| P. 38 |
| I was called on at this time
by the Quarter Master General to ascertain whether I could not in some
way devise a plan by which the large quantity of supplies coming from
the South and from the blockade runners could be more promptly
delivered at Richmond and other central points of distribution. After
some study and consideration submitted a plan, with the
necessary papers and forms, which was accepted, and thereupon I was
ordered to visit every town and city through which the various
railroads passed, to stop at their terminals and to introduce the
system, subject, of course, to the approval of the railroad companies.
The latter was quickly given, as they were all greatly embarrassed by
the difficulty of having their vouchers for freight properly approved
for auditing and payment. They welcomed the new system which
promised that the army officer, charged with such duties at each
terminal point, should give a receipt on the back of the bill of
lading for whatever goods were received, either by carload or
trainload, and if any goods were missing, to mention the lost goods
and to note on the bill of lading the quantity of goods missing and
the market value of them at that date. This made the vouchers complete
and left the undelivered goods to be accounted for and settled for by
the Government when the facts had been obtained in regard to them. |
| ***** |
| With the order to go South and
visit the various cities along the coast to New Orleans and back in
the interior by way of Atlanta and other points, I was given
permission to take my wife, as I had to stop at each of these places
two or three days. The whole tour lasted, perhaps two or three months,
during which time I received the most cordial welcome and cooperation
from the officials of the railroads as far South as Mobile, which was
the farthest point I could reach, as New Orleans had by that time
fallen into the hands of Gen. B. F. Butler. |
|
Whilst on this trip I stopped in Savannah and then met
President and Mrs. Davis at the time of the battle of Gettysburg. From
Savannah to Macon, Mrs. Mayo and I traveled in a car which had been
very handsomely fitted up as the private car for President and Mrs.
Davis. The President of the railroad, Mr. Adams, placed this car,
which was lighted by gas and completely equipped, at our disposal and
he expressed his very high appreciation of the work I was doing, which
he said was very necessary and would relieve the railroad
transportation situation very much. Mrs. Mayo and I felt much honored
and enjoyed the trip from Savannah to Macon under these more favorable
circumstances over the Georgia Central Railroad, it being at that time
the best road in the South. |
| {Mayo's
memory is playing slight tricks on him here. Mr. Adams was the
Superintendent of the Central (of Georgia) RR and President Davis mad
the trip mentioned in late October, 1863, not during the Battle of
Gettysburg.} |
|