For what it is worth, Horace Cone was a Houston lawyer who represented the Texas and New Orleans Railroad. He went to Richmond in early 1862 to lobby for the completion of the railroad, and carried a letter of introduction from the governor to the Secretary of war. His efforts were succesful as the congress did vote to fund more construction.

He also brought back a million dollars in QM funds for Texas, for which he billed the QM department $225.00 for his expenses, and almost certainly billed the railroad as well. Double dipping is not a 20th century invention.