| Head Quarters Dist E. Fla. |
| Lake City, May 12, 1863 |
| |
| His Excellency, John Milton |
| Governor of Florida |
| |
| Governor, |
| Your letter of the 7th inst
enclosing a communication from Lieut Gift on the subject of using the
iron on the Florida Rail Road for naval purposes, because, as is alleged
the Road is in possession of the enemy has been received and referred to
the President of the Florida R. R., for an answer. |
| The Road, as you must be
aware, is not in possession of the enemy, any more than is the Road from
Tallahassee to Lt Marks. I have Troops at Cedar Keys and in the
immediate vicinity of Fernandina who can be supplied only by the use of
the Florida Road, which is indispensably necessary for the military
defence of this District, and the removal of the iron could be construed
only as a prelude to the abandonment of East Florida to the enemy. |
| I have found it necessary to
apply to the President of the Road to make some repair on the Track,
near Fernandina, to enable me to move my large guns, mounted on RR
trucks, close to the Bridge. |
| It is not perceived in what
way the iron could be transported to the Apalachicola river, even if
there were no difficulty in the way of its appropriation, unless indeed
it is a part of the plan to build the Road from Quincy to Chattahoochee
at the cost of the Florida Road, in order that the balance of its iron
may be appropriated to "naval purposes." |
| I have the honor to be Governor |
| Very Respectfully |
| Your Obt Servt |
| Joseph Finegan |
| Brig Genl Comdg |
|