OR XLII P1 #2: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Morgan, Chief Commissary of Subsistence, September 16, 1864

No. 2. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Michael R. Morgan, U. S. Army, Chief Commissary of Subsistence of Armies operating against Richmond, of operations September 16.¹

OFFICE CHIEF COMMISSARY, ARMIES OPERATING AGAINST RICHMOND,

City Point, Va., September 22, 1864.

GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the officer in charge of the cattle herd at the time of its capture; also, the report of the officer who has the general charge of cattle and forage of the subsistence department of the armies operating against Richmond,* together with a true copy of an official dispatch from headquarters Army of the Potomac to the assistant adjutant-general at your headquarters, that it was safe to graze the herd at Coggins’ Point. Having some time before been shown a dispatch sent to you by General Meade that the cattle herd was not safe because, if I remember right, the cavalry had been sent over to Deep Bottom, I had them brought in and foraged

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* See reports of Woodward and Richardson, following.

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and kept them in until I received the dispatch of which the inclosed is a copy. I do not attribute any blame in this matter to any officer in the subsistence department. I do not know that any one is particularly to blame, but I would prefer to have the matter investigated, and I expect an application from Captain Richardson, commissary of subsistence of volunteers, for a court of inquiry.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

M. R. MORGAN,

Lieutenant Colonel and Commissary of Subsistence, Chief Commissary.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,

Commanding Armies of the United States.

[Inclosure.]
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
August 28, 1864-10 a. m.

Captain E. S. PARKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

In answer to your telegram addressed to General Williams, I would say that beef-cattle can be safely herded and grazed near Coggins’ Point. General Williams left for City Point about an hour ago.

S. F. BARSTOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

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