Letter of the Day: July 15

Ahh, bureaucracies never change…
Commissary Office
Alton, Illinois, July 15th, 1863

Surgeon:

Enclosed I send you a copy of a Voucher, for commutation of rations in favor of C.A. Dresser, certified to by you, but which is defective by reason of the omission of his Regiment, Company and rank, and the clause, in the certificate, which alleges that he has “no opportunity of messing.” Will you be so kind as to insert, in this copy, the requisite additions and return them to me with an authorization to make the same corrections in the original. I have put in, in pencil, the words which you are requested to fill in with ink.

By favoring me with an early reply, you will greatly oblige,

Very Respectfully,
Your Obt. Servant,
R.C. Rutherford, Capt. & C.S.

Surgeon J. H. Brinton, U.S.A.

And the enclosure, with the missing words in bold-
The United States.
To C.A. Dresser
Private Co. A. 11 Regt US Vols.

For commutation of rations while on detached service as Clerk in Medical Directors Office from Nov 12th, 1861 to Dec. 4th, 1861, twenty-three days at .75 per day - $17.25

I certify that the above account is correct, that the commutation was made by my order, and was necessary for the public service -and that he had no opportunity of mess.
J.H. Brinton
Bvt Surg. + Me. Director

Approved
U.S. Grant
Brig. Genl. Com.

Received Cairo Dec. 4th, 1861 of R.C. Rutherford … Seventeen dollars and twenty five [missing] in full of the above account.
C.A. Dresser

Brinton filled the missing parts in, but apparently forgot to send it in because there was another note asking him about it in August.