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Treasury Department

Second Auditors Office

April 5^th 1863 

 

Attn: James A. Seddon

            Secretary of War

                                   

Sir:

                                                Mr. G. W. Frost "Asst. Secty. River Defence Service" has filed statements in this Office of which I enclose copies, and from which a deffinite estimate may be made of the amount necessary to be further appropriated to pay claims on account of said River Defence service. These statements show that Capt. Montgomery certified to Gen^l Lovell for payment, bills for "Materials and rebuilding Gun Boats" amounting to $895,693^30/100 as Gen^l Lovell's disbursement (besides the amount of $108,850⁰⁰ turned over to him by Capt Montgomery) amount to the sum of $950,000. and as a number of such bills were unpaid by Gen^l Lovell and presented at this office for payment it is reasonable to suppose that there are no other claims for materials &c outstanding. Mr. Frost reports as "Amount due Officers and men who have reported say $15,000." It is believed that the most if not all of these have been presented and are on file in this office, and included in the claims heed up for appropriation amounting at this date to $55,614⁰⁰. He further estimates as "amount necessary to pay officers and crews who may report daily $30,000." The amount of these two sums last named ($85,614⁰⁰) may be taken therefore as being about the amount required to be appropriated, if Mr. Frost is correct in his estimate. Perhaps it would be as well to extend the amount to $100,000 to meet contingencies.

                                                                                   

I have the honor to be

Very Respectfuly &c.

(signed)                                  

W. H. S. Taylor

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