| 22 |
| Exhibit "C" |
| Report of J. R. Chrietzberg,
Captain and A. C. G. S. C., relative to disposition of Stores sent to
Charlotte, N. C., on evacuation of Columbia, S. C. |
| |
| State of South Carolina |
| City of Charleston, September 15, 1866 |
| |
| Colonel, |
| I beg respectfully to report,
that in compliance with your order of 15th of February, 1865, I left the
City of Columbia with two cars laden with sundry Commissary stores, the
property of the State of South Carolina, on the morning of the 17th of
February, 1865, having been detained at the Columbia depot of the
Charlotte {& South Carolina} Railroad from
the 15th, for want of motive power, the same having been taken charge of
by the Quartermasters' Department of the Confederate Government, then
evacuating the Post. |
| Application had also been
made for more cars for the use of the State Commissary Department, but
the two furnished, were all that could be obtained. |
| On the 18th, I reached
Chester, S. C., where I was jointed by Lieutenant Hernandez, A. C. S. S.
C., and there received your order to "proceed jointly to Charlotte, N.
C., taking such measures for the protection and preservation of the
stores as might seem proper." |
| On the night of the 20th, the
cars left Chester, in a train containing Confederate stores, for
Charlotte. About midnight, a few miles below Rock Hill, the locomotive
being out of water was compelled to leave the train in search of same,
and on backing up on her return, the night being very dark and no lights
on the train, ran into and knocked out the entire end of one of our
cars, being the first in the train, and so badly damaged it, that it was
found impossible to carry it to Charlotte, loaded as it was. We
proceeded to the turn-out, shifted the car off, and left it in charge of
the station master, to be sent for as early as possible. Immediately on
arriving at Charlotte, after great difficulty in obtaining an engine and
car, we sent for stores, when the station master reported that a large
detachment of the Confederate army (numbers of whom we had observed on
the road,) had made a raid upon the stores, which he was powerless to
prevent, and carried off the bulk of them; little or nothing remained. |
| The other car arrived safely
at Charlotte, where we found the bulk of the rolling stock and motive
power of South Carolina and Georgia, mostly laden with Confederate
Government stores -- every turn-out crowded. Our car was run on a
turn-out with the balance of the train, and it was impossible to shift
it. On making application to an officer of the Charlotte Railroad to run
our car up to the depot, he replied, "It cannot be done; but it makes
little or no difference, for as soon as the enemy advances to within ten
miles of Charlotte, I have orders to burn all the depots, cars, &c." |
| Under these circumstances,
and on consultation with Lieut. Hernandez, we determined that for the
interest of the State, it was advisable to move the stores instantly
from their location, and tender them to the Confederate Commissary at
Charlotte first, and dispose of the balance at best prices. Accordingly
I went up into the town of Charlotte and offered the stores to the
Confederate Commissary at that post. He wanted only bacon, which we
furnished, (quantity not now recollected, but which has been reported to
you.) I then engaged Messrs. Stenhouse and Macaulay, reliable merchants
of Charlotte, to take charge and dispose of the remaining stores as
rapidly as possible, instructing them at the same time to report fully,
and account to you for proceeds of sales. We delivered the stores to
them, taking receipts for the same, and having done all we could to
protect the interests of the State, Lt. Hernandez and myself returned to
Columbia. |
| All of which is respectfully
submitted. |
| J. R. Chrietzberg |
| Late Capt. & A. C. G. S. C. |
| |
| To Lt. Col. Richard Caldwell |
| Late Com. Gen. South Carolina |
|