Annotation
[1] Thirty-seventh Congress, Second Session, Senate Executive Document No. 72. Lincoln's endorsement is on a letter from Brigadier General James W. Ripley to George H. Penfield, dated in error October 11, 1862, but obviously written in 1861, as follows: ``By direction of the Secretary of War, I offer you an order for fourteen field batteries. . . . It is understood that an additional quantity of ammunition for the batteries will be supplied hereafter, on requisitions from the Governor of Illinois, when wanted.'' Stanton's reply follows Lincoln's endorsement:
``The Secretary of War has the honor to report that the above-mentioned requisition is not complied with---
``1st. Because, if necessary for the army, the commanding general. . . is the proper person to make the requisition, in the regular manner, through the Ordnance department.
``2d. It involves large expenditures of public money, when the treasury is in straitened circumstances, which can only be justified through requisitions in the proper official channels.'' (Ibid., pp. 545-46).