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Entries in black
are from the biography compiled by the National Archives; blue
entries are my additions.
"Biography" refers to William Morrill Wadley by his
daughter Sarah Lois Wadley.
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Photo from www.findagrave.com
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William Wadley was born November
12, 1813 in Brentwood, New Hampshire. He became a blacksmith and, at
age twenty, moved to Savannah, Georgia. He worked for six years on
Cockspur Island, building Fort Pulaski under the direction of Robert
E. Lee. He went from blacksmith to the superintendent of the public
works on the island during that time. He then built a bridge over
the Savannah River and the Ogeechee canal, at Savannah. Next, he
built a railroad bridge over the Oconee River for the Central (of Georgia) Railroad, completing it in 1844 after three years' work.
From 1844 to 1849, he was Road Master,
then Superintendent from 1849 to 1851, building the roundhouse that
still stands in Savannah. He became Superintendent of
the Western & Atlantic Railroad in 1852, then returned to the Central RR in the same capacity, but with increased
authority, in 1853. In 1856, he was an officer in the
Union Society (a one hundred year old benevolent organization);
Frederick W. Sims was also an officer at the same time. In 1858,
Wadley became Superintendent of the New Orleans, Jackson & Great
Northern Railroad. In 1859 and 1860, he was the Superintendent of
the construction of the Southern (of Mississippi) Railroad and then
moved to the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Texas Railroad from 1860 to
1861. After the war, Wadley returned to Georgia and became President
of the Central Railroad, from 1866 until his death in
1882.
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Wadley married Rebecca Bernard Everingham in 1840; they had nine
children.
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| William Morrill Wadley -- Colonel &
Assistant Adjutant General |
| January 1, 1861 |
Superintendent, Vicksburg, Shreveport & Texas RR |
| September 1, 1861 |
Made annual report
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| October 15, 1861 |
Asks account payment
procedure
|
| November, 1861 |
Relieved Charles G. Young as President of Vicksburg,
Shreveport & Texas RR. Retained his position as Superintendent {Biography} |
| November 18, 1861 |
Wrote QMG with
claims for soldiers' travel
|
| November 22, 1861 |
Requests a QM agent
be appointed at Monroe, La.
|
| March, 1862 |
Went to Richmond to get aid from the government to
finish the remaining 40 miles of the Vicksburg, Shreveport &
Texas RR. Was not successful. {Biography} |
| Late April, 1862 |
Railroad
Transportation Law passed
|
| May 6, 1862 |
Asks QM General to
have accounts settled
|
| October 6, 1862 |
Plans to meet John
P. King, President of the Georgia RR
|
| November 6, 1862 |
Secretary of War
asks, for the President, for Wadley to go to Richmond and consider
taking position of Superintendent of Rail Road Transportation.
|
| November 29, 1862 |
Offered an appointment as
Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General for railroad transportation
matters |
| December 1, 1862 |
Accepted the offered appointment |
| Auditing RR accounts
passed to him.
|
| December 3, 1862 |
Appointed Colonel in the Adjutant General's department
and assigned to superintending and directing transportation for the
government on all the railroads of the Confederacy.
