Crimean texts

REPORT
OF THE
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY
INTO THE
SUPPLIES
OF THE
BRITISH ARMY IN THE CRIMEA,

With the Evidence Annexed.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty

LONDON:

PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS.

Instructions to Commissioners, dated War Department, February 19, 1855.

Gentlemen,

I HAVE the honour to acquaint you that I have selected you to proceed to the Crimea on Thursday next, via Marseilles.

I have the honour to inform you that it will be your duty to inquire into the whole arrangement and management of the Commissariat Department.

You will acquaint yourselves with the mode by which supplies of food, forage, and any other articles are obtained; and should any better mode suggest itself to you for the execution of this duty, you will transmit to Lord Raglan such suggestion, and also furnish me with a copy.

You will satisfy yourselves whether there has been a regularity of supply furnished to the army, and a sufficiency to the Store Department at Balaklava; and if not, what has been the cause of the irregularity or insufficiency.

You will ascertain whether supplies offered for purchase have been accepted or rejected; and if rejected, the reasons for such rejection.

You will also examine carefully the mode of accounting, and if the system be in you opinion unnecessarily complicated for a period of actual warfare, you will suggest such means of simplification as may occur to you.

To enable you to conduct this inquiry satisfactorily, you will have authority from Lord Raglan to summon and examine witnesses, and to require the production of all books and papers that you may consider necessary for completing your investigation.

I have a full reliance upon your executing this duty satisfactorily, and request that copies of all reports and suggestions made to Lord Raglan may be transmitted to me.

You will be furnished with copies of the Rules and Regulations in force for the guidance of the Commissariat, and defining the duties of the Department with an army in the field, - also of any special instructions issued by the authorities at home to the Commissariat with the army, - and of such Reports relating to the supply of the army as may have been made by the Commissariat to the authorities at home.

I am, &c.

(Signed) PANMURE

Sir John McNeill, G.C.B.,
and Colonel Tulloch.

Additional Instructions addressed to the Commissioners.

War Department, February 22, 1855

Gentlemen,

REFERRING to my instructions of the 19th instant, I have further to desire that you will make it your business to ascertain what may have been the sources of supply of provisions, forage, and other articles supplied to the troops in the Crimea.

You will further make inquiry into the alleged delay in unshipping and distributing the clothing and other stores supplied for the use of the troops; and having obtained all the information in your power, you will transmit to me a full report on the subject.

I am, &c.

(Signed) PANMURE.

Sir John McNeill, G.C.B.,
and
Colonel Tulloch.