#143-CIVIL WAR SALE: DEPT OF THE ARMY TRANSFER OF $3,000 FOR SOLDIERS' PAY

Very interesting 1863 document to transfer $3,000 to distribute for soldiers' pay. Unusual document and $3,000 in 1863 was a great deal of money.

I have certainly noticed in acquiring government documents that there is a hint of government bureacracy even 160+ years ago. I have seen dozens and dozens of forms when one would think the Department of the Army could have gotten the job done with a lot fewer.

This is a good example of how soldier salaries were handled and doesn't offer any hints as to why Union trops often had to wait many months for their pay. I would assume it was many times worse for Confederate soldiers--and I'm quite sure a large percentage never received what was due them; and if they had been paid in Confederate currency, well, it was the same as being paid nothing. Inflation devalued the currency but the Confederate States could hardly back their money sa the war went on. A Confeerate soldier might have a huge stack of Confederate $20's and 50's but instead of hundreds of dollars, by war's end they were completely worthless.