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Quarter-Master General's Office,
Washington City, 17 Dec. 1861

Col. D. D. Tompkins
Asst. Qr. Mr. General
New York

Colonel,

The Rev J.W. Alvord, Secretary of
the American Tract Society of Boston is en-
gaged in the distribution of tracts and
religious publications through the army.

Not being strictly on Government
Service, this Department has no right to give
orders for his travelling at the expense of the
United States, but you, and all other officers,
a[folded page covering words]tted to allow him to pass in transports