406. OUTFITTING THE LOUISIANA EXPEDITION A great war-date Union inventor/contractor's letter, 1p. 8vo., by Norman Wiard, 23 Gramercy Park, [New York], Aug.12, 1863 to Gen. Nathaniel Banks concerning debt due him for helping outfit Banks' Louisiana expedition. In full: "My accounts for stores and services in fitting out your expedition have never been paid not withstanding a large amount of...effort on my part. I take the liberty to send to you a special messenger who I hope will be permitted to present to you...the statement he carrys [sic] and bring your answer to me...". In late 1862, when Banks was ordered South to replace "Beast" Butler at New Orleans, he brought with him his own fully equipped force of New England and New York State regiments and a small flotilla of transports and other armed vessels. One of the expedition's major contractors was Norman Wiard. Banks personally vouched for Wiard because of his success in out fitting Burnside's voyage to the Carolinas. Throughout the war, Wiard, a friend of President Lincoln, invented several new designs for cannon, gun carriages, artillery shells, gunboats and assault boats. Worthy of further research to determine if he ever got paid! Light soiling, else very good. $150-200