Statement of Ordnance Stores lost while in possession and charge of Captain Gilbert M. Elliott, Acting Ordnance Officer, 2^d Division, 12^th Army Corps during the Second Quarter 1863.

 

1          (One) Bayonet Scabbard

21        (Twenty one) Cartridge Box Plates

2          (Two) Cartridge Box Belts

12        (Twelve) Ball Screws .58 Cal

7          (Seven) Spring Vises

9          (Nine) Wipers

1          (One) Tin Can

 

            The greatest care was taken during the quarter both in the receipt of stores, and in their issue, to ensure complete accuracy.

 

In evidence of the general correctness of my employees in this particular, I would respectfully refer to my property returns for the fourth quarter of 1862, and the first quarter of 1863.

 

The deficiency of the articles enumerated above cannot therefore be referred to negligence or carelessness in the transaction of the business of my department, though of course I cannot certify that the issuing Sergeant may not have made an error of one or two articles, in a comparatively large number of issues made in the field, and some of them under / distracting circumstances.

 

Possibly the deficiency of one Bayonet scabbard and two Cartridge box belts may be attributed to this source.—The loss of the smaller articles I refer to theft. A different guard was sent me daily by some of whom at various times a quantity of the more portable articles of Quartermaster's stores around my wagon train, such as buckets, straps, axes etc. and even sacks of grain were known to have been carried off.       

 

                 As to these men was entrusted the guardianship of stores while on hand, as they sometimes were for two or three days before they all were issued I can not but charge to their pilfering propensities the loss of plates and appendages, and as these are articles with which every soldier is expected to be provided, it was impossible to discover such a theft

 

            I can offer no other explanation of this discrepancy.

 

            I certify on honor that the articles were not misappropriated by me and that the loss cannot be referred to habitual carelessness of employees, or to a lack of supervision on the part of the Officer in Charge.

 

            The one tin can was left / for lack of transportation when the Division marched from Aquia Creek June 13^th 1863.

 

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