|
| December 4, 1862 |
Called for a meeting of all railroad Presidents and
Superintendent in Augusta, Ga. on December 15
|
| December 9, 1862 |
Received answer to
question regarding duty of railroads to deliver their freight
|
| December 13, 1862 |
Described as
"prudent and reasonable"
|
| December 15, 1862 |
Held meeting of 40
railroads' Presidents and Superintendents in Augusta; was instructed
that the RRs wanted the end of Government trains and all such
rolling stock was to be provided to the roads that most needed them,
as determined by Wadley
|
| December 17, 1862 |
Because of the
failure of the December 15 meeting to resolve railroad
transportation issues, Wadley issued a circular letter with a
solution
|
| January 2, 1863 |
From Raleigh,
Wilmington & Manchester RR route is clear for shipments
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| January 5, 1863 |
Requested to arrange
detail men
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| Asks QM Genl to
order all government rolling stock, material and machinery to his
control
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| January 6, 1863 |
Purchased 2 engines and some
cars from the Central (of Georgia) RR
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| Capt. Grant
recommends he select the roads to be stripped of iron for the Blue Mountain
RR construction
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| January 8, 1863 |
Gen. Beauregard wants
5 trains for contingencies
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| Wadley's reporting
position
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| January 11, 1863 |
Sharp writes QMG
that he has received orders to turn over all rolling stock to Wadley
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| January 12, 1863 |
Refers telegram from
Muscogee RR to QMG
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| January 15, 1863 |
Had an agent controlling trains
in support of an army movement in North Carolina
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| Was asked to reduce
passenger traffic to Wilmington
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| Given Charleston
& Savannah RR claims
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| Notified by QMG that
Wilmington & Manchester RR cannot meet the emergency
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| January 16, 1863 |
Was notified of lack
of transportation at Charlotte
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| January 21, 1863 |
Notification sent to
him that guns could not be shipped from Richmond for want of cars
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| January 22, 1863 |
Appointed as the railroad representative to the Iron
Commission.
|
| Pemberton asks for
his presence
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| January 23, 1863 |
QMG forwards request
for oil transportation to him
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| January 26, 1863 |
Whitford is retained
as Transportation Agent by Wadley
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| January 27, 1863 |
McNeill offers to
help Wadley with RR machinery needs.
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| January 31, 1863 |
Wrote Tredegar
regarding 1863 RR iron needs
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| February 2, 1863 |
In Raleigh, ordered Cap. Sharp
to close the Confederate Locomotive Shops there
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| Submits a plan for
government freight movement to QMG
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| February 3, 1863 |
Was mentioned as
being the man in charge of the cars at the Locomotive Shop
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| February 5, 1863 |
Suggests resolution
to Alabama & Florida (of Florida) RR claim
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| Ordered to get
provisions moving from Charlotte to Richmond
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| February 6, 1863 |
Reports necessity of
details to get North Carolina transportation moving
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| February 7, 1863 |
Recommended that all
85 tons RR iron, partly used to connect 2 RRs in Augusta, be
transferred to Wadley
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| February 8, 1863 |
Asks AA Genl to
clarify order to devote all transportation to moving corn from North
Carolina
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| February 10, 1863 |
Reports North
Carolina RR in confusion and Wilmington & Weldon RR not
responsive; suggests working with North Carolina governor
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| Asks Secretary of
War for Hottel's services
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| February 11, 1863 |
Confirmed as being in charge of
railroad transportation in the West
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| Recommends to
Secretary of War a plan to exchange old iron for new on two RRs
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| February 13, 1863 |
Ordered to use
Hottel as he saw fit; Governor Vance had been asked to help Wadley
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| February 14, 1863 |
Received circular
letter to be issued by QMG
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| February 16, 1863 |
Made recommendations regarding a
Charleston & Savannah RR bill
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| Involved in movement
of lead in North Carolina
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| February 17, 1863 |
Major Winnemore
instructed to let him have the iron
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| February 20, 1863 |
QM General states
that Wadley is in charge of RR rates
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| QM General forwarded
a request for coal to him. Returned to QM General April 6
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| Reports result of
convention of RRs in NC
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| February 21, 1863 |
Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR wants some of the RR stock and
material Wadley is getting rid of
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| Macon Laboratory
requests ownerless cars be assigned to its support
