Private & unofficial.
Head Qrs. Pay Dept. U. S. A.
Louisville Ky. Jan 23/64.
Gov. Bramlette—
Dear Sir —

I regret exceedingly that so much publicity should have been given to what I supposed, was to have been a private arrangement between Col. Watkins & myself. I had no idea of any application to the legislature of Ky for a loan for a few days. I supposed that you could use the money for the purpose for a short time upon your own responsibility. It seems that you were under a misapprehension. The Veterans of the 4th & 6th Ky Cav. Regts were all paid at Bridgeport, Ala before they left camp. The unpaid men here were those who agreed to become Veterans, & wanted pay for the two months ending Dec 31. 1863. I had neither money nor orders to pay for those months, but as Col W had promised the men the two months pay on arrival here, provided

they would agree to re-enlist when they became eligible, I told him I would pay them if he could raise the money, at once, & refund in few days. These men were paid on the 21st & 22^d & today I have deposited to the credit of the Treas of the State of Ky at Bank of Ky, the money borrowed — towit $20.000.

Today I rec^d telegram from Paymaster General, directing me to "pay the 400 Veterans of the 6th & 4th Ky. Cavly Regts. which the Gov. of Ky. has telegraph'd as unpaid".

Over ten thousand Veterans have been paid in my pay district within the last thirty days, & not one Regiment has left here without pay. But we do not pay those men who are not mustered out & in as Veterans, altho there are many furlough'd.

Very Respy & truly
Your obed Sevt.
Wm. Allen
Chief Pay Mr D. C.