Cincinnati, May 26, 1861.
To Col. Barnett:
Expedite the mounting of your battery and report to me when ready for service.
G. B. McCLELLAN,
Major General U. S. A.
Six or eight of the best judges of horseflesh in the battery were immediately sent out to scour the country. Whenever a suitable animal was found that could be bought at a fair price an order upon Colonel Barnett was given by the buyer to the seller, stating briefly the sort of animal purchased and the price that had been agreed upon. These orders were promptly paid by Colonel Barnett with checks upon the bank. A few sample orders are given below. They were written on cards, leaves torn from memorandum books and odd bits of paper of every variety of size, shape and color:
Col. Barnett,
Please pay H. Sheets one hundred dollars for one daple gray horse.
F. W. Pelton.
Col. Barnett,
Please pay to C. W. Putnam one hundred and seventy dollars ($170) for one sorril gelding and one sorril mare.