Page 172
To Edwin M. Stanton2Open page
I understand a requisition has been made by Governor Yates, according to the memorandum at the bottom of this contract, and that the requisition is refused. Will the Secretary of War please tell me why is this? A. LINCOLN.
March 26, 1862.
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).