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Richmond Va March 30^th 1863

 

Sir:

            In compliance with your request I herewith submit as clear a statement of the liabilities of the "River Defence expedition" under command of J. E. Montgomery as is possible under the circumstances.

 

            You will perceive that in order to obtain an accurate approximation for liquidation of same, I am obliged to submit my account with Maj Gen^l Lovell, as he was the disbursement officer of said expedition, our duties being, to give vouchers on Gen^l Lovell for amounts of bills as presented.

 

            It is therefore impossible for me to say, with any degree of certainty, how much it may require to cancel claims other than those for pay of officers and men belonging to the fleet, as I know not if all vouchers drawn on Maj. Gen^l Lovell have been presented or honored by him, as the fall of New Orleans must necessarily have caused some accounts to remain unpaid.

 

            I have given the amount of such vouchers drawn on Maj. Gen^l Lovell, also amount of funds paid by us, as per pay Rolls, also amount due officers and men who have reported, and now awaiting their pay, and have added thereto an amount sufficient to cover all the pay accounts that may hereafter report.

 

            It will therefore be necessary in order to obtain a correct appropriation, to examine the acc of Maj Gen^l Lovell in order to know how much remains unpaid. I would respectfully suggest, however, if such examination will require much time, the necessity of as early an appropriation being made as possible, to pay off and discharge those now awaiting same.

                                                                                   

I am Sir Your Obt. Servt

(signed)                                  

Geo. W. Frost Asst. Secretary

River Defence Service

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