ORDNANCE OFFICE,
Washington D. C., January 19, 1861.
SIR : The inclosed letter from Captain Rimy to the Adjutant-General of the Army is submitted for the perusal of the Lientenant-General commanding, and for such action as he may deem proper in the case, with the remarks that the captain had no means of knowing whether the Colonel of Ordnance had or had not consulted higher authority on the matter, even if such consultation, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, had been requisite.
The Ordnance detachment had been ejected from the Charleston Arsenal by the treasonable violence of the State authorities, and it became absolutely necessary to shelter it elsewhere. The Augusta Arsenal, Ga., under the control of this Department, where ample quarters are prepared for its enlisted men, is the nearest acceptable military post to which the detachment could be sent. The order to that effect was given after a full consideration of its propriety, and it is believed that if Captain Elzey had taken the pains to offer such explanations as his information warranted, the excitement alluded to by him need not have occurred, or might have been readily abated.
………With much respect,
H. K. CRAIG,
Colonel of Ordnance.
Lieut. Col. L. Thomas,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters.
[Inclosure.]
AUGUSTA ARSENAL, GA., January 11, 1861.
SIR: I have the honor to foward a field return of a detachment of Ordnance which arrived at this post last night from Charleston, S. C., under command of Military Storekeeper Humphreys. He reported here by telegraphic order from Colonel Craig. This movement on the part of Colonel Craig I believe to be wholly unauthorized by the War Department. It was injudicious and impolitic, added much to the excitement in Augusta, and was very nigh praducing serious difficulties in this quarter, the people believing it to be a re-enforcement to my command. I had no previous knowledge of it whatever.
………I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
………ARNOLD ELZEY, ………
Captain, Second Artillery, Commanding Post.
Col. S. COOPER,
………Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.