 3, 1863

Lieut. Col. D. B. Harris, Chief Engineer Department:

COLONEL: In reply to the ”memorandum of the number of steamboats turned over exclusively to the engineer department each day since the 1st of March, 1863,” I would state that no boat was turned over exclusively to this department, subject to any order from this office; that the nature of the work on the rope obstruction, torpedoes, and the transportation of material to Fort Sumter, being such as to demand the use of the boat for a succession of days, the boats were allowed to continue on the duty by the quartermaster in order to render daily requisitions for transportation unnecessary, but were subject to his hourly call, as a number of instances of which he ie himself testify, without even the knowledge of the department.

As to all other applications of the steamboats for transportation by this department, I positively assert that the boats have not been officially controlled for a day by this office; that the transportation has only been required, and whether that transportation has been met with unnecessary delay or waste can be answered by the quartermaster, under whose command they run. I know that they have taken as much as twelve days to make a single trip to James Island, and incredible periods to other points. The causes of these delays are not inquired into by this department, as it was not its duty. The captains are presumed to report daily their occupation to the quartermaster from whom they receive their daily orders, which is sufficient evidence that no transfer has been made. The memorandum simply shows that the quartermaster has applied these boats to transportation on account of this department (some of them used, probably, only a few hours of a day). Whether that number was necessarily employed, or the amount of transportation necessarily expended, is his, and only his, duty to answer.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,