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| February 22, 1863 |
In Charlotte,
recommends horses go overland, not wait for RR transportation to
Richmond
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| February 23, 1863 |
Pemberton request
Wadley visit immediately
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| 5 flats needed to
move guns
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| Reported to have left
Raleigh the week before for Augusta and Mississippi
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| February 25, 1863 |
Ordered to go west
now, confer with the committee later
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| February 26, 1863 |
W. J. England
reports Wadley has heard nothing about England's assignment
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| February 27, 1863 |
Lieut. W. J. England
assigned to Wadley (England was a Captain in a South Carolina
regiment, wounded at 2nd Manassas and unable to march. Served in the
army for the entire war. Why Wadley did not want him is unknown)
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| Is noted by the QM
General that he has not set new rates in accordance with the
Columbia Convention
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| Reports his duties
as Ast QM
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| February 28, 1863 |
Pemberton has heard
nothing from Wadley
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| QMG forwards request
for hands to work Chattanooga area coal mines
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| March 2, 1863 |
Seddon believes he is
with Pemberton
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| Southern (of
Mississippi) RR needs iron for repairs
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| March 3, 1863 |
Mississippi Central
RR reports tariff issues
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| Navy needs to move
coal from Clover Hill to Charlotte
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| Sharp reports Wadley
gone to Mississippi, leaving property in Sharp's hands
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| QMG directs Sehon to
him for problem with Western & Atlantic RR
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| March 4, 1863 |
Wilmington & Weldon
RR writes QMG asking for Augusta rates. Says he has written Wadley
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| March 5, 1863 |
Wrote Mallet about
use of cars for completing the Macon Laboratory
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| March 6, 1863 |
He is directed to
enforce rules for the travel of sick and wounded soldiers
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| Reported purchase of
locomotives and cars from several RRs
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| March 7, 1863 |
Need to move RR iron
to Wilmington for the Navy
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| Is noted as being in
charge of setting rates for transportation on Government accounts
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| March 9, 1863 |
Writes QMG about
flour shipment
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| Informs QMG on
freight arrangements between Montgomery and Augusta
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| March 10, 1863 |
Is hard on the
Western & Atlantic RR during a visit with its Superintendent
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| Is told that an order
was probably not an interference in RR transportation
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| Asked if he can
supply flats to the Navy
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| March 11, 1863 |
Was sent papers
regarding a rate increase
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| March 13, 1863 |
Letter regarding
transportation of forage forwarded to him since he is in charge of
RR contracts
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| Is addressed by
Mallet regarding using cars for Macon Laboratory construction
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| Is forwarding cars as
they come into his possession
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| Mississippi Central
RR told to contact him regarding rates
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| March 16, 1863 |
Informed that Navy
was seizing iron from the Atlantic & Gulf RR
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| March 17, 1863 |
Informed that
transportation for 4 guns would be needed at Richmond on the 23rd
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| March
18, 1863 |
Requested to send
cars from Vicksburg to Mobile at once
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| Involved in
repairing Southern (of Mississippi) RR
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| March
20, 1863 |
QM General reports
that Wadley had made agreements with RR companies to make 2 routes
across Georgia
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| Wadley is in charge
or rates and conditions of transportation
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| Southern (of
Mississippi) RR requested to accept any proposal he makes
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| QMG reports Wadley
has been told of issues at Knoxville
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| March 21, 1863 |
Mims told to follow
Wadley's arrangements and call on him for help moving ordnance
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| March 22, 1863 |
Tries to resolve conflict
between Pemberton and Mobile & Ohio RR
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| March 23, 1863 |
Re-published General
Orders regarding the military and the rail roads
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| Told to transport a
beef shipment on the Mississippi Central RR
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| Told limits of
Pemberton's authority regarding shipments of food
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| May have
participated in discussions regarding Ordnance Department and
material support to RRs
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| March 24, 1863 |
Ordered to get
ammunition from Meridian to Gen. Loring with all haste.
