AR, WNC 4/18/1863

Salisbury, N. C., April 18, 1863
 
Maj. Carrington, Quarter Master
 
Sir,
   In view of the great and immediate importance to the Government of having prompt and abundant transportation for its freights from Charlotte, N. C. to Richmond, Va., the Western North Carolina Rail Road hereby tender to the Government, through Maj. Carrington, Quarter Master, a train of cars, consisting of an engine and not less than ten cars. This train shall be furnished for the transportation of Government freight between Charlotte, N. C. and Raleigh, and intermediate points over the North Carolina Rail Road, on the application of its President or Superintendent, or on the application of Capt. R. J. Echols, Post Quarter Master at Charlotte, or Capt. Henry McCoy, Post Quarter Master Salisbury, or of the successors of either or both of these officers, upon requisition and certificate of the officers applying that he had (24) twenty-four hours before the date of said requisition made requisition upon the President or Superintendent of North Carolina Rail Road for transportation for Government freight, and that the same had not been provided. The above train is hereby tendered to the Government to transport its freight through to Richmond; provided the consent of the Rail Roads intervening between Charlotte, N. C. and Richmond is given thereto. Maj. Carrington informs me that he has applied to the Quarter Master General for authority to say that whenever trains of one Road pass over another, carrying Government freight, of any kind, that the Road owning the train shall receive greater compensation than that suggested by the convention of Presidents and Superintendents of Rail Roads held in Augusta, Georgia, Dec. 15, 1862; and that the evidence of indebtedness of the Government for such passing trains, shall be given directly to the road owning the same.
   He further says, that when the reply of the Q. M. General to this application is received, a copy of the same shall be immediately forwarded to Capt. Echols and Capt. McCoy, and that the settlement of either officer for the use of the above mentioned train, either at the instance of the North Carolina Rail Road, or of these officer, or either of them shall conform to this letter of authority or instruction. The only train that can be spared from the Western North Carolina Rail Road, is that now in the service of the State of N. Carolina, and it is understood that the tender of the within mentioned train to the Government, is conditional upon the release of this train from the service of the State; and it is further understood that this consent is given subject to the disapproval of the President and Directors of the Western North Carolina Rail Road. As witness my hand this 18th April, 1862.
James C. Turner
Engineer and Sup't W. N.C. R. R.

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