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| March 23-26, 1863 |
Was in Alabama and Mississippi on Railroad Bureau business
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| March 25, 1863 |
Asked for a
locomotive for track laying on the Piedmont RR
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| March 26, 1863 |
Asked to regularize
meat shipments from Atlanta to Virginia
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| March 27, 1863 |
Was trying to get
iron for Governor Brown
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| March 29, 1863 |
Told of RR neglect
at Weldon
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| March 30, 1863 |
Was asked for
evaluation of pricing of iron taken from the Alabama & Florida
(of Florida) RR
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| March 31, 1863 |
Told that Navy would
not desist removing iron from the Brunswick & Albany RR. Told to
come to Richmond
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| April 1, 1863 |
Ordered to assist in
moving corn from Columbus
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| April 4, 1863 |
Asked to inform the
QMG of the contents of an agreement between Wadley and the Central
(of Georgia) RR Superintendent
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| April 6, 1863 |
Reported on Alabama &
Florida (of Florida) RR iron taken
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| Endorses letter with
observation that labor, not RR transportation, is the issue in coal
production
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| April 7, 1863 |
QMG instructed him
to ship 67 carloads corn monthly to Knoxville
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| April 8, 1863 |
Asks Governor of
Georgia to call a convention for developing a plan for transporting
salt from Saltville
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| QMG states Wadley is
responsible for contracts with RRs
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| April 12, 1863 |
Informed Secretary of
War of his recommendations for transportation rates
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| April 14, 1863 |
Reported status and
needs of eastern railroads
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| April 15, 1863 |
Paid for having Government cars
found and distributed
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| Refused to receipt
for missing cars
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| Asked to assist in
rapid movement of cement from Weldon to Charleston
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| Billed for use of a
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR locomotive
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| April 17, 1863 |
Reports on orders
given regarding Charlotte Naval Works coal
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| April 20, 1863 |
QMG asks about rates
for paying RR accounts
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| April 23, 1863 |
Asks assistance in
getting rails taken up
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| Issued new rates for
Memphis & Charleston RR
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| Probably included in
decision to repair the Richmond & York River RR using Alabama
& Florida (of Florida) RR iron
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| Was probably running
a RR convention held in Richmond
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| QMG informed of new
RR rates Wadley had proposed and the Secretary of War had approved
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| April 30, 1863 |
Was advised that
invoices for bacon had arrived, but not the bacon
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| May 1, 1863 |
C. S. Senate refused to approved
his appointment in the Army.
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| May 2, 1863 |
His opinion was to be
sought regarding repairing a locomotive
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| May 6, 1863 |
A QM reports an error
in a RR company's form
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| May 7, 1863 |
Recommends to
Secretary of War the Government should provide 4 miles of iron to
the Virginia & Tennessee RR
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| May 8, 1863 |
Answers QM General's
letter regarding RR rates
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| May 9, 1863 |
Regarding
transportation for contributions
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| May 11, 1863 |
QM General relays
the arrangements made for a locomotive to Sam. Tate
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| May 18, 1863 |
Had forwarded
Georgia RR request for iron to the Secretary of War
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| May 22, 1863 |
Superintendent of government transportation position
ended when Confederate Senate refused to confirm his appointment. |
| May 23, 1863 |
Recommended changing
the line of the track connecting roads in Petersburg
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| Replied to Secretary
of War regarding poor communication regarding shipments through
Junction
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| Wrote QM Genl
regarding rate increase asked for my South Side RR
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| May 25, 1863 |
Turns in Georgia RR
draft for 8 cars
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| May 26, 1863 |
Writes Secretary of
War about a flour shipment |
| Is noted as being in
charge of setting rates for transportation on Government accounts
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| Received receipt for
Georgia RR payment
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| Ordered to report to
the QMG the sales of public property he has made
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| May 27, 1863 |
Classification of the Atlantic
& North Carolina RR that he had recommended was approved
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| Enumerates items
being turned over to his successor
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| May 29, 1863 |
Morfit reports he has
received receipts for most rolling stock from Wadley
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| May 30, 1863 |
Wilmington &
Manchester RR president reports he and Wadley agreed to special
rates for his road; also wants troops rate decision
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| April or May, 1863 |
Received request from
QMG for comment on raising RR rates
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| June 2, 1863 |
Confirmation that
Wadley had been rejected by the Senate
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| June 6, 1863 |
Major Peirce
explains his conflict with Wadley
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| June, 1863 |
Remained in western Louisiana for the remainder of the
war. {Biography} |
| August 11, 1863 |
Memphis & Charleston
RR contract that he had made is reported to QMG
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| August 29, 1863 |
An officer was
ordered to destroy all the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Texas RR
machinery at Wadley's Plantation
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| August 10, 1882 |
Died in Saratoga,
New